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i've always played jazz and my first EB was a ric! i used rounds. absolutely doable: it's all about EQ and technique (which works for any EB instrument, IME).
that said: i quickly went to fretless (still about EQ and technique) and haven't looked back.

The boy can play:
He mentions in an interview I've just read that he replaced the bridge pickup but hardly ever uses it, preferring the stock neck pup instead.
Thanks for mentioning him. It's exactly what I was thinking of, and I play fretless too. I dare say fretless Ricks are hard to come by, so a defretting would be needed. He gets a great upright sound on some of the recordings I've just been listening to.
I've done that forever. Totally doable. With both my fretted and fretless Ricks.This thread has inspired me to bring one of my Rickenbacker's to rehearsal with my fusion band...one of these days...![]()
I've done that forever. Totally doable. With both my fretted and fretless Ricks.
Here is a recording of my old 4003FL using just the bridge toaster (yes, I put one there).
Thanks! 40-55-75-95 Chromes.Beautiful sound! Now for the inevitable question - what strings were they on this take?
Stanley Clarke played a Rick briefly in the 70s with very early Return to Forever.