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Playing a Rickenbacker made me hate Rickenbacker

#123
I rarely post here, but I'm a long time lurker.

I only own two basses. A Gibson and a Rickenbacker. It never ceases to amaze me how every time a thread pops up about either, people who I've never seen post about anything before, chime in with negativity.

"I played one once, and it hurt my wrist."

Then find a S model, or don't buy one

"I saw one on a showroom floor with a finish defect. How dare they let that slip though."

It happens to every manufacturer

"A $1600+ bass should be perfect."

It's normal for a $2000 AV Fender to have a dead spot, though

"Those basses are a one trick pony."

Move your right hand around, and use the tone knobs

"They're overpriced."

When you consider that an American Standard P is $1300 and the AV is $2000 for a bolt on neck bass, a U.S. made neck through bass like the 4003 isn't out of line at all

Also, I've been interested in Music Man basses for some time. I've never owned one, and would like to spend some time with one, because I like the tone I've heard from artists I like. A few months ago, I walked into a Guitar Center and played one with the most horribly warped neck I've ever seen on a bass. You could drive a truck under the strings. I looked down the neck and it had a twisted ski jump. The thing is, I didn't jump on my computer and alert everyone that one bad bass was built. Hell, I'd still buy one if I had the cash. Mistakes happen.

Maybe I should post in every Fender thread about the dead spots all 5 of the ones I owned had.
 
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#125
Aceonbass said:
Hmm.....Well, while the hot wire inside the neck pickup lead is 22 gauge, the lead itself is 1/8" thick, and runs in a channel only a little wider. Prior to the way they're done now, the channel was done with a 3/8" Forstner bit, so I don't know what's meant a "1" endmill". Rick basses have always had two completely separate truss rods that fit fairly snugly in their channels. I should know, cuz I've serviced a few of them (which is something I don't think you can do with any other bass).
Click to expand...
Making me work eh? See for yourself in this pic, perhaps 1" is exaggerated BUT you can clearly see the size of the plunges vs the size of the wire.
 

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#132
StephnG said:
Making me work eh? See for yourself in this pic, perhaps 1" is exaggerated BUT you can clearly see the size of the plunges vs the size of the wire.
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That's an older model, modern 4003 basses are not done with a Forstner bit anymore. It is a CNC routed smooth channel. That is not the pickup wire Ric uses either. They use a shielded cable that is much thicker.
 
#137
I guess I'm one of the oddballs here - I've owned two 4003s, and I liked both of them, but it wasn't a religious experience or anything. Ricks sometimes have issues that one wouldn't expect on an instrument in that price range, and have what I consider to be a really weak finish warranty, but I was fortunate in that both of mine were pretty much perfect with the exception of the wonky bridge pickup mounting. Not a horribly big deal, and easy to fix, so my net experience has been reasonably positive. I neither love them nor hate them, but accept them for what they are. [shrug]

I do think that John Hall can be a bit of a tool at times, but it's his company to run how he pleases. Hartley Peavey and Sterling Ball have gotten their own share of criticism too, so John is hardly alone in that regard.
 
#139
Coolhandjjl said:
That's an older model, modern 4003 basses are not done with a Forstner bit anymore. It is a CNC routed smooth channel. That is not the pickup wire Ric uses either. They use a shielded cable that is much thicker.
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Yup you are correct sir, it's a 1976 4001s wired in stereo for the "Ricko Sound" Thank's for the clarification on the the type of bit used, as usual the resources on TB are second to none!! Everytime I visit this forum I learn something!! Thank You TB:hyper:
 
#140
Bassmaticmatt said:
I'm not trying to bash anyone for buying a Rick they are sweet looking and sounding basses. I'm just sorely disappointed in the QC. In my opinion if Squire can make a flawless guitar for $200 Rick should be able to for $2000.
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A bound body Squier for 200?
Where? What model?
I get your point, but binding is tough to pull off well with modern finish (calif aqmd approved)
 

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