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Rickenbacker bass??

#24
Gotta agree with what Ric5 says to a point. Some Ric guys are a bit snobbish and don't want to hear any criticism, even if its kind and constructive. That being said I love mine, even with its flaws. Is it Gods holy light, no, but if you want one I would take the time to shop around and play them. However I personally think that comparing a jazz to a rick is kind of silly as they are much more dissimilar that similar. If you have one of each (at least) you will not need much else. Just how I see it.
 
#27
Congrats, and welcome to the fold. Great basses, (even before 2008). I've had a '76 and '77 4001, an '85 and '99 4003, and currently an' 06 4003 and '08 4004Cii. Only the '76 4001 gave me any trouble, and that was some severe neck issues. All the rest were 100% perfect in every way. I think you'll have some fun with yours, or at least I hope you do.
 
#28
You can't go wrong with a Rick, but I mean that only from the point of view of being unlikely to lose out financially when you sell it. They are a strange animal, and are suited to a lot of styles, but for the cost of them, they are seriously flawed. Shocking tailpiece which owes more to historical tradition than any practical use. Plastic Pick-up cover which serves no useful purpose at all and is only there to mimic the old 'horseshoe' style pickups of the past. I would guess 80-90% of Rick players remove it and then have to live with a massive hole where the bridge pickup sits (and the crazy sharp corners that are exposed on the pickup surround - right over my finger-plucking sweet spot). I have owned a few over the years, but again and again I keep returning to my P or J. I am in good company, because history is littered with famous bassists who have used a Rick in their early days (which is where a lot of people first get that urge to emulate them and acquire a Rick), but always settled on something more practical and fit for purpose... John Entwistle, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Geddy Lee, Mike Mills, Mike Rutherford... even Chris Squire has strayed. It seems like a Rick is the must-have bass, for a little while at least.

And I agree about the intolerance of a lot of Rick enthusiasts. Far too many of them will jump on the slightest criticism. It really doesn't make for a healthy debate.

Ricks are well-made but flawed. There are other far cheaper alternatives that can make the same sounds without having to put up with the defective metalwork designs.

Just my opinion of course.
 
#29
FrankBlankPlank said:
Shocking tailpiece which owes more to historical tradition than any practical use. Plastic Pick-up cover which serves no useful purpose at all and is only there to mimic the old 'horseshoe' style pickups of the past.
Click to expand...

HOW COULD YOU! That bridge is a timeless solid design and the pickup cover is a vital peice of the Ric sound! You, Sir are an animal for even suggesting that anything is wrong with anything they ever put their name on. I hope you are not involved the Rickenbacker forum on the company site, but if you are, I am writing to John Hall as we speak to have your name stricken from the record. Now be gone!
:D :D :D

But seriosuly, the pickup cover does offer a modicum of buzz prevention I am told, but I yanked mine. I don't personally find it hard to play, I rest my thumb right on the pickup itself. But lets face it, if you love ricks you'll put up with anything, but if you are a bass lover, you'll admit that all designs could use improvements in something. The two do not have to be mutually exclusive.
 
#30
Ive used ricks since 1982 . Im also a huge jazz bass fan as well.I have both at present . Two 66 jazz basses and 4 ricks . I play the ricks 99 percent of the time . Ive found that almost every tone you can think of can be produced with a rick bass. From country to jazz , swing , pop , rock ,metal. The inherently have a touch more low end then the jazz bass wich only adds to the versatility. But like Fenders . They are all as different as finger prints and snow flakes. So you gotta look for the right one for you . but once you find it ,putting it down will not be an option . Also one for the record here . I think John Hall is a physco with a mile long chip on his shoulders . He's riding on the corperate name and could give a F%*k less about the consumer . A true thimble headed Gherkin . By used Ricks . He doesnt deserve your money ........ Whew....were's the tylenol
 
#31
Rick bridges are made of pot metal and over time bend. I use the hipshot rick replacement bridge and its a far !!!! superior design. I just got booted off the RRF for saying the bridge design was junk . No joke !
 
#32
I love 4001's to . But, they have a few quirks . mainly the truss rods and the mandatory cap removal. But they are killer . 4003's corrected both of these problems . Wich makes them pretty much bullet proof
 
#33
Yeah, that old bridge design needs to be retired....hipshot beat them to the punch, that is why J Hall gets his panties in a wad when it comes to discussion about it....

I agree, buy a used one because he does not need your money and you can do a whole lot better when it comes to getting a bass with character and something already settled, right Jeff?
 
#37
All the real sick rick zealots hang out at the Rick Resource Forum Go there and you can laugh and get pissed off at the same time .It has its share of good people there as well . but they too will end up leaving . Its really only a matter of time .
 
#39
Ric5 said:
I am a long time Ric user. They are good basses. My problem is that some of the Ric fans are mean as hell. Some of them really hate me because I point out some of the flaws in the instruments and then I say I prefer my homemade jazz basses to my Rics.

But the Ric is a good bass ... slightly over-rated and slightly over-priced but still good.
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No one likes to have their pride and joy taken down a few notches. Having said that I find your comments refreshing and quite plausable. I have been and still am thinking of finally adding one these icons into the mix. I know you do enjoy the RIC and do not take any offense of your comments. As a mater of fact, I would select a 4004 model based on some of the things you have mentioned.
 
#40
coltronamor said:
ive had a rick for about half a year or better now
and i love it, was a nice upgrade from my fender jazz

things i liked about it was thicker neck at the first fret, the goss finish on the fret board makes slides extremely fun, and who can argue with that tone?
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I kinda went the opposite way ... I was a Rickenbacker player since 73 ... The last few years I got into 5 string jazz basses ... I put a 4 string p-bass neck on them and string them with 5 strings ... I like the narrower nut and tapered neck ...
 

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