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Ric 4003 NBD Letdown

#61
thiocyclist said:
Nuts are cut extra high on almost all basses I play, this is because it's better for it to be too high than too low.
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Nuts are cut and the basses are assembled so that they meet certain tolerances, which are set by the manufacturer. Ric is the only company I've ever heard that sends their basses out with improper nut height on purpose.
 
#62
JackTheRipper said:
Unfortunately, my circumstances are similar to yours. I ordered a Ruby 4003 from POTR in May. Was delivered to my house in late October. I inspected it and immediately found an issue with the binding. Called Chris at POTR and he advised me to contact RIC about a warranty repair. I filled out the warranty card, waited and got an RA #. Sent it to RIC and got it back about 3 weeks later after the repair and it is still not right. I sent it back again. Hopefully they will fix it right this time.

It sucks. I've been patiently waiting for this bass since May and still no joy. Just bad luck, I guess. I have 3 other RICs that are awesome basses, the oldest being a 1977 4001, which I've owned since 1979.

Hang in there. Hoping for the best for both of us.

--jack
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I know nothing about Rics and have no dog in this fight, but you bought a brand new instrument from a retailer that had something wrong with it from the factory and you had to send it in for a warranty repair?

For that kind of money I would be furious that I had to immediately box it up and return it to the manufacturer for a repair and I can't even imagine having it sent back with the repair not done correctly. I know a lot of people love Rics here and I'm not bashing a brand that I've never played, but that sounds beyond ridiculous to me. Maybe I'm not getting something.


Michael
 
#64
Got my Ruby 4003 from Pick of the Ricks back in May. Free shipping and a great setup. No issues with the bass at all. :)

RubyRic1.jpg
 
#65
willsellout said:
Nuts are cut and the basses are assembled so that they meet certain tolerances, which are set by the manufacturer. Ric is the only company I've ever heard that sends their basses out with improper nut height on purpose.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying you are wrong, but in my experience all companies that mass produce guitars and basses do this. I can't remember how many times a friend gets a new guitar and takes it to a luthier to get the nut filed down lower.

If the tolerance is +/-0.1 unit and you want the nut slot to be =1.0 unit high ideally, you are going to cut it 1.1 units high so some people will get 1.0, some will get 1.1 and some will get 1.2 units high. It's not ideal but it's what guitar builders do... constantly. Again IME, not trying to start a fight here but I feel like there's a double standard happening or something. This is just as common on Fenders or anything else mass produced (again IME).

Imagine if instead they set the mean value at 1.0, then you'd get some 0.9ers out there and people would be crying about all the fret buzz on open notes.
 
#66
Pbass4003 said:
I want to publicly apologize to Jeff Scott for not knowing about POTR when I started saving for this bass over a year ago. Had I known that they were the only moral and just place to buy a Ric, I would have put a deposit down last year (or even 2 years ago), then I would have walked to Jersey with a cross on my back to receive the bass is person. That way, the whole TB community could know exactly how much I care for small business. I am deeply sorry if my missteps offended anyone. I should not have shopped at an evil reseller such as Zzounds, and how dare I expect to receive my instrument in top shape from them. Please forgive me as I was swayed by the mortal temptations of free shipping, lowest-price guarantees... and not wanting to wait an additional 1-24 months after already waiting for over a year. If ever I am righteous enough to own a second Ric, I will be sure to shop only at POTR, or Lord take my fretting hand.

Fin.
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Apology accepted! :D

It's all good, I didn't mean to come off that hard, just thought you were digging on POTR, that's all. :cool:
 
#67
I just got to check out 6 beautiful new Ric basses at Apple music in Portland this past weekend. I played 3 of them,a new ruby 4003,and 2 new cii's. all 3 of them were set up with a little "height" in their action,but i found them quite playable. I have replaced all of my basses's Factory nuts with bone or deer antler. I don't think i have ever purchased a bass that i didn't tweak to meet my playing prreferences,and would probably do so with any of the new Ric basses i played. I will say that they seemed pretty flawless to me, and i didn't expect to like the 4003 as much as i did. (Even tho the body binding did cut into my wrist within 5 minutes of playing-i guess i could buy a wrist band!)
 
#68
Zzounds is assuring me they will inspect my replacement before it gets sent out tomorrow. I will report back! Despite my trolling, I was sincere when I said I wish I knew about PotR when I first got the GAS. Hindsight is 20/20, but I guess learned something. Thanks again, all!

PS - does anyone know a good place to get a Ric set up in NYC? I was thinking either Music Zoo (West LI near where I work) or Rudy's in SoHo (I like to avoid Times Square). I also heard good things about Peekamoose. Thanks.
 
#73
Mark works on my Ric. After I bought my bass at Sam Ash in midtown, Mark did the first set up. Recently he installed a set of Bardens I had recently bought. The bass sounds and plays great.let me know if you want his contact info.
Jeremy at Rudy's works on Will Lee's Ric and provides tech support to the Fab Faux.
 
#74
gadgetgirl said:
Mark works on my Ric. After I bought my bass at Sam Ash in midtown, Mark did the first set up. Recently he installed a set of Bardens I had recently bought. The bass sounds and plays great.let me know if you want his contact info.
Jeremy at Rudy's works on Will Lee's Ric and provides tech support to the Fab Faux.
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Nice! Contact info would be great. Feel free to PM me if he runs a private shop. Thanks!
 
#77
I bought a RIC on a trip to Oregon. I love the bass. The nut was messed up. The E string was so high it was like two different basses. Had a luthier fix it. Plays great. I called RIC. The guy said that some get out of the factory all buss up.
 
#80
phishaholik said:
I know nothing about Rics and have no dog in this fight, but you bought a brand new instrument from a retailer that had something wrong with it from the factory and you had to send it in for a warranty repair?

For that kind of money I would be furious that I had to immediately box it up and return it to the manufacturer for a repair and I can't even imagine having it sent back with the repair not done correctly. I know a lot of people love Rics here and I'm not bashing a brand that I've never played, but that sounds beyond ridiculous to me. Maybe I'm not getting something.


Michael
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No one really knows the exact history of the bass. Could have been a 2nd or return. It is a risk doing Mail order. I have no choice here in Mayberry, NC. No Ric dealers anywhere near me. I got very very luck with Musicians Friend and got a mint MG.
 

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