Has anybody taken the guts of a Ric and put them into a different bass body? I love the classic Ric sound but a I hate the ergonomics. Pics would be great!
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Ric in a P Bass body?
- Thread starter steveinohio
- Start date
The pickups are no doubt a big part of the Ric sound, but I think the neck through construction is a larger factor. Playing my Fenders and Ric unplugged, even with the same strings, they sound dramatically different.
It would be an interesting experiment, no doubt.
The Ric ergonomics take some getting used to, but you do get used to it eventually. After playing Fenders exclusively for a decade, it took me the better part of a year to get comfortable with my 4003.
Edit: this should probably be in the Bass forums.
It would be an interesting experiment, no doubt.
The Ric ergonomics take some getting used to, but you do get used to it eventually. After playing Fenders exclusively for a decade, it took me the better part of a year to get comfortable with my 4003.
Edit: this should probably be in the Bass forums.
This is TB user Macinator's
Also, this thread would probably fair better in the Bass section, not the amps.
Also, this thread would probably fair better in the Bass section, not the amps.
As I see it you would be wasting your time trying this. A Ric has its own sound that is the sum of all the parts that comprises the bass. A P also has its own sound in a similar fashion. Don't try to turn a sows ear into a silk purse. You might just end up with the sows butt!.
Thanks for the replies guys! I didnt men to post this in amps! Sorry! Can I move this? Can a Mod move it? Thanks!
I have actually owned a few Rics and a few of the copies. I had an Ibanez copy and it was fantastic in the fact that it was close to a Ric. It was a bolt on and to me it sounded just like another Rickenbacker.
I dont care for the string tension of Rics. I also dont like the fact that they dont have forearm bevels. The pickup surround gets in my way as well.
Im really interested in how this would turn out. Where is the best place to get custom routing?
I have actually owned a few Rics and a few of the copies. I had an Ibanez copy and it was fantastic in the fact that it was close to a Ric. It was a bolt on and to me it sounded just like another Rickenbacker.
I dont care for the string tension of Rics. I also dont like the fact that they dont have forearm bevels. The pickup surround gets in my way as well.
Im really interested in how this would turn out. Where is the best place to get custom routing?
Check out a Ric 4004- most of the same tone but with body contours and the same string-spacing as a Fender. The stock pickups are a different flavor than the 4003, though you can coil spilt 'em to get very close. I put Classic Amplification single-coil Ric pickups in mine and redid the electronics like a 4001 and it kills!
this is the right idea, but the pickups aren't in quite the right locations, which defines the tone more than anything else.This is TB user Macinator's
even regular J pickups in the ric locations on a fender-style bass would go a long way towards creating the ric sound.
Been there and done that and it's right. You can get a very convincing Ric sound with jazz pickups in the same positions as a Ric.
What is the problem with string tension? What other strings have you tried on the bass besides the stock RIC strings as supplied new (which are quite nice BTW)? Is there too much or too little tension? Strings come in all kinds of tensions and feels so I don't understand your question about the string tension on a Rick bass.
In response to the second part, as mentioned by someone above, a 4004 series bass could be the answer.
Or a 2030, GF in my case.
What is the problem with string tension? What other strings have you tried on the bass besides the stock RIC strings as supplied new (which are quite nice BTW)? Is there too much or too little tension? Strings come in all kinds of tensions and feels so I don't understand your question about the string tension on a Rick bass.
In response to the second part, as mentioned by someone above, a 4004 series bass could be the answer.
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Or a 2030, GF in my case.
Or, if you want to keep the more classic Ric look, there's now the 4003s, though those 4004s are quite sweet as well.
S bodies are great 
! However, 4004 bodies have more contouring to them, are lighter in weight, generally, and also adress some of the other things that steveinohio is concerned with.
! However, 4004 bodies have more contouring to them, are lighter in weight, generally, and also adress some of the other things that steveinohio is concerned with.
My Guild B-302 puts me in enough of the same realm as my 4003. The neck is a bit beefier and the pickups have a little more low end, but a lot of the tone that I like is still there.
I could have sworn I saw this in the Bass section when it was first posted. Maybe a Mod fat-fingered it over here by mistake?
I had a Jag built with a maple body and 51 p pickups in the Ric spots. I also have a 4003. I think it gets damn close. If you used actual Ric pickups on a fender body, you'd probably get even closer.
Here's an audio comparison I did.
Paul Paldino's profile - Listen to music
Here's an audio comparison I did.
Paul Paldino's profile - Listen to music
I second the Peavey T-40. Super versatile. If you want a scalpel that covers a huge variety of sounds then this is the one. I have played Rickies, P-basses, Thunderbirds, jazz...etc...and this is where I ended up. Downside it weighs quite a bit; upside you can find them for $200 to $300.
