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

[AnthonyW]

Rickenbackers are very responsive to the type of string you use even different brands of round wounds will sound very different, flat wounds also sound good on them, try backing off the neck pickup just a little bit it will give you more bite in the sound, they are usually very bassy with both pickups on full. A lot of times new ones come with high action, they sound better with the action a little on the low side to me anyway.

I definitely agree about the action. For me the ric sound is low action and hit the strings really hard. The ric growl is enhanced, not hindered by copious amounts of fret buzz.

 

[bwoodman]

They look cool. I have always liked the body / head stock shape. My first was a 4001 new in 1979. I ended up selling it a few years later after trying out a Stingray, then a Sabre, Jazz - soon after that, my first Tobias. I had been looking to get another RIC ever since, but was considering the 4004 because I prefer no binding - easier on the arm. When they brought out the 4003S, I grabbed a Mapleglo for around $1400 USD - not bad IMO. I really like the look of the "S" better - no binding, dots on the board, no stereo jack. It's not a bass for every song or every gig for that matter, but it's cool to have it in my collection.

 

[BrickBatMansion]

Ric's are what I refer to as trophy wives...............they are beautiful, hard to work on, design flaws, etc......but when you understand "ric-o-sound"............it makes it all worthwhile.

 

[funkymonk13]

What you're feeling is a mixture of having played a dud coupled with the fact that bass manufacturing has come such a long way that sub $500 basses are amazing as ****

 

[bobyoung53]

They look cool. I have always liked the body / head stock shape. My first was a 4001 new in 1979. I ended up selling it a few years later after trying out a Stingray, then a Sabre, Jazz - soon after that, my first Tobias. I had been looking to get another RIC ever since, but was considering the 4004 because I prefer no binding - easier on the arm. When they brought out the 4003S, I grabbed a Mapleglo for around $1400 USD - not bad IMO. I really like the look of the "S" better - no binding, dots on the board, no stereo jack. It's not a bass for every song or every gig for that matter, but it's cool to have it in my collection.

I'm trying to resist getting an S.

 

[FunkHead]

I have never played a Ric that wasn't louder than most if not all other passive basses. I have 2 4003's and each has significant Punch and is extremely loud. I hand picked mine for their superb finishes. I passed on a few that were not quite as good but they were still pretty sweet.

 

[BAG]

I can't comment on the thread topic. I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that the VM P/J you played was $699.

I look at the prices you guys get in the US and am very envious of the prices you pay, especially for strings. For around 10 sets of Chrome flats i could buy that "ripoff" Squier.

What you're feeling is a mixture of having played a dud coupled with the fact that bass manufacturing has come such a long way that sub $500 basses are amazing as ****

There's a lot of truth in that. Although even if i got a good one that 'guard would still bother me.

 

[Gizmot]

I have two Rics - one that I got back in '79 and an early 90s version. Both of them have been very satisfying and have served me very well for a long time. The workmanship is outstanding. I like my '79 so much that I swore I would never own another Fender bass after I only had it a week. It's your prerogative to like Rics - or not, but they didn't get so many fans by being mediocre

 

[Nev375]

Different people like different things and that's ok.
You don't have to understand why they like things that you don't. It's not important.

Consider this wisdom from George Carlin:

Think of how stupid the average person in the world is. Pretty dumb right?
Now realize that half of the world is even dumber than that.

So try not to think about it because people are not rational creatures.
Just play the bass you like and have a drink. It will be ok.

 

[Hounddog409]

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!!!

$3500??? I stopped reading there as my BSDetector went off

 

[Killed_by_Death]

So a U.S. made instrument imported to Australia won't cost more than it does in the U.S.?

Did you know there's an exchange rate for USD to AUD?

U.S. citizens think in such narrow terms

 

[Ric5]

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!!!

$3549 ??? I bought 2 brand new 4003s basses from musicians friend for under $3000 ... yes 2 basses ... both are awesome basses ... I currently have a 2015 in my workshop ... also a nice bass. The 4003 is famous for being one of the loudest passive basses out there.

A lot of the Ricks in music stores have a bad setup and dead strings ...

And for $2629 you can get several nice jazz basses ... and $699 for a Squire???

Dude where are you shopping?

Disclaimer: I am not a Rick fan boy ... I hate pickup covers, binding, and mechanical mutes

 

[superdick2112]

I'm not bashing Rics. I actually want to get some insight as to why some people love them so much despite their high price.....

Play one of these...

Through one of these...

....And you will understand.

 

[Hounddog409]

They look cool. I have always liked the body / head stock shape. My first was a 4001 new in 1979. I ended up selling it a few years later after trying out a Stingray, then a Sabre, Jazz - soon after that, my first Tobias. I had been looking to get another RIC ever since, but was considering the 4004 because I prefer no binding - easier on the arm. When they brought out the 4003S, I grabbed a Mapleglo for around $1400 USD - not bad IMO. I really like the look of the "S" better - no binding, dots on the board, no stereo jack. It's not a bass for every song or every gig for that matter, but it's cool to have it in my collection.

Hmmmm. Odd. My 4003s is the only bass I gig with. Have yet to stumble accross any song I could not play with it.

 

[superdick2112]

$3549 ??? ...Dude where are you shopping?..

Australia.

 

[Son of Wobble]

The bass is for sale in Australia, which is, apparently, where John Hall sends the "seconds"

 

[BAG]

$3500??? I stopped reading there as my BSDetector went off

Your detector is badly broken!

So a U.S. made instrument imported to Australia won't cost more than it does in the U.S.?

Did you know there's an exchange rate for USD to AUD?

View attachment 1167934

U.S. citizens think in such narrow terms

You are so right KBD.

And exchange rate is only part of the ripoff. Even back in 2010 when our dollar was higher than the USD we were still paying almost double the US price for most instruments.

If you wanted to buy the full Adobe Creator Suite, It was actually cheaper to fly to the US to buy a physical copy than to buy the download version here in Oz.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I'm trying to resist getting an S.

Stop resisting. But, instead of a 4003S get a 4004 one sort or another, to have a binding-less body and something different to a 4001/3 bass. After owning many Rick basses I have settled on two great 4004 Laredos. I still have fairly ready access to my two old 1973 4001s if I wanted to play them (they are with friends of mine, now), but I am super happy with the Snowglo 4004L and Jetglo 4004L SPC (oh, oh, here we go mentioning colors ).

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Even back in 2010 when our dollar was higher than the USD we were still paying almost double the US price for most instruments...

Blame that on the cost of doing business with a distributor from OZ who likes to make a very healthy profit. Add in shipping, taxes, insurance, and other costs related to importing a fine musical instrument from the Land of the Great (USA ) and, of course, your bottom line is going to go way up compared to other countries where distribution/import costs are far more reasonable than they are in OZ.

 

[bwoodman]

Hmmmm. Odd. My 4003s is the only bass I gig with. Have yet to stumble accross any song I could not play with it.

I should have said - for me, it's not for every song or gig only because I've been playing a 5 string since the mid 80's and it's hard to go back to a 4 after playing a 5, BUT, I did play a whole gig with it when I first got it and it was great! My go-to bass is an old pre-Gibson Tobias Killer B5 - a totally different vibe than a RIC.