Heya guys. I wanna get a bright bass this summer. Should I get an American Deluxe Jazz Bass V, another type of 4/5 string Jazz or get a Rickenbacker 4003? I'm leaning towards the American Deluxe V just because it can do pretty much everything, but I might want just a 4 string for comfortability's sake. I want the 5er for more metal stuff like a Periphery or Animals as Leaders tune as well as some Electric Wizard or Mastodon, but that low B's gonna be ignored in any Rush or Yes tune. Do you think that the low B on the 5er is gonna be out of the way enough?
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Rick or 5 string jazz...
- Thread starter J03YW
- Start date
Get the rick and find a cheaper 5 string and get that too. Problem solved. Upgrade the 5 later if you want. Check out 4001's also. If you want that classic bright tone I think they consistently hit it more than 4003's.
I wouldn't do the 4003 either... get a 4001 if you do the Ric. Aside from that, these are pretty far from apples and apples. A Ric does what a Ric does and a J does what a J does. I guess ultimately (if you are Geddy that is) they are almost one in the same. I've never had that sort of luck though.
It really sounds like you want a 5'er or at least a 4 tuned B E A D. If you are of the mind that G strings are for strippers, you can go that route.
I'd also look at Lakland before Fender. You might also think about Carvin or even a E.B. most MM 5'ers I've player were really sweet (but the wrong scale for me).
It seems that you are a 34 inch scale guy, correct? That might steer your decision making a little too.
Be good and GL,
Dan
It really sounds like you want a 5'er or at least a 4 tuned B E A D. If you are of the mind that G strings are for strippers, you can go that route.
I'd also look at Lakland before Fender. You might also think about Carvin or even a E.B. most MM 5'ers I've player were really sweet (but the wrong scale for me).
It seems that you are a 34 inch scale guy, correct? That might steer your decision making a little too.
Be good and GL,
Dan
- Apr 15, 2010
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- Spector Artist
If you're into metal stuff get yourself a Spector. They make 35" 4string basses Euro 435LX for BEAD tuning. Otherwise a Rick 
I am completely the opposite. I honestly can't stand playing RICs. I love the look and the sound, but ergonomically they just aren't for me. To each their own though.
I have owned a few Fender Jazz Deluxe 5ers and they are great basses. I played one in one band and barely even touchd the B string as the music didn't need it.
Personally, I'd say 5 string Ibanez. Get Prestige line stuff and you'll probably still have cash for more stuff instead of getting a Ric (which I hear are their own sound, good or bad). Ibbys are quite versatile, and affordable!
just ran out to the music store and tried out my 2 options, and I gotta say, the Rick's neck is just the worst thing I have ever touched. Ever. It sounded incredible, but IMHO it pales in comparison to the J. I don't want to be a fanboy of anyone, but every Fender I've picked up just felt really nice to me, as opposed to the Rickenbacker's really boxy feel. As opposed to all the contours and sleekness of the Jazz bass, the Rickenbacker just felt really boxy and huge to me. I guess the point I should get to is that as a guy with small hands, the 4003 has an absolutely enormous neck that just doesn't work for me. My mind has been made, and now I just need to make the money.
Personally I think 4001/4003 basses and Jazz Basses each have pretty much just a couple tones that sound a lot like the other type of bass.
However, beyond those, I'd say they're very different. There are sounds on a Rickenbacker that I've never been able to get on a Jazz Bass, and vice versa.
I have a Jazz American Deluxe V and a Mapleglow 4003.
The tone of the Jazz is great and very different to the Ric.
However I probably play my Ric twice as much (I'm predominantly a pick player) and its looks are just, well you know.
Only thing that, to my ear, lets the Ric down is the E string tones: if you want boom you don't get it from my Ric's E String. I think it is possible to get a beefier sound but you have to play around with the amplification set up.
The tone of the Jazz is great and very different to the Ric.
However I probably play my Ric twice as much (I'm predominantly a pick player) and its looks are just, well you know.
Only thing that, to my ear, lets the Ric down is the E string tones: if you want boom you don't get it from my Ric's E String. I think it is possible to get a beefier sound but you have to play around with the amplification set up.
Speaking as someone who's primarily been playing 5-strings for the past 11 years, I can tell you: if the string is there, you CAN use it. Even if you are playing stuff "originally written on a 4-string". In my old rockabilly band, I used to hang on the 10th fret of the B-string a LOT ...
It is just an extra string. Just. An. Extra. String. There is nothing about it that will say anything about your playing ability. Nada. Niks. Buy whichever bass feels better, and be happy with it.
I agree. In a covers band, I primarily use it as a 'not bothering to rune to drop D' string (and have since stopped that upon realising how much easier songs written for drop D are in *actual* drop D), but when I wasn't doing that it makes a great thumb rest
I never really reconciled it's different tone compared to the other strings, in terms of using it in a higher position, but it's certainly never something I would strive not to have.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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Rick or 5 string jazz...
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For me I got a 5 string jazz and a 5 string Rick.
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For me I got a 5 string jazz and a 5 string Rick.
I love my Ricky but I'd have to go with the 5r Jazz. More versatility with the 5th string plus the more modern Geddy tone. This allows you to play the metal without having to de-tune the Rick, learn the song on the 4-string and then come to a song where learning a tune on a 4-string is impractical and you need to buy a 5r anyway.
