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Rickenbacher - Good or Bad?

#41
bassbenj said:
Well I guess I'd better put my SX (old headstock) basses up for sale then.
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I'm not sure how headstock shape matters in this point... I own both an old headstock shape and an Ursa SX and they're both equally great. :shrug:

OT. I also really dig my Ric. I really like the tone of it but the lack of contours dig in when playing sitting down. Standing up, it's a non-issue.
 
#44
hdracer said:
95 Ric's?? WOW!! I know Ric dealers that haven't seen 95 different Ric's. Tell me, Did you loose much money on any of them when you sold or traded them?
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I have never lost money on a Ric...I have always done well buying them so it has never been an issue..I have a serial number list of all of the ones that I have had...it is hilarious to me when I see one show up on ebay years after I have had it..
 
#45
From the hater side of the arena I simply find them to very uncomfortable both body and neck and to be insanely awful looking. My better half told me the first time she saw one that if I ever bring one home it would need to stay out of sight, I told her that won't be an issue.
 
#46
I think they're OK.

They look good with binding and triangle inlays. They used to look great, the 4001 with triangles, binding, and the dark strip of wood down the center of the neck. Now, just good. I like the bridge mutes. I like the necks of 2 of the many I have played. They generally sound like a bass. My old 4001 with Bartolinis sounded better than the stock ones I've tried.

Poor balance, necks too thick on most of the ones I've encountered, very pricey considering all the quality basses out there. They generally sound like a bass. Plugging one in does not turn you into Chris Squire or Geddy Lee - there's a lot going on there besides the bass itself to get those tones.

So, some things I like, some I don't, averages out to "OK."
 
#47
Fantastic looking. Horrible feeling and playing. Biggest disappointment of any bass I've ever owned. Still love looking at them. Love hearing them recorded. Played a newer one recently and very over-priced. They are a $500 instrument in a $2000 body. New Squiers feel and sound better. Wait, Squiers are $300 and better.

They are the quintessential Prog Nerd bass bar none. Geddy looked cool as hell with it.

You ain't gonna sound like Squire or Geddy just by plugging one up. You're gonna spend tons more loot to mod and buy Ampeg heads.
 
#48
Greevus said:
Fantastic looking. Horrible feeling and playing. Biggest disappointment of any bass I've ever owned. Still love looking at them. Love hearing them recorded. Played a newer one recently and very over-priced. They are a $500 instrument in a $2000 body. New Squiers feel and sound better. Wait, Squiers are $300 and better.

They are the quintessential Prog Nerd bass bar none. Geddy looked cool as hell with it.

You ain't gonna sound like Squire or Geddy just by plugging one up. You're gonna spend tons more loot to mod and buy Ampeg heads.
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Funny how one mans trash is another mans treasure! Mine plays great, sounds great, and gets lots of attention. $500.00 instrument in a $2000.00? Well mine was $1590.00 which included L.A county's ridicules 9.75% tax rate. I don't think a Squire bass can hold a candle to my Ric IMHO, but to each their own. Quintessential Prog Nerd bass? Would that include Paul McCartney? Not in my opinion, and for the record I have absolutely no desire to sound like Chris Squire or Geddy Lee (not that I really could). I play this bass in a bluesy rock band, and it has lots of tone for my needs.
 
#49
When I joined my Band, I was heavily encouraged to try and use the "Vintage Ric" my Guitar player owns that the last few Bassist of the band used (yes I am #4 or #5 I lost track). I was hesitant, because I really enjoy and know in depth on a personal level every little thing about my own Bass (SR800 w/custom adds). Eventually I caved and gave it a whirl. In fact I tired on multiple occasions, and to be honest, I don't get it. I don't know what all the fuss is about. It was more cumbersome, then my current bass, sounded like ass, and that stupid useless chrome thing was directly in the path of where I naturally finger.

To each is own I guess... Personally the whole Vintage thing does nothing for me. Technology has gotten a lot better over the years, and brought us some amazing things. Some old crusty pile of electronics, is probably not going to sound much better then a new pile of electronics. Meh. Why dwell in the past when we can embrace the future?

(edit) yes I know my bass is probably considered "vintage" now too, but I bought it fairly new in 1991, I guess I'm dating myself now...
 
#50
Dear Greevus and Omnimutant:

I felt much like you when I first played a Ric.

They sure don't feel like a good old P Bass at first, that's for sure.

But, as Greevus said, most people appreciate the way they record. I couldn't stop thinking about those awesome Ric tracks, so I kept trying to get my head, and my hands, around my Rickenbacker.

Well, it didn't take long before I was reasonably comfortable. Boy am I glad I hung in there. One more very useful color for my tone pallette.

Oh, by the way, alot of Ric players think they're easier to play with that "stupid useless chrome thing" (a.k.a. pickup cover) removed. Very easy to do.
 
#52
Rocky said:
True, and I installed a "Treble bezel" purchased on ebay from a company called Tubeampology for 25.00. It is a nice addition to the bass, and is super easy to install.

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+1. Here's what it looks like on my 4001...

P1060202.jpg
 
#53
Jaymi said:
I have never lost money on a Ric...I have always done well buying them so it has never been an issue..I have a serial number list of all of the ones that I have had...it is hilarious to me when I see one show up on ebay years after I have had it..
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BINGO!!!! How did I know that that was going to be you answer? That is a great thing about Ric's, they hold there value.
Oh, and as far as Prog rock nurd? I hate prog rock! Now, you want to call Lemmy a nerd? I sure wish my Cirrus could hold it's value like a Ric. I can only get penny's on the dollar for it.
 
#55
hdracer said:
BINGO!!!! How did I know that that was going to be you answer? That is a great thing about Ric's, they hold there value.
Oh, and as far as Prog rock nurd? I hate prog rock! Now, you want to call Lemmy a nerd? I sure wish my Cirrus could hold it's value like a Ric. I can only get penny's on the dollar for it.
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Whether or not he is a nerd does not matter, all that matters is IMO his music is less enjoyable than a rabbit screaming because it has an 8 ft Boa wrapped around it.
 
#56
hdracer said:
BINGO!!!! How did I know that that was going to be you answer? That is a great thing about Ric's, they hold there value.
Oh, and as far as Prog rock nurd? I hate prog rock! Now, you want to call Lemmy a nerd? I sure wish my Cirrus could hold it's value like a Ric. I can only get penny's on the dollar for it.
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+1

What a coincidence, I also have a gorgeous Peavey Cirrus 5 USA in peacock blue that I've been playing with my 9-piece horn band. This bass sounds amazing, but, sadly, if I ever go to sell it, I'll be lucky to get half of my investment back.

My three Rics, however, are like money in the bank earning interest.
 
#57
Rocky said:
Engine207, is that a new style Hipshot tailpiece? Looks nice! Notice any improvement?
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It is...as I mentioned in post 37, it's the brass version, and weighs about 62 lbs., so there's a bit of sustain. I also like the laterally adjustable saddles. It replaced a BadAss II, which was also excellent.

Really, I initially bought it from a fellow TBer because it was a smokin deal and I thought it looked cool. But yeagh...overall, I'd say it's improvement.
 
#59
Engine207 said:
It is...as I mentioned in post 37, it's the brass version, and weighs about 62 lbs., so there's a bit of sustain. I also like the laterally adjustable saddles. It replaced a BadAss II, which was also excellent.

Really, I initially bought it from a fellow TBer because it was a smokin deal and I thought it looked cool. But yeagh...overall, I'd say it's improvement.
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I read a few reviews that state the brass version is the way to go. I may do this mod if I can convince myself to part with the stock unit which I love the look of. My bass is new, and I have noticed the E string has a bit of a hollow tone to it if I run the tone controls full open (especially on the 12 fret). However if I back both controls too 3/4 then its not as noticeable. I read somewhere this tone is caused by the lighter weight tailpiece on the newer basses. I had thought maybe it was the string itself. Did you experience this before you changed tailpieces?
 
#60
Aspidites said:
Whether or not he is a nerd does not matter, all that matters is IMO his music is less enjoyable than a rabbit screaming because it has an 8 ft Boa wrapped around it.
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The closest I've heard to that was a rabbit screaming because it was bitten by an 8ft boa (what a coincidence!) who had been pried off its bleeding flank before any suffocation could commence. Personally, I would have taken Motorhead over that noise, but that's kind of like saying I'd rather be shot in the lung than tossed in a wood chipper.:p
 

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