Ok so I've been playing bass for about 5 years now and I think I need to upgrade from my made-in-China fender j bass. I did some math and I think that if I work all summer I will make about $1500-$2000. Anyway, I want to buy a ric; I have played one and I love the feel and the sound, and I'm only 14 so who knows maybe the ric will be worth $5,000 by the time I'm 30. I'm wondering though, with $1500 I could buy a a great bass or a good rig (which I kind of need). This question is directed to anyone who will post- What would you do in this situation?
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Ric or Rig?
- Thread starter hybridmoments21
- Start date
Rig 1st, since you said you needed it.
Also big respect on your comments about working for your gear. With that attitude you'll probably have a killer rig and a Ric before you know it.
One assumes you have some sort of amp now.
I'd pick the Ric. Were you wanting a new or used or does it even matter to you?
The used prices have been dropping (I imagine they are for all equipment). If used isn't a big deal then I'd get the Ric now.
Used rigs or even new rigs you can always find deals on. You won't always find deals on a used Ric.
Used isn't bad. I recently picked up my '86 4003S/5 for $900 that had sat on a wall or in a case for the last 20 years or so. It's mint.
You just need some patience and a goal.
Good luck.
I'd pick the Ric. Were you wanting a new or used or does it even matter to you?
The used prices have been dropping (I imagine they are for all equipment). If used isn't a big deal then I'd get the Ric now.
Used rigs or even new rigs you can always find deals on. You won't always find deals on a used Ric.
Used isn't bad. I recently picked up my '86 4003S/5 for $900 that had sat on a wall or in a case for the last 20 years or so. It's mint.
You just need some patience and a goal.
Good luck.
Considering the state of the economy, you might be able to swing both. If you are patient and scour/snipe eBay, you should be able to get a nice "broken in" Ric for $1200 or so, maybe even less. Things are not going for the prices they were last year at this time. I dunno how loud/large of a rig you are looking for, but you could swing a nice head like an LMII for under $400 and a solid cab like an Avatar or Carvin used for a couple hundred.
Work your tail off and save all you can! I admire your attitude. The first bass I bought with my own money was the same way. It was also a Ric and 15 years ago I only paid $500 for it!
Work your tail off and save all you can! I admire your attitude. The first bass I bought with my own money was the same way. It was also a Ric and 15 years ago I only paid $500 for it!
It depends on how much power you want your rig to be. But personally I would go with the Ric, used most likely. Be sure to download a nifty Ebay tool (Forgot its name), it is like a "sniper" and will place an automatic winning bid in the last seconds of the auction.
By the ways, I am in the same situation as you and may I ask what you job you will be partaking in during the Summer Break?
By the ways, I am in the same situation as you and may I ask what you job you will be partaking in during the Summer Break?
Get the Ric, and save a little while longer for a nice Acoustic rig. Fantastic amps for practically no money at all.
I've done the same thing. I was in the process of saving to save when a used and abused 1975 Ric 4001 came my way for $1300. I scooped it up so quickly!
I'm actually in the process of building the exact rig I want. I'm working 24 hours a week and taking 15 hours of classes at OSU to maintain my habits. I'm 20 by the way. I'm after no other basses besides a long time build I've been meaning to do. My rig-I'm picking up a YBA-200 this weekend and topping it off with an old 8x10 I'll be dropping Jensen Mod10-50's into for an attempt at an old school sound. Almost a poor man's SVT rig.
Currently, I went for basses before amps. I picked up some cheap ones along the way, one of which turned out to be a real gem! If you find a Crate BT-350 on the used market, scoop it up. I paid $150 for my favorite amp I've owned so far and my favorite SS (well, hybrid) amp I've ever used!
Summary: Do whichever comes your way first / the best deal. It'll sting waiting for the other half though!
I'm actually in the process of building the exact rig I want. I'm working 24 hours a week and taking 15 hours of classes at OSU to maintain my habits. I'm 20 by the way. I'm after no other basses besides a long time build I've been meaning to do. My rig-I'm picking up a YBA-200 this weekend and topping it off with an old 8x10 I'll be dropping Jensen Mod10-50's into for an attempt at an old school sound. Almost a poor man's SVT rig.
Currently, I went for basses before amps. I picked up some cheap ones along the way, one of which turned out to be a real gem! If you find a Crate BT-350 on the used market, scoop it up. I paid $150 for my favorite amp I've owned so far and my favorite SS (well, hybrid) amp I've ever used!
Summary: Do whichever comes your way first / the best deal. It'll sting waiting for the other half though!
This. Plus, buying a bass as an investment for the next 16 years is pointless, IMO.
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
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By the ric.....amps are pretty cheap....rics are not..and they are not showing any real signs of losing value...an amp will drop in value almost immediately...
A cheap bass through a nice bass will almost always sound better than a nice bass through a cheap amp.
While this may be true, if you're used to playing a cheap bass through a cheap amp, an upgrade either way will sound worlds better most likely.
Absolutely stay away from Acoustic. TERRIBLE. My school has one, I use it every day. For $1500, you can get a Markbass LMIII, Avatar 2X12, and a decent 5-6 hundred dollar bass. If you end up with $2000, you can get an even nicer bass.
RIC at the prices now, buy the ric
Emotional attachment to a bass, that thing will be SWEET.
Rig wise, just save up a bit more, you can get a good rig for 300$, heck i did.
Emotional attachment to a bass, that thing will be SWEET.
Rig wise, just save up a bit more, you can get a good rig for 300$, heck i did.
Not if you're playing through a PA. The audience hears your cheap bass. Period.
Its an age old debate. I say get the bass you want - amp is secondary. Important, yes, but at a gig its not much more than a stage monitor.
