• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

*Official* MF MID Rickenbacker Sale thread

How Satisfied Are You With Your New Rick?

  • Very Satisfied

    Votes: 47 45.6%

  • Satisfied

    Votes: 18 17.5%

  • Neutral

    Votes: 19 18.4%

  • Unsatisfied

    Votes: 7 6.8%

  • Very Unsatisified

    Votes: 12 11.7%
  • Total voters
    103
Status
Not open for further replies.
#121
electracoyote said:
I sometimes wonder how much Ric hatred is spawned from people who don't understand the nature of the beast and proper set-up/care, then grow disillusioned because they didn't educate themselves and take proper steps to maximize their Ric's performance potential. I'm guessing that's a big chunk of it.
Click to expand...

+1. The Joey's Bass Notes link posted earlier is where I learned how to get mine solidly set up. Reading some of the concerns posted here reminded me of when I got my 2008 4003FL. Since I had no real experience with FL's, I thought the reason that it sounded like crap, e.g. no resonance and the notes would just die immediately after being played, was because I was new and figuring out how to intonate and all that. I then stumbled across Joey's articles and checked the neck and it had some serious relief in it. I was worried that I had gotten a dog, but some coaxing of the truss rods over a few days got the neck straight and this bass just opened up and was so resonant and just sang. The guy who had owned it before me had NO idea how to set a Ric up and that is probably why he sold it! All this to say, mine had probably had a lot of relief in it for over 2 years and with some adjustment and patience, the neck straighted out, settled in and has been wonderful and stable ever since. These are well-built basses and the necks are forgiving, so try not to worry too much and just think how you just scored a bass many of us paid around $700 more than you did. Also, the necks on the ones you all are getting are the new 2-piece necks and are better than the one on my 2008, which is a great neck IMO/E.
So crack open a cold one, keep an eye on UPS tracking and think about how cool it is going to be to have an iconic bass at an unheard-of price in your hot hands in a few days. ;)

Can't wait to see all the pics,

LEL
 
#122
Still can't believe the lowest price someone nabbed was only a bit over $1k...at that point I'd be tempted to order 5, but as someone else mentioned, thats just bad karma for the whole operation.

Took a half day today, hoping that I can get home before the UPS guy finds my house empty and takes it across town to wait until Monday
 
#124
Hey Guys,
Mine came yesterday. I was able to goof around with it a bit this morning.
What can I say, It's a Rick for sure!
It is a 2011. Big ole 11 on the jack and serial number. I'll have to take a look at the month later. The Midnight Blue is much darker than the 4003 I had back in 2003. I used to call it the "Smurf Bass" if that gives you an idea of the color. The finish is flawless.In the case it looks almost black. Sorry, Jetglo.:D
The neck is straight with just a hint of relief. That could be attributed to the Daddario Xl strings that came with it. I have always found the XL's in the 105-45 gauge to be very high tension.
I'm not sure I am sold on the "new" neck profile though. My 2003's neck was somewhat wide but with a very round feel that tapered as you went up the neck. Still very comfortable though.
This one feels wider and thinner, flatter? front to back.
One thing I have noticed is that the electronics are much quieter than my 2003. I swear that bass had a radio antenna installed in it somewhere it was so obnoxious!
So...who knows? At the moment I'm not really emotionally attached to it but that has only happened to me with a few basses which I still have BTW. I'll keep you posted on my progress but for those who haven't received yours yet it doesn't look like MF is sending out inferior/old stock from where I'm sitting.
Take Care,
Brent
 
#125
BrentSimons said:
Hey Guys,
Mine came yesterday. I was able to goof around with it a bit this morning.
What can I say, It's a Rick for sure!
It is a 2011. Big ole 11 on the jack and serial number. I'll have to take a look at the month later. The Midnight Blue is much darker than the 4003 I had back in 2003. I used to call it the "Smurf Bass" if that gives you an idea of the color. The finish is flawless.In the case it looks almost black. Sorry, Jetglo.:D
The neck is straight with just a hint of relief. That could be attributed to the Daddario Xl strings that came with it. I have always found the XL's in the 105-45 gauge to be very high tension.
I'm not sure I am sold on the "new" neck profile though. My 2003's neck was somewhat wide but with a very round feel that tapered as you went up the neck. Still very comfortable though.
This one feels wider and thinner, flatter? front to back.
One thing I have noticed is that the electronics are much quieter than my 2003. I swear that bass had a radio antenna installed in it somewhere it was so obnoxious!
So...who knows? At the moment I'm not really emotionally attached to it but that has only happened to me with a few basses which I still have BTW. I'll keep you posted on my progress but for those who haven't received yours yet it doesn't look like MF is sending out inferior/old stock from where I'm sitting.
Take Care,
Brent
Click to expand...

Congrats Brent.
 
#127
kevinmoore73 said:
The binding is much more yellow than I would have anticipated.
Click to expand...

Close-up pics? I don't think I've ever seen this.

On the other hand my 4003FL intentionally has yellowed binding because it's a COY finish called Amber Fireglo (the lighting enhances it a bit here):

mnsj02.jpg
 
#131
kevinmoore73 said:
Sure. Notice the contrast between the binding and pickguard. Note that the inconsistent color of the binding is not artifact of the camera, the flash, a shadow, or anything like that. That's how it looks. It's pretty white on the small front-facing edge but is various shades of yellow around the sides.
Click to expand...

This looks exactly like my binding on my COY Turquoise 4003.

I think there is something in the overspray they use (not poly, it's a varnish I believe).
 
#132
I seem to recall an issue from 2004 about color bleed with the Midnight Blue? I remember a few guys had their basses refinished by Rickenbacker because of it. This was done under warantee if I remember correctly. But that yellowing looks like older Ricks I have seen that have been exposed to the "bar scene" cigarette smoke, etc. Just my thoughts,
Brent
 
#133
Low End Lover said:
+1. The Joey's Bass Notes link posted earlier is where I learned how to get mine solidly set up. Reading some of the concerns posted here reminded me of when I got my 2008 4003FL. Since I had no real experience with FL's, I thought the reason that it sounded like crap, e.g. no resonance and the notes would just die immediately after being played, was because I was new and figuring out how to intonate and all that. I then stumbled across Joey's articles and checked the neck and it had some serious relief in it. I was worried that I had gotten a dog, but some coaxing of the truss rods over a few days got the neck straight and this bass just opened up and was so resonant and just sang. The guy who had owned it before me had NO idea how to set a Ric up and that is probably why he sold it! All this to say, mine had probably had a lot of relief in it for over 2 years and with some adjustment and patience, the neck straighted out, settled in and has been wonderful and stable ever since. These are well-built basses and the necks are forgiving, so try not to worry too much and just think how you just scored a bass many of us paid around $700 more than you did. Also, the necks on the ones you all are getting are the new 2-piece necks and are better than the one on my 2008, which is a great neck IMO/E.
So crack open a cold one, keep an eye on UPS tracking and think about how cool it is going to be to have an iconic bass at an unheard-of price in your hot hands in a few days. ;)

Can't wait to see all the pics,

LEL
Click to expand...

You are so right on so many fronts! RICS are not your average bass and they require a tad more "playing with" to get them just right, but it's no big deal....

Hell some of these guys are already complaining about them and haven't taken delivery yet. :rollno:

I picked up a MID 4003 several years from a guy who worked at GC....(lordy!) He wanted to get rid of it because (in his words) it was junk....he had the wrong strings on her and had the neck bowed to the point that it looked like a canoe paddle. I offered him a decent price to "take it off his hands" and he was thrilled to take the offer. I put the proper strings on her, straightened out the truss rods and now have a bass that has been from coast to coast with me.

Trust me guys. You will LOVE your purchase!!! If, for some odd reason you don't? Shoot me a PM and we'll talk! :D
 
#134
kevinmoore73 said:
Sure. Notice the contrast between the binding and pickguard. Note that the inconsistent color of the binding is not artifact of the camera, the flash, a shadow, or anything like that. That's how it looks. It's pretty white on the small front-facing edge but is various shades of yellow around the sides.
Click to expand...

Possible overspray? I honestly do not know...My MID has a slight amount of color bleed on the binding (mine is a 2004 model) but I just pass it off as "character" :D

Shoot, you can always send it back to MF, explain the problem, and get another one......
 
#137
Mine arrived today. Unfortunately, it was shipped in only the box that Rickenbacker packed it in. It was not put into a second box and had no additional padding. Of course, the plastic hardshell Ricky case arrived cracked in two corners. The bass itself appears to not be damaged at all as far as I can tell. I will take a closer look this evening when I get it home. I am at work and I don't have access to a camera to post pics unfortunately.

I called MF and the customer service folks were very helpful and they are shipping me a new vintage case in replacement. Still, I am shocked that MF would do such a shoddy job of packaging such an expensive bass. Plus, I have the hassle of returning the damaged case.

If you ordered one, I'd be curious to hear how your bass fared during shipment.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back