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One bass to rule them all

#221
Human Base BaseX OC4. Two Delano humbuckers, split switch, balance control, active/passive, 24 fret neck, Glockenklang preamp. Plus, it looks like you could go to war with it and slay some orcs.
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#222
OkayistBassist said:
My Ric 4003 was my #1 for a long time. It would be really hard for me to let the rest of the fleet go, but I have always said that the Ric will go in the ground with me when I kick the bucket. I could always play that one and get out of it the sounds I need it to make.
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You couldn't have said that any better! My 2012 Ric 4003 has been my #1 for 10 years now and I think it will be for the rest of my life.
 
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#225
DeanGallberry said:
So I'll get down to business and jump right in with my first post here.

Let's pretend for a moment that we are only allowed to own one bass. No ifs, not buts, you can only own a single bass.

So what would your choice be and why?
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As straight forward a question as that may seem, it isn't, as my preference changes as I evolve as a bassist.

Right now I'd like a good sounding jazz or p-bass style instrument, both of which I own, because the versatility suits my divers musical endeavours.

If I had to pick one at this point I'd take my Sandberg passive jazz bass (California II) as I love the size, the weight, the sound and the neck on that one. Oh, and the colour:

IMG_6977.jpg
 
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#227
MrAB4003 said:
I think it was a good year for Ric. They introduced the ruby red finish that year and my bass is one of the first ones of that finish. Unfortunately, they discontinued it as a main finish option in 2017.
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Ruby Red is beautiful! That’s on my list of Ric’s I’d love to acquire. I would also take another Walnut!

Mine popped up on Craigslist the morning after I played a late gig December of 2015. A decent amount of whiskey was consumed that evening while playing, so I was naturally a bit hazy. My wife was two weeks out from the birth of our first child. This particular Ric was in a shady part of town. When I saw the listing, I ran into our room and said “I have to go to the ‘hood to buy a bass! If I don’t come back within two hours, call the cops because I’ve either been robbed or shot!” Pro Tip: don’t say this to a very pregnant wife.

All was okay and I took it home with me! Here it is:

IMG_0281.jpeg
 
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#228
Schecter J4, I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything else. Has the perfect snarly tone, handles drives and distortion perfectly and is one of the best basses I've ever played.

The hardware quality is fantastic too for the price. The only change I'd make asides from a proper setup out of the box is to perhaps use luminlay side dots and a stellartone b10 tone pot rather than the standard one it comes with.
 
#229
OkayistBassist said:
Ruby Red is beautiful! That’s on my list of Ric’s I’d love to acquire. I would also take another Walnut!

Mine popped up on Craigslist the morning after I played a late gig December of 2015. A decent amount of whiskey was consumed that evening while playing, so I was naturally a bit hazy. My wife was two weeks out from the birth of our first child. This particular Ric was in a shady part of town. When I saw the listing, I ran into our room and said “I have to go to the ‘hood to buy a bass! If I don’t come back within two hours, call the cops because I’ve either been robbed or shot!” Pro Tip: don’t say this to a very pregnant wife.

All was okay and I took it home with me! Here it is:

View attachment 5041031
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Does it sound like Ric with those pickups in it?
 
#231
58kites said:
Does it sound like Ric with those pickups in it?
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It does!

The Nordstrand in the neck is certainly beefier than the stock pickup. The Bartolini bridge pickup sort of fell into my lap and I put it in. The bass can do anything I need it to, but can certainly get the signature clanky Ric sound if desired.

I do still have both of the stock pickups. I need to put the stock bridge one back in t@ see which I like better.
 
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#232
OkayistBassist said:
It does!

The Nordstrand in the neck is certainly beefier than the stock pickup. The Bartolini bridge pickup sort of fell into my lap and I put it in. The bass can do anything I need it to, but can certainly get the signature clanky Ric sound if desired.

I do still have both of the stock pickups. I need to put the stock bridge one back in t@ see which I like better.
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My 2022 Satin Autumnglo 4003 has 2 custom wound Nordstrands wound by Carey Nordstrand himself. I acquired it on a trade that I couldn't refuse last fall. The Nordstrand pickups sound similar, but different than the stock pickups my 2012 Ruby Red 4003 has. Both sets are incredible and I'm so grateful to have 2 Rics with different types of pickups.
 
#233
OkayistBassist said:
Ruby Red is beautiful! That’s on my list of Ric’s I’d love to acquire. I would also take another Walnut!

Mine popped up on Craigslist the morning after I played a late gig December of 2015. A decent amount of whiskey was consumed that evening while playing, so I was naturally a bit hazy. My wife was two weeks out from the birth of our first child. This particular Ric was in a shady part of town. When I saw the listing, I ran into our room and said “I have to go to the ‘hood to buy a bass! If I don’t come back within two hours, call the cops because I’ve either been robbed or shot!” Pro Tip: don’t say this to a very pregnant wife.

All was okay and I took it home with me! Here it is:

View attachment 5041031
Click to expand...
Your 4003 is beautiful! I love the blacked/jetglo-ed out pickguard and truss rod cover. Your story was also really funny.
 
#234
Nedmundo said:
Mine would be a G&L L-2500 with lightweight empress body, maple fretboard, quartersawn neck, and single-coil mode. For maximum versatility, I'd want either two volume knobs or a blend knob instead of the standard three-way pickup selector switch. This would require going through G&L's Custom Shop.

Why? I love G&L basses with MFD pickups, and occasionally need a five-string. My G&L USA M-2500 is phenomenal, but for a single bass I'd want the L-2500 for its passive operation, additional punch, and available single-coil mode. I'd also want it to be lighter, hence the empress body.

This would essentially combine the advantages of my two fives, the M-2500 and a Sandberg California TT-5 Superlight. The G&L has the quartersawn neck and firepower of MFD humbuckers, while my Sandberg has a lightweight empress body and maple fretboard, operates in passive mode, and offers single-coil tone.
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Might it be time to order yourself a custom G&L?
 
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