Cool, I guess 5 min after unboxing the urge started again. These classic vibes are great, good deal.
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P Bass Player tempted to get a RIC
- Thread starter Avalon82
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- rickenbacker 4003
Puhlease. Even Garageband has a basic spectrum analyzer these days.
Let me guess: your next response will be related to how objective truth is unknowable or how Rickenbackers really are overpriced one-trick ponies in some other alternate universe that split off from this one when that universe's Stalin beat the Americans to the H-Bomb.
I got a 4003w. It has more low end than a typical Ric. I also did the reverse polarity mod.
The p will have a more grindy e string, but the g and d on the Ric are thicker sounding. Overall, I found their tones similar. I now put ti flats on my p and rounds on the Ric. May be a good option for diversifying your sound.
The p will have a more grindy e string, but the g and d on the Ric are thicker sounding. Overall, I found their tones similar. I now put ti flats on my p and rounds on the Ric. May be a good option for diversifying your sound.
I bought a 4003s this past year after having been a P-Bass player for 15 years. I have not been disappointed at all! The 's' model with the countered body will feel more like a Fender body than the non-'s' model with the binding. I love this Ric and have been playing it for everything the past 6 moths. The neck is fast and the instrument felt wonderful to me since I first picked it up. I did remove the pickup cover and replace it with a treble bezel though and that did make a big difference to me so I would recommend that.
This was my issue too. Too many sharp edges. I know they're works of American art and are known for their unique sound, but I just couldn't get past the ergonomics. My late brother bought the Ric for himself and loaned it to me so I was not out any money. Also, the notes to me didn't ring out as long as my ibanez basses. The notes felt thumpy with a short decay. I like bell-like tones that ring for a while. But-- to each their own. I've loved the sound of a Ric ever since I heard Sir Paul use one.
Based on my experience, a Ric will be a lot more versatile than a P. The problem that I had with my Ric was more QC related. Still, if my Ric had not had issues, I would have kept it - they look and sound cool, and they're fun to play, they're just not well made (or maybe they just have too much variability.
Thought of replying to this thread several times - here are my thoughts:
1. It's good you get a chance to try one - same scale length as a P but very different in significant ways - the taper of the neck from the nut is different, doesn't have the traditional thumb resting place as a P, sharp edges around the body.
2. I have a 4001 and a 4003 - if one of them was my only bass I could make it work - I have been able to get a variety of sounds out of mine by different pickup settings and playing technique - but with multiple basses, they are not my go-to for supportive bass playing.
3. I use mine for clank and playing with a pick - again, it's not the only thing it can do, but it does it so well! A friend asked me to play on a proggy track and the 4001 fit perfectly!
4. So my conclusion is that a Ric can be a wonderful instrument but does it do something that you really need? If not, then it might be a waste, but I voted no.
1. It's good you get a chance to try one - same scale length as a P but very different in significant ways - the taper of the neck from the nut is different, doesn't have the traditional thumb resting place as a P, sharp edges around the body.
2. I have a 4001 and a 4003 - if one of them was my only bass I could make it work - I have been able to get a variety of sounds out of mine by different pickup settings and playing technique - but with multiple basses, they are not my go-to for supportive bass playing.
3. I use mine for clank and playing with a pick - again, it's not the only thing it can do, but it does it so well! A friend asked me to play on a proggy track and the 4001 fit perfectly!
4. So my conclusion is that a Ric can be a wonderful instrument but does it do something that you really need? If not, then it might be a waste, but I voted no.
It will be as low as you need it to be, but you may need different EQ settings on your amp.
No, just tired of these kind of comments. Maybe you make them intentionally to provoke. That makes you a troll, I think.You're the only one who took my comment seriously.
Why is that?
Seems to me that you're triggered.
Trolls get reported and the Mods can deal with you.
I hear ya!
Check out the late Andy Kulberg's work with bands like Seatrain. He favors the old school "thwump & floom" Ric sound I prefer as opposed to the clankety-clank and sqwonk vibe Chris Squire popularized so successfully. Many people who are only familiar with the Squire sound never suspect Andy Kulberg is also using a Ric.
I've had more than one bass player tell me they thought it was a Guild Starfire (which is yet another really nice bass) - that can get something similar - but not quite the same. However, if you compare the two sounds back to back, that Rickenbacker je ne sais quoi is still easy to distinguish.
Thanks, I really liked that song but never realized it was a Ric and yeah he has a great sound, I too like that sort of thwunk Ric bass sound, it's almost enough to make me put flats on mine, that Starfire also sounds really good, they're on my Gas list, of course what classic bass isn't?
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FWIW, my favorite P-bass sound is John Wetton's King Crimson and early Asia tone; other than that, I've never cared for them. Some years ago I played in a blues/rock singer/songwriter project and used my Ric 4001. One traditionalist guitarist in the audience told me that "it almost sounded like a Fender"... I guess as some sort of compliment. I tried to dial in a nice, thick, supportive tone... not some sort or thin, clanky, caricature that some people here seem to think is all a Ric can produce.
Bit off topic, but is that a Jericho up top left? I've always been intrigued by them, and sorely tempted to pull the trigger as they always seem to be on horrendously discounted sales. How does it stack up to the aerodyne?
Ain't that ever the truth huh?
So far I've managed to hold off on getting my own Ric. I got to babysit and play (with his permission) a friend's beautiful '71 4001 ages ago for about 18 months while he was out of the country. I almost pulled the trigger after he got back several times over the years. But so far that's one bass I've managed to not get despite half my music friends invariably surprised I don't already own one since it'd be a natural choice for some of what I do.
Funny how it goes sometimes.
I saw the band UK in 1977, first P bass I ever saw without a pickguard, he did have a great sound, great player too.
