please tell me i don't need a RIC

[johnnyt]

A ric is not for everyone or every song. I wanted one for years and now own 3, (2) '74 4001's and a '67 4005. I was lucky enough to get these at reasonable prices. I quit using mine on the road because of the inconsistencies with backline amps. I've found jazzes are more forgiving in plug and play situations. But if you have the right rig dialed in right, it can sound great. Ive seen a couple used, let me know if I can help.

 

[Sneckumhaw]

you dont need a ric. you dont like ric's tone you like the sound engineer who recorded it so get him (or maybe her?)

Wrong. That's the way they sound.

 

[SteveC]

You don't need one. Get something else. You have a Jazz for basic stuff, you have a nice Yamaha 5 active for modern stuff. How about a fretless?

 

[Buster Brown]

I probably didn't need a Ric either - back in 1970 - however, I started playing one and have been doing it ever since....

 

[Obese Chess]

get a copy. Same tone, less money.

 

[madbassplaya]

Geddy did play rics, then he went to wals, tried steinbergers because he thought it would be cool not to hit the headstock on his mic stand. Now, he's back where he belongs! With Fender Jazz Basses!

As far as the ric goes, i used to really want one. I played a friends for a show one time and couldn't get used to it. It's just an odd bass. If you really want one, you won't listen to what we say anyway.

 

[Buster Brown]

Man, I always wanted one. Until I realized how much it cost for a bass with that many flaws that had had no significant improvements since its inception. (ever set the intonation on a Ric?)

Why, yes I have....many, many times! As a matter of fact, the latest Ric that I acquired had the neck bowed so badly (a young 'uns idea of fun, I guess) that I got it at a steal because, according to the young man, "This thing SUX!"....he had the wrong gauge strings on the bass and had no idea whatsoever as to how to "properly" adjust a dual truss rod system.

He dumped it and I bought it. Plays like an absolute dream now.

The biggest "problem" that I have noticed in the many years that I have played Rics is that it is usually younger players who seem to have the hardest time coming to terms with the fact that they are a "niche" instrument. Not for everyone. They jump in a buy one because ________ plays one and it sounds "awesome" and once they give it a whirl are disappointed that it isn't some magical "tone machine" like they expected....it's just like any other bass out there with it's good points and bad points......IMHO

 

[RONQUITO]

Here´s a little story, i hope you don´t mind:

I started playing electric bass almost 16 years ago, about 2 or 3 months after i started playing i got an acute case of Spector G.A.S., i mean...several of my bass playing idols used one, my instructor taught with one (sometimes i lost focus staring at that curve bodied little sucker with it's 2+2 headstock), my poor little Peavey Foundation (an excellent bass BTW) should have been very jealous. Years passed and finally one of those beasts fell into my hands last year, i felt that i waited my whole life to get it. I opened the case slowly, grabbed it softly, stared at the finish, plugged it...guess what?

I HATED the sucker! The tone, the feel, the tiny body that i´d dream about every day, the neck felt like a bat...GOD! why is this happening to me? I ran to my 73´Jazz and plugged it to see if something was wrong with me that day, it sounded and played beautifully, more than ever.

This beautiful Euro 4 sat on its case for almost a year, i began playing it again because my Jazz slept at the studio for transport issues (in my city if you don´t have a car you better not be swinging your ´73 jazz around while on public transport, it can get uhmm....LOST). I was determined to find out why i didn´t like it, the first weeks it rejected me, i think it was kind of mad because i neglected it, but i didn´t care. Took it to a luthier friend of mine for a thorough set-up, i told him exactly what i wanted, in terms of playability and feel. Took it home, began playing it again and i realized that i had to learn to play THIS bass, i sounded clanky, had to trim my fingernails shorter, and it totally improved my technique because it isn´t as forgiving as my noble Jazz (play one with a sloppy left hand and you´ll see) but after a while i couldn´t put it down, it totally grew on me.

Now my Jazz spends a lot of time on its case.

GET THE RICK! get to know it deeply and then make your decision, if it´s not for you flip it, if it is, you may have found YOUR voice on the bass.

 

[jim777]

Wrong. That's the way they sound.

Indeed!

 

[TAOspeedwagon]

ok, who here wanna let me borrow their ric so i can try one out

better yet

who wants to get rid of their rics

 

[Jaymi]

Forget it, just get a Ric....I have had 80 of them...never had trouble....always play them live...

 

[Jeff K]

I can certainly understand your GASing for one. They are absolutely gorgeous. I swapped a Modulus Q4 SS for a new 4003 in the mid-'90's because my GAS was so severe. Beautiful though it was, I found myself preferring my Fenders. So I sold it.

Fast forward to '05. Ric GAS got to me again and I decided to give it another shot. Picked up a brand new Color of the Year (Montezuma Brown) for $1,100.00. Possibly the most beautiful bass I've ever seen. Sold it 6 months later because I STILL preferred my Fenders. Much more comfortable. I think it's out of my system now. Nothing against Rics. They just weren't for me. But something tells me you won't be happy until you buy one and make up your own mind...

 

[GerManson]

Here´s a little story, i hope you don´t mind:

I started playing electric bass almost 16 years ago, about 2 or 3 months after i started playing i got an acute case of Spector G.A.S., i mean...several of my bass playing idols used one, my instructor taught with one (sometimes i lost focus staring at that curve bodied little sucker with it's 2+2 headstock), my poor little Peavey Foundation (an excellent bass BTW) should have been very jealous. Years passed and finally one of those beasts fell into my hands last year, i felt that i waited my whole life to get it. I opened the case slowly, grabbed it softly, stared at the finish, plugged it...guess what?

I HATED the sucker! The tone, the feel, the tiny body that i´d dream about every day, the neck felt like a bat...GOD! why is this happening to me? I ran to my 73´Jazz and plugged it to see if something was wrong with me that day, it sounded and played beautifully, more than ever.

This beautiful Euro 4 sat on its case for almost a year, i began playing it again because my Jazz slept at the studio for transport issues (in my city if you don´t have a car you better not be swinging your ´73 jazz around while on public transport, it can get uhmm....LOST). I was determined to find out why i didn´t like it, the first weeks it rejected me, i think it was kind of mad because i neglected it, but i didn´t care. Took it to a luthier friend of mine for a thorough set-up, i told him exactly what i wanted, in terms of playability and feel. Took it home, began playing it again and i realized that i had to learn to play THIS bass, i sounded clanky, had to trim my fingernails shorter, and it totally improved my technique because it isn´t as forgiving as my noble Jazz (play one with a sloppy left hand and you´ll see) but after a while i couldn´t put it down, it totally grew on me.

Now my Jazz spends a lot of time on its case.

GET THE RICK! get to know it deeply and then make your decision, if it´s not for you flip it, if it is, you may have found YOUR voice on the bass.

BEAUTIFUL HIstoRY!!!!!!!!!!!