Rickenbacker..... i just don't understand the hype.

[BAG]

I played a Ric for the first time yesterday and to say i was underwhelmed would be a massive understatement.

It was a brand new Jetglo 4003 which was on sale for $3549. To put this into perspective i also played a Fender Am Pro Jazz at $2629, an MIM Jazz at $1199 and a Squier VM PJ at $699.

The first thing i noticed was that it wasn't as uncomfortable as many have said other than the pickup cover getting in the way. I could quite easily physically play one without complaint.

Now for the negatives...... The second thing i noticed was that the single ply pick guard looked like it was made for a cheap Chinese toy. Really, really cheap looking. Then the finish, which when held up to the light, looked very thin and showed obvious ripples as though done by a beginner. It wasn't really bad as such but when it's one of the more expensive basses in the shop you should expect much better. Finally, the pickups output was very weak.

I can say with certainty that if i knew nothing about Rics and was handed one of these after playing the Squier VM PJ (which actually sounded better than all but the Am Pro) i would have guessed it would cost less than the Squier when taking into account the fit, finish and sound.

LET THE FLAMING BEGIN!!!

 

[Trouztrouz]

All those words and nothing to say about how it sounded. Hmm.

So buy a bass you like. No one's forcing you to love a Rick.

 

[Son of Wobble]

I played a Ric for the first time yesterday and to say i was underwhelmed would be a massive understatement.

It was a brand new Jetglo 4003 which was on sale for $3549. To put this into perspective i also played a Fender Am Pro Jazz at $2629, an MIM Jazz at $1199 and a Squier VM PJ at $699.

The first thing i noticed was that it wasn't as uncomfortable as many have said other than the pickup cover getting in the way. I could quite easily physically play one without complaint.

Now for the negatives...... The second thing i noticed was that the single ply pick guard looked like it was made for a cheap Chinese toy. Really, really cheap looking. Then the finish, which when held up to the light, looked very thin and showed obvious ripples as though done by a beginner. It wasn't really bad as such but when it's one of the more expensive basses in the shop you should expect much better. Finally, the pickups output was very weak.

I can say with certainty that if i knew nothing about Rics and was handed one of these after playing the Squier VM PJ (which actually sounded better than all but the Am Pro) i would have guessed it would cost less than the Squier when taking into account the fit, finish and sound.

LET THE FLAMING BEGIN!!!

What? You weren't impressed with that bad-azz hunk of plastic pickup cover??? A steal at three grand, bwahaha

 

[BAG]

All those words and nothing to say about how it sounded. Hmm.

So buy a bass you like. No one's forcing you to love a Rick.

The only words that came to me in regards to the sound while playing it was "weak". Thinking about it more now I did like the mid-toppy sound i got with a pick but not enough to part with over $3500.

And you're right, I will only buy a bass i like, but with all the hype that surrounds Rics I thought I'd share my first impression of playing one.

 

[ajkula66]

LET THE FLAMING BEGIN!!!

Nah. You're safe.

If you were to trash a Precision, that would be a very different story.

 

[Son of Wobble]

...as for their sound, the 4003 is glorious when used in an auto-destruct finish, as the redundant and cheap plastic bits really make quite a clatter as they disperse.

 

[jd56hawk]

I only take exception to anti G&L threads.

 

[Son of Wobble]

This one sounded fantastic.

 

[Spidey2112]

My 4001 was $500, new, in '80... sounds even better, today, than it did when I first got it, because over the years I learned how to become one with whatever was put in front of me...

... I couldn't tell you if the pickguard is cheap, or not, as I don't think it affects my sound.

 

[12BitSlab]

So you didn't like a bass that was selling for $1,100 more than retail.

Was it autographed by all 4 of the Beatles?

 

[ajkula66]

So you didn't like a bass that was selling for $1,100 more than retail.

Given that the OP is in Australia, I'd presume he was referring to the Australian Dollar...

Was it autographed by all 4 of the Beatles?

Nah, just by Pete Best.

 

[Spidey2112]

This one sounded fantastic.

View attachment 1167862

"I felt a great disturbance in the Ric-Realm, as if millions of G-strings suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

Geddy Won Shadoobie

 

[40Hz]

Why not just focus on the basses you actually like to play and not worry about the basses you don't care for?

Saves time and typing.

 

[BAG]

So you didn't like a bass that was selling for $1,100 more than retail.

Was it autographed by all 4 of the Beatles?

Actually that price is nearly $500 LESS than retail here in Australia. You obviously missed where i stated that it was on special and the quoted prices for the other basses in my OP didn't twig you to the fact that we're not talking US dollars?

 

[Spidey2112]

Why not just focus on the basses you actually like to play and not worry about the basses you don't care for?

Saves time and typing.

Well put...

 

[bobyoung53]

Rickenbackers can sometimes be an acquired taste, I acquired the taste in 1977. I also own Fenders and Gibsons but still love my 4001 and my 4003FL. How much is 3549.00 in American dollars?

 

[Son of Wobble]

Rickenbackers can sometimes be an acquired taste, I acquired the taste in 1977. I also own Fenders and Gibsons but still love my 4001 and my 4003FL. How much is 3549.00 in American dollars?

77 US cents to the Aussie dollar. So it is still very expensive!

 

[bobyoung53]

77 US cents to the Aussie dollar. So it is still very expensive!

Man! That's almost double what we pay.

 

[ajkula66]

Rickenbackers can sometimes be an acquired taste, I acquired the taste in 1977.

I concur. Love the sound, but have yet to find one with a neck that I can live with in the longer run. I know it's "out there somewhere" as Moody Blues would have it...

 

[40Hz]

How much is 3549.00 in American dollars

Around $2700 USD.