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RIC basses

#22
Walbassman said:
They always turn heads because they are not as common among the musicians and people are fascinated because they look so unique.
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Exactly. I remember the first time I saw a RIC (before I was a bass player) it was an old video of Metallica with Cliff. He was so cool playing that bass with distortion. Its one of my earliest influences! :bassist:
 
#23
Yep, I remember seeing that as well. Makes me wonder why more people don't play them now. I have heard all of the commentaries about them being "one trick Ponies" and all that other stuff but I have been able to grind out all kinds of styles on RICs over the years. I even slap on them....My old bass teacher way back when in college told me I was nuts and I could not slap a RIC. Needless to say, I proved him wrong. Aside from my Stingray 5, these are all I am using now...
 
#24
Walbassman said:
Sometimes the adjustments that people make to the trussrods are cause for alarm which CAN lead to a headstock break. I have had a couple of RICs in the past where poeple attempt to route the channel at the headstock where the trussrods are inserted. This routing causes instability in the headstock and top of the neck and causes the rods to become inactive, they can no longer do their jobs. Those same people were not careful with the router and the headstocks become cracked where they routed and they become lovely firewood. The 2 that I have had which were done this way had to be repaired and the only way to repair the breaks in the wood was to epoxy the rods in and inject some into the wood for stability. every time I get a RIC now, I pull the TRC and survey the rods before doing any kind of deal.
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That sounds silly to enlarge the end of the truss rod channel. Maybe it's because I seldom find need to mess with truss rods. Only if there's an excessive bow or buzz- and even then I'd rather have someone else do it. I've seen the nut end of the fretboard of a 4001 pop off because the owner had sworn he had to "adjust those truss rods every week." Yeah. I had an old Esquire (that was used to record most of the BoDeans "Love Hope Sex and Dreams" album) that had the truss rod maxxed out. Truss rods are not for beginners, I'm not a beginner and I still don't mess with them!
 
#25
astar said:
I have a silver '81. It's my understanding that this color is pretty rare and was only produced for several years in the early 80's. I have had several comments from guys that have never seen this color before.
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I think California's Clean Air Act had something to do with the discontinuation of several colors in the mid 80's. I seem to recall a really cool metallic blue color as well.
 
#26
Walbassman said:
Yep, I remember seeing that as well. Makes me wonder why more people don't play them now. I have heard all of the commentaries about them being "one trick Ponies" and all that other stuff but I have been able to grind out all kinds of styles on RICs over the years. I even slap on them....My old bass teacher way back when in college told me I was nuts and I could not slap a RIC. Needless to say, I proved him wrong. Aside from my Stingray 5, these are all I am using now...
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Thats weird about not being able to slap on a RIC. Some people really believe that! In fact thats exactly what my friend said something like "... you cant really slap on them but they are great basses." I immediately slapped something on it that sounded great to me but I think he was a bit disturbed by it. :smug: great now Im gassing for a RIC! :eek: :D
 
#29
astar said:
I have a silver '81. It's my understanding that this color is pretty rare and was only produced for several years in the early 80's. I have had several comments from guys that have never seen this color before.
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They started in 1981 and stopped in the late 80's-early 90's. I have seen a silver before. There is another color like that from the early 80's which I personally have had 2 of, RIC called it ruby red but it is a candy apple. It is SCHWEEEET. One got ripped off and the other replaced it and I gave it up in the early 90's like a mow-ron....The later silvers come with the black trim package, they are quite nice and there is one for sale currently on another website.
 
#32
I've been a 94 Fireglow Ric owner for a couple of months now and I'm still getting use to it. I feel differently about it depending on what other bass I've been playing and how it compares, but a few things I have noticed in particular are:

- it never goes out of tune. Chord shapes sound in tune however high on the neck you finger them

- the neck pickup on its own is one of the weirdest and coolest bass sounds I've ever heard (a.k.a. the Ric 'hollow' sound)

- there are certainly more tones available than I imagined

- the strings seem nice and tight, even playing at the neck

- the laquered fretboard slows me down sometimes

- for such a chunky slab shape the body vrs. headstock balance is very good

- that 60 cycle pick-up hum is not as loud as the Fenders I've played but it's there alright

- the finish and the binding/inlay work is flawless

- the action is very low, (as speced), except at the first fret: the nut seems quite high.

I don't know weather I'll keep it, but I feel like I'll regret selling it.
 
#33
Walbassman said:
Go ahead and get one...forget the G&L for the time being. you would like a RIC better anyway...LOL ;)

I am acquiring a few so if you are truly after one let me know at some point and maybe I can hook you up.
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Now thats the kind of GAS support everyone around here should give! :D Im not in the market for a new bass but if I am Ill keep it in mind. I would love to have a nice RIC. Ive gotten over the G&L gas... for now. :bassist:
 
#34
alansan said:
- the neck pickup on its own is one of the weirdest and coolest bass sounds I've ever heard (a.k.a. the Ric 'hollow' sound)
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And you'll notice that 5th-fret harmonics are practically inaudible with the neck pickup soloed. The pickup is right under the node where the 24th fret would be, if the bass had one (old 4001 models (pre-1973 I think(?)) had this pickup 1/2 inch closer to the neck.) It's cool for some applications... sometimes I like playing little riffs high up the neck on the E and A strings with the neck pup soloed, for a real syrupy kind of sound.
 
#38
The best playing, sounding, feeling 4 string I ever owned was a modified RIC. The pickups had been changed to SD Ric replacements and the crappy Ric bridge had been replaced with a badass 2. Bought it for $500.00...probably got ripped due to the mods but like I said...sounded great! Had much more low end while still retaining the treble and sustain. I played it for about 4 years in a pop punk band with no back up bass. I got good comments on my tone at almost every show. Sold it to a friend to buy a five string. Boy...do I miss it sometimes. That being said...I owned a 4003/S5 (5 string version) for a very brief time. One of the worst designed 5 string basses made IMO.
-Bazz-
 
#39
bazzanderson said:
The best playing, sounding, feeling 4 string I ever owned was a modified RIC. The pickups had been changed to SD Ric replacements and the crappy Ric bridge had been replaced with a badass 2. Bought it for $500.00...probably got ripped due to the mods but like I said...sounded great! Had much more low end while still retaining the treble and sustain. I played it for about 4 years in a pop punk band with no back up bass. I got good comments on my tone at almost every show. Sold it to a friend to buy a five string. Boy...do I miss it sometimes. That being said...I owned a 4003/S5 (5 string version) for a very brief time. One of the worst designed 5 string basses made IMO.
-Bazz-
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The 4001 I currently use as axe number 1 has a badass 2 and schallers tuners on it. It RAWWWWWKS. I have only seen one or two of the 5'ers and I wa not in tune with them. I did not like the spacing. Coming from a Stingray 5, there is a big difference in spacing. There are lots of people who like them so...no biggie. I will stick to the 4001's though. I am pondering a couple of the earlier 4003's in discontinued colors....that looks like fun. mostly things with black trim as the company discontinued all black trim on the instruments...
 

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