Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Retirement Basses: Rics or Rays?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I wish I could try a 4005V, but unless someone sends me one to "evaluate" it probably isn't going to happen.
Own both. Love both. Would actually recommend considering other options. A retirement bass, to me, screams Fodera, Fender CS, F Bass, MTD, US Sadowsky, etc.
Same here Dr. Got my ‘75 4000 in the late 70’s and still have it. I’d go for a short scale ray only because I’ve never had one.
I’m retiring but the only bass I have a slight desire for is a 4 string fretless. I have a 5 but would like something simpler.
My Personal Answer:
Perhaps I'm biased, but same here. I would get a new Ric 4003 over a Stingray any day! The basses made since 2022 (when Ben Hall took over the company from his dad) are the best Rickenbacker has ever put out. They now have the V2 bridge, only one truss rod, and they got rid of the horseshoe pickup cover last spring.
If ergonomics are an issue, get a 4003S. This model is the stripped down brother of the 4003 and people have said that it's ergonomics are better. The trade off is not having any Rick-O-Sound (which you can do bi-amping and stereo recording with) or any shark fin inlays, which are a signature part of the 4003's stunning aesthetics.
A Rickenbacker might the medicine that the doctor needs to cure his retirement GAS.
The Cliche TB Answer:
Blindly get both with no questions asked!
Last edited:
For me, life is too short to fight a Rickenbacker for what time I have left. They're just goofy.
IF I were going to have a StingRay, I'd track down an LN (and unfortunately discontinued) single pickup neck through in either four or five. EBMM gave up on those way too fast.
Look Ma, no heel block ! ! !
As elementally perfect as a conventionally Fender-shaped object as their ever was: Single, wide aperture humbucking pickup in EXACTLY the right spot, three-band EQ with parallel switching, no neck heel, functional bridge and keys, compensated nut, TinkerToy wheel truss rod adjust. Everything you need, nothing you don't, with the added extra of even better fundamentals with the full length neck assembly. The best version of a StingRay ever.
IF I were going to have a StingRay, I'd track down an LN (and unfortunately discontinued) single pickup neck through in either four or five. EBMM gave up on those way too fast.
Look Ma, no heel block ! ! !
As elementally perfect as a conventionally Fender-shaped object as their ever was: Single, wide aperture humbucking pickup in EXACTLY the right spot, three-band EQ with parallel switching, no neck heel, functional bridge and keys, compensated nut, TinkerToy wheel truss rod adjust. Everything you need, nothing you don't, with the added extra of even better fundamentals with the full length neck assembly. The best version of a StingRay ever.
Last edited:
I don’t own Rickenbacker or a Musicman Sting Ray. As you all know I’m a Lakland 55-94 player when I’m playing EB. Recently I went down the Music Man Rabbitt Hole on the YouTube’s and if I were looking at buying a bass these videos would certainly be a consideration.
Plus I just like looking at Robots and Humans working together!
Plus I just like looking at Robots and Humans working together!
Last edited:
I love 12-fret guitars. I have two, a Taylor and an Ibanez. Yours is a beauty!Just wanted to post Congratulations on the retirement. That's cool. I enjoy it a bunch. I'm not truly retired, but I put in 33-1/2 years as a Waterworks Operator. When I hit 55 years old last summer I put in the notice. These days I work for myself, doing repair and setup work on musical instruments. The only thing I miss is the trainees who replaced me. Good buncha' kids.
Oh yeah, retirement guitar... mine was a Martin acoustic. I ordered it from their Custom Shop. Spec'd around a Style 0000-36 but with a handful of really nice upgrade tweaks. View attachment 7319898
View attachment 7319899
View attachment 7319900
View attachment 7319901
I think you'll probably enjoy the Stingray more. Think on it a little.
Too true, too true.
But it does have all Maple neck, EMG's and a HAZ preamp, so it's trying!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Rics are "love it or hate playing it" basses.
Which gives you the goofiest grin when you pick it up? That's the one to buy.
Which gives you the goofiest grin when you pick it up? That's the one to buy.
Doc, the newest Ric's are a whole new level of awesome, especially the newer thin necks. They are solid top to bottom IMO... The old " i played one back in late 70's or 80's and they were awful" just doesn't cut it anymore....
My 12-fretters are a Taylor NS-62ce and a Yamamoto Talus VS-12.
StingRay is a super versatile bass that has been used to record music in every genre for 50 years.
A Ric is a very specific bass that some people love and lots of people don't.
If two basses was all somebody could have, I would say P Bass and StingRay.
A Ric is a very specific bass that some people love and lots of people don't.
If two basses was all somebody could have, I would say P Bass and StingRay.
Lots of replies already, but ergonomically a Ray is likely to be better. Rics are the coolest looking basses, but I, at least, just can’t play them.
