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Playing a Ric

CaptainWally

CaptainWally

"You wrote a bad song, Petey"
Oct 21, 2000
3,094
1,797
Sandy Eggo, CA
#1
These look and sound awesome.

Always felt a little uncomfortable playing one. The body feels a bit awkward to me and that ashtray really gets in the way of right hand plucking/picking.

Do most folks take off the ashtray? If not, where do you normally pluck/pick?

Thanks!
 
#4
moogboy said:
what ashtray?
Click to expand...

ric.gif
 
#5
I have an old 4001 that hasn't had a p/u cover since I've owned it, & a 4003 that I have left the cover on.
I play about 60/40 pick/fingers so I actually like the p/u cover in place as it gives me a perfect place to rest my hand while playing pickstyle.

But I can totally understand yanking them off, though they always look a bit naked to me without them (even with the pickguardian mod).
 
#6
loendmaestro said:
I have an old 4001 that hasn't had a p/u cover since I've owned it, & a 4003 that I have left the cover on.
I play about 60/40 pick/fingers so I actually like the p/u cover in place as it gives me a perfect place to rest my hand while playing pickstyle.

But I can totally understand yanking them off, though they always look a bit naked to me without them (even with the pickguardian mod).
Click to expand...

Cool! So do you pluck/pick on the neck side of the p/u cover then? Do you find it limits your right hand tonal options, or are you a one place pick'n kinda guy?
 
#13
I never have had a problem with the pickup cover. If I'm using a pick, I rest my hand on it and pick over the neck pickup, if I'm strumming, I place my thumb on it (the side, not the top) and pluck. The only thing, which was more my fault, was that my arm was hurting from the binding but I found that if I use Gary Willis' method (or a variation on it), it's no big deal.
 
#16
My pickup cover is on. Its wonderful as a handrest for picking and double stops. When I play fingerstyle, I usually play a bit in front of the cover - around the neck pickup.

Prahainspring said:
I never have had a problem with the pickup cover. If I'm using a pick, I rest my hand on it and pick over the neck pickup, if I'm strumming, I place my thumb on it (the side, not the top) and pluck. The only thing, which was more my fault, was that my arm was hurting from the binding but I found that if I use Gary Willis' method (or a variation on it), it's no big deal.
Click to expand...
Can you describe the 'Gary Willis' method?
 
#19
I've always kept the pickup cover on my Ric 4000. Playing both finger-style and with a pick, I would play both at the neck position, and the bridge position, depending on what sound I was going for. Now that I think about it, I'm kinda curious what other tones I could get out of ole Ricky if I was able to play directly above the pickup... but I don't see the need to find out, heh
 
#20
For whatever reason I never pluck my Ric 4001. Therefore I have left the pup cover on since I bought it way back when. It makes a great wrist rest.

Of course my fretless will never be picked, and my Hoffy will never be plucked either.

All my other basses are bi. Hmmmm............
 

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