Playing jazz on a Rickenbacker?

[bobyoung53]

Does anyone play jazz music on a Rick? Maybe with flats or tapes? I'd like to hear how it sounds, but doing a search on a bass forum which includes the word "jazz" throws up many thousands of responses.

Stock Ric 4003FL, he has a lot of videos.

 

[bobyoung53]

I wouldn't want to defret a ric. I would hold out for a fretless, they are cheaper than fretted ones sometimes. They are more collectable but also way less people want them in general. I have seen ones on GC used for as low as 1200 if it's been sitting. Reverb almost always has a couple fretless Rics for sale.

Plus the dots are in the right place for fretless bass, but they are not cheap anymore, there's a 77 4001FL on ebay right now for 3 grand. I paid about 2200.00 for my 1985 4003FL 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[bobyoung53]

 

[farace]

Plus the dots are in the right place for fretless bass, but they are not cheap anymore, there's a 77 4001FL on ebay right now for 3 grand. I paid about 2200.00 for my 1985 4003FL 5 or 6 years ago.

I paid around that for my '92 fretless a few months ago. I found some that were cheaper, some even *much* cheaper, but they were also much, much rougher; one even had a repaired neck break, which I decided I wasn't interested in dealing with. I did see some decent looking ones going a bit cheaper on eBay shortly before I had the cash on hand to buy one, and then once I was ready, there was nothing. Also some some with downright silly asking prices. I wasn't going there, either.

 

[bobyoung53]

I paid around that for my '92 fretless a few months ago. I found some that were cheaper, some even *much* cheaper, but they were also much, much rougher; one even had a repaired neck break, which I decided I wasn't interested in dealing with. I did see some decent looking ones going a bit cheaper on eBay shortly before I had the cash on hand to buy one, and then once I was ready, there was nothing. Also some some with downright silly asking prices. I wasn't going there, either.

There was a really nice jetglo 4001FL last month. I can't go crazy with Rics again though, they're addicting.

 

[stretch80]

I had one of my favorite Ricks, a Cheyenne ii, professionally converted into a fretless.
Edit:the Cii was a good candidate for this as it has an unvarnished fretboard.

It sounds great, but I’m just a dabbler, at best, in fretless playing.
I kind of regret doing it, because I loved the sound and feel of that bass when it was fretted.
I am a pop/rock player, playing jazz is above my pay grade.View attachment 4006611View attachment 4006612

Man, that Cheyenne ii is beautiful. They don't make those anymore, do they?
My modded 4000 was my only bass back in the "who has money for 2 basses" days, so it got taken to everything -- jazz dates included (when I could get myself invited..)

 

[4andnomore]

Why not? I always thought the Gibson explorer would make for an interesting jazzer.

 

[jeffb28451]

When I first heard McCartney w his Ric, I thought he was double tracking a well played tuba, his tone was so round. Suit yourself...if you can make it talk and the bl doesn’t have his head in the wrong place w certain “f” type basses, go for it!

 

[woodyng2]

Man, that Cheyenne ii is beautiful. They don't make those anymore, do they?
My modded 4000 was my only bass back in the "who has money for 2 basses" days, so it got taken to everything -- jazz dates included (when I could get myself invited..)

Thanks! I still think it’s far and away the most beautiful bass I’ve ever had over the decades.
The maple/walnut woodworking is a very understated and elegant design.
Edit: yes,unfortunately the company has halted production on these indefinitely.