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Ric consistency

Wademeister63

Wademeister63

Aug 30, 2004
1,541
193
62
Denton Tx
#1
Does Ric make winners and losers?

How much do they vary in tone or feel? I've heard that Rickenbacker has great quality control and have no doubt I could count on it being built properly and having a nice finish and all, but I haven't hear about bright or dark sounding ones. I've been gassing pretty bad for a Ric 4001 or 4003 for a while now and I really like a bright snappy sounding bass. What are the odds that I'll get one that kind of goes thud, or that it will get lost in the mix with my band?
 
#2
Wademeister63 said:
Does Ric make winners and losers?

How much do they vary in tone or feel? I've heard that Rickenbacker has great quality control and have no doubt I could count on it being built properly and having a nice finish and all, but I haven't hear about bright or dark sounding ones. I've been gassing pretty bad for a Ric 4001 or 4003 for a while now and I really like a bright snappy sounding bass. What are the odds that I'll get one that kind of goes thud, or that it will get lost in the mix with my band?
Click to expand...


Ric consistency is the best in the buisness. And if by some evil stroke of misfortune, you get a bad one (never heard of that happening) Ric warranties are top notch too. Even if you buy a used, modified 4001, returning it to stock, Ric bass badness, is no big deal. you can buy a new bridge, new pickups, new pickguard, new pup cover and not have spent $600. Add that to a seriously F'ed up $500 used ric off evilbay, and you still got less than $1100 in a stock classic 70's Ric bass.
 
#4
Like most manufacturers, Rickenbacker sets their guitars up at the factory for middle to low action, so the only thig you may have to do is drop the bridge a smidge, if you like your action very low (I do) that is.
 
#5
I don't own a Rick, (yet). Ever since I first looked at one in 1975, I've had the GAS for one. That's partly relieved by my brother's 4003, which is a fine instrument. Over the years I've heard a good bit about good and bad guitars, inconsistency in Fender and Gibson particularly. I've never heard anything like that about Rickenbacker. In addition to the 4003, my brother also has a couple of extremely nice guitars from Rickenbacker. IMO, that is the best production model electric instrument maker in the world. The only move up from Ric is to a really well made single maker custom. Just my opinion.
 
#6
EBMM have an excellent reputation for QC too. Sure, I've played a couple of their instruments that wern't set up wonderfully, but hey, I've been generally impressed. Furthermore, I'm sure the problems were caused by the stores doing set ups on them...
 
#7
Carvin makes top shelf stuff too. I have one guitar and one bass made by Carvin and they are both excellent. They came from the factory nicely set up too, and no other guitars play as well, in my opinion. Their necks are just unbeatable.:bassist:
 
#8
Over the course of about 24 years of playing, I've owned more Ricks than I can remember.
Do they make winners and losers? I'd say about 99.99% winners. That said, they are NOT all equal IMHO, even among ones made the same year.
I've had some that kicked *ss, others that were just OK, but none that were outright bad.
 
#9
Wademeister63 said:
I've been gassing pretty bad for a Ric 4001 or 4003 for a while now and I really like a bright snappy sounding bass. What are the odds that I'll get one that kind of goes thud, or that it will get lost in the mix with my band?
Click to expand...

It is nigh impossible to get a ric with a new set of strings to not be "bright snappy" sounding. It's a combination of the pups, the rigid neck-through design and maple body that give it it's uber-aggresive sound.
 
#12
Drucocu said:
the Ric-O-Sound Box is used with the stereo jack, you're able to use both pickups at the same time to 2 separate amp-systems, use the search function, for more information.
Click to expand...

To clarify, the neck pup can be sent to one destination and the bridge pup to another. A simple stereo cable with a Y connector on one end can be used to eliminate the Ric-O-Sound Box which simply splits the two signals.
 
#13
Well...

Seems there's a website called The-Music-Connection. They have a "Ric Page" on their site. They also had a midnight blue 4003 listed as in stock. "Had" being the operative word. I bought the darn thing! It has the thin neck profile. push/pull switch, body binding, triangular inlays, case, warranty and everything. Exactly what I wanted. Unplayed and undisplayed. Man I love the midnight blue too! Now I just have to contain myself for a few days, lol! Uh, pics to come of course ;)

It's a good day!
 
#15
My 2006 had a slight flaw from the factory. The nut was angled a teeny bit in the slot. Wade's Guitar Shop in Milwaukee took care of it without issue. Technically, the nut is not "covered" under the warranty but Wade would not even consider charging me. I did not have the tailpiece "lift" that some of the older 4003's are prone to.

My '07 Jetglo should be here around July. I expect it to be just as awesome.
 
#16
The guy who sold me my 4003 had a Chris Squire signature that he said was total junk, basically completely nonfunctional, and he had to send it back. I think they sent him his money back, and he has bought several Rickenbackers since. Their quality control is generally very good.
 
#17
It has the thin neck profile.
Click to expand...

Don't want to hi-jack, but I've searched here, made a thread, searched in the Ric forum, no luck: Can anyone tell me exactly what the difference between the pre-(mid)2006 neck profile and the new one is? A width-at-nut measurement would be nice. :)

Thanks!
 
#18
Btone said:
Don't want to hi-jack, but I've searched here, made a thread, searched in the Ric forum, no luck: Can anyone tell me exactly what the difference between the pre-(mid)2006 neck profile and the new one is? A width-at-nut measurement would be nice. :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sorry I can't give you a positive answer, but I'm pretty sure the nut width hasn't changed, only the thickness from the frets to the back of the neck. I don't know how much they took off or how the shape has changed either, so I guess I'm not much help =P.

But I do have THIS
Hi Wade,
Your 4003 Midnight was shipped today via UPS insured..
Tracking # is:
XX XXX XXX XX XXXX XXXX

Track at:
Invalid Link Removed

thanks and enjoy!
mike
Click to expand...

hooohooohooo!! This is gonna be a tough wait, I hope it's not too long :help:
 
#19
Btone said:
Don't want to hi-jack, but I've searched here, made a thread, searched in the Ric forum, no luck: Can anyone tell me exactly what the difference between the pre-(mid)2006 neck profile and the new one is? A width-at-nut measurement would be nice. :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Back of the neck to the fretboard is slightly thinner all the way up to the 12th fret. Fretboard radius and nut with is the same. Other change is adjustable pole pieces on both pickups.

My Ric was a 4th week of February '06. It just had the vintage tone contol. I played a July '06 it had the adjustable pole pieces but a neck like mine. I played a late fall '06 and it had the slightly thinner neck. All of the '06s including mine have the cap out push pull bridge tone switch.

Rickenbacker just took delivery on an additional [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] so production is going to increase. They're just catchig up on 06 production now. The 2006 COY AFG's (amber fire glos) and MIDs (midnight blue) 4003s are shipping now. Looks like it'll be mid to late summer for my '07 Jetglo. :crying:
 
#20
Ok, thanks!
ustabawannab, from what you say, I reckon the difference between the two isn't dramatic. Would you say it's

1)Hardly noticable
2)Noticable, but nothing big
3)The old one is much chunkier
4)It's night and day!!!

:hiding:
 

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