Ric 4003 NBD Letdown

[kcole4001]

Hmmm...thought they were supposed to inspect the bass before shipping the replacement.

Personally, I'd opt for a slight store credit and just replace the nut myself, I took mine off and filed down the underside to lower the nut anyway when I got mine (knowing fully that RIC sets the nut on the high side).
A new nut is $3.00 from RIC or PotR and other dealers.

The bridge issue is a no go however and should have been spotted right away if it's a big problem, as in: does the G string slip off the fretboard easily while playing normally?
If it's just the nut, I'd fix it myself.
We'd really need a pic of the nut slot spacing to be sure, though.

Just looked at my 2010 and it's perfectly centered over the poles and on the neck.

Pick of the Ricks might be your best choice in this case, it's really depending on how much this is a big deal to you.
PotR will definitely give you the absolute best service imaginable from all accounts.

 

[SteveC]

Regardless of the issues, who ever is to blame, it sucks to wait for the "out for delivery" or whatever phrase your carrier of choice uses and then get a crappy bass.

 

[Pbass4003]

Hmmm...thought they were supposed to inspect the bass before shipping the replacement.

Personally, I'd opt for a slight store credit and just replace the nut myself, I took mine off and filed down the underside to lower the nut anyway when I got mine (knowing fully that RIC sets the nut on the high side).
A new nut is $3.00 from RIC or PotR and other dealers.

The bridge issue is a no go however and should have been spotted right away if it's a big problem, as in: does the G string slip off the fretboard easily while playing normally?
If it's just the nut, I'd fix it myself.
We'd really need a pic of the nut slot spacing to be sure, though.

Just looked at my 2010 and it's perfectly centered over the poles and on the neck.

Pick of the Ricks might be your best choice in this case, it's really depending on how much this is a big deal to you.
PotR will definitely give you the absolute best service imaginable from all accounts.

Long story short, they "overlooked" my requested inspection because of their server issues.

Yes, the G slips over the edges easily... and I'll be playing with TIs!

I'm now worried there is a bridge issue.

 

[spiritbass]

Now this is a bigger deal than a nut issue. How did you get to this conclusion? Thanks BTW.

By looking at the posted pics. If you measure these distances with a ruler, I believe you will see for yourself what my eyes are seeing in the pics.

 

[kcole4001]

Post a pic of the nut spacing and it should reveal whether it's a minor or major problem.

If it is a mis-drilled bridge installation, I'd be going to PotR, if it's just the nut, I'd ask for some store credit from Zzounds and just fix it.

I know it ain't right, but if everything else is good, you might just be better off going the DIY route with some discount.

I'm a big Rick fan, but it seems like they have some sloppy QA episodes from time to time.

Not always, but the last time there were multiple consecutive issues was the MID blue MF sale a couple of years ago.

 

[Dave W]

Return it. Is there any reason why you can't get a refund and spend it at POTR or Wildwood guitars?

+1

POTR is great!

Thanks for this. I wish I didn't mention the pole pieces in that post, I get that's it's not a big deal at all, I was just venting. The biggest concern is the lateral alignment bringing the G too close to the edge.

That said... bridge or nut issue?

I may keep it if it's just the nut. CAN'T WAIT TO LOVE THIS BASS.

It's hard to say without better pics. Can you show a pic from straight over the nut? On mine, the nut itself is slightly shifted towards the G string. I can fix it easily, but it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[iunno]

For a >$1000 bass, it sounds like they have terrible QC.

 

[Pbass4003]

Sorry, no areal nut-shots. She's all boxed up awaiting sentencing. I guess I should have taken more. Here's the only other pic I didn't post.

 

[willsellout]

By looking at the posted pics. If you measure these distances with a ruler, I believe you will see for yourself what my eyes are seeing in the pics.

I can see it as well, I think. It appears to be excessive width between the E string and the edge of the board and too little on the treble side.

 

[Dave W]

If you're saying you might keep it if it's just a nut issue, you might want to consider opening it up and taking a pic...

 

[Pbass4003]

If you're saying you might keep it if it's just a nut issue, you might want to consider opening it up and taking a pic...

Just got off the phone with Zzounds... they are giving me another $100 credit ($1400 net for a new bass is not bad), and overnighting a replacement to me. Strangely, they won't give me a credit to keep it, but I figured this is the best case scenario.

If there are any (silly little) issue on the next one, I'm certainly just going to dump that $$ into a full-service setup. Major issues... well, I guess I'm going to have to love Fireglo, because that's all PotR has.

Thanks again, all. Looking forward to a glorious NBD soon.

 

[Ric5]

The odds are pretty good you won't like the next Ric either ... I still say get a p-bass.

 

[Pbass4003]

The odds are pretty good you won't like the next Ric either ... I still say get a p-bass.

Not cool. I really want to like you too.

 

[thiocyclist]

If you don't like the string spacing just cut the saddles a bit to the E-string side; it's not something you can't fix, just like the nut. However I always prefer the alignment the OP had, where the G is closer to the edge of the fingerboard than the E string; that's how I set up my basses with side-to-side traveling saddles. So for me I didn't really even see that as a problem.

If you really do want to like a Ric buy it from a place that takes care of their inventory like Wildwood next time, that's my advice. The little details get lost on the big box types.

 

[Ric5]

Not cool. I really want to like you too.

I have no malice towards you ... I just don't think you will liike the next Ric ... which is fine ... not everybody likes Rics ... that's completely cool.

 

[FunkHead]

Thanks for this. I wish I didn't mention the pole pieces in that post, I get that's it's not a big deal at all, I was just venting. The biggest concern is the lateral alignment bringing the G too close to the edge.

That said... bridge or nut issue?

I may keep it if it's just the nut. CAN'T WAIT TO LOVE THIS BASS.

Probably the nut would go a long way to correct it. I always move them in just a bit. Once that's perfect you can recheck the bridge. There's a good chance the nut needs to be filed down just a bit anyway on Most Ric's. A good tech could make that nut work perfectly. Make ZZounds pay for it. Or give you a refund towards it. especially if the rest of the bass looks sweet. Play it for a few hours right now

 

[willsellout]

I have no malice towards you ... I just don't think you will liike the next Ric ... which is fine ... not everybody likes Rics ... that's completely cool.

There's no way you could know whether he does or doesn't. His problems with Rickenbacker quality control don't equal a dislike of the bass. In fact, he's stated the opposite.

As always, I tell people to lower your expectations with Rickenbackers. They aren't ever perfect. If you know that, you will be less likely to be disappointed. Get a good deal on one and expect paint issues, or tail lift, nut issues, or crooked pickups, etc. It's part of the game with them.

The last thing I would ever tell people is to buy a Ric from one of these big box online stores though. It always seems they get the runts of the litter.

 

[willsellout]

Just got off the phone with Zzounds... they are giving me another $100 credit ($1400 net for a new bass is not bad), and overnighting a replacement to me. Strangely, they won't give me a credit to keep it, but I figured this is the best case scenario.

If there are any (silly little) issue on the next one, I'm certainly just going to dump that $$ into a full-service setup. Major issues... well, I guess I'm going to have to love Fireglo, because that's all PotR has.

Thanks again, all. Looking forward to a glorious NBD soon.

Wildwood guitars has maple glo and fireglo in stock right now. I think myself and another TB user snagged their last two Ruby's. They've been a pleasure to deal with thus far.

 

[Pbass4003]

I have no malice towards you ... I just don't think you will liike the next Ric ... which is fine ... not everybody likes Rics ... that's completely cool.

You're right, I don't like Rics. I lurv them.

In my previous posts I mentioned that I was all about them based on my playing experiences from the many, many shops I've played them in ($2000 top $$ pricing and sales tax kept me from pulling the trigger).


Love the tone. Love the feel. Love the look. But I happen to hate instruments that show up in my hands less in worse condition than the CV Squier I keep at me music school for kids to play.

I've seen and played good Rics. I would have just bought the perfect JG I played at Sam Ash if it weren't for the sales tax, the fact that I was already in bed with Zzounds, or the fact that the finish is not my first choice.... or PotR for the last 2 reasons.

 

[254 stringer]

Yeah I would snag a MG from wildwood I got mine there and they do an excellent setup plus they have high resolution picks on their website so you can check out stuff like string spacing before you order one.