• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Rickenbacker or Thunderbird

#21
Eh, not that much cheaper really, Provided you go Gibby. I personally only like 2 Gibson basses and the T bird is one, even thoug I voted Ric. However, I think the Ric is worth the money and Gibson isn't when the Epiphones are pretty decent and much much cheaper. NOt saying I wouldn't prefer the Gibson, and its worth what it costs too, but not to me when there is a cheapo version available.
 
#23
thanks guys,
so I stopped by the new Guitar Center here in Boston cause I had some time to kill before meeting the wife for dinner.
it's right down the street from my work.
and I ask the guy got any Thunder Birds?
he showed me a 5 string studio.
not my thing...
then looked on the computer and came up with 1 in the whole chain......
national chain 1 Thundrebird......
***?
then he tried to sell me an Epiphone goth.......
:eyebrow:
***?
 
#24
Personally, I would say the Ric, but I'm a tad biased.....been playing Rics a LONG time....However, I can vividly recall a time back in 1980 when I used a Ovation Magnum (Off topic I know, but bear with me). It was absolutely the best of both the Gibson AND Ric worlds....I still remember how the Magnum absolutely NAILED the Ric sound while keeping the old school Gibson vibe going.....don't know how they did it - maybe it was the giant humbucker - but it sounded really nice!

Check out the bay - the Ovations pop up now and again!

Good luck!
 
#27
I owned a '73 4001 Ric for 30years.............Great bass, you'd never go wrong with it.
That said, I own 9 Thunderbirds now, never regretted selling the Ric to buy a black '76 'Bird................
The Gibson 'Bird will alway feel better than the Epi in your smaller hands, I have the same problem, I'd sure play one before I bought an Epi.
 
#29
Can't say much for Ric's 'cuz I've never played one. Tried one briefly in a Daddy's about 4 or 5 years ago, but so briefly I can't remember. Other things may have added to the memory loss:hiding:...

Anyhow, I do have a Gibson T-bird, and love (not as much as my Jazz). But for your type of music, the T-bird works perfectly!! The only issue with my T-bird was that the tone knob really didn't make much tonal difference unless I had my treble all the way up. Got a larger capacitor installed for the tone pot for a much darker sound. So get the T-bird, but you may need to tweak the tone knob a bit for more tonal range...

I believe Leo Smee from Cathedral plays a T-bird. And they're the BALLZ!!:bassist:


My .02
 
#30
Can't say much for Ric's 'cuz I've never played one. Tried one briefly in a Daddy's about 4 or 5 years ago, but so briefly I can't remember. Other things may have added to the memory loss:hiding:...

Anyhow, I do have a Gibson T-bird, and love it (not as much as my Jazz). But for your type of music, the T-bird works perfectly!! The only issue with my T-bird was that the tone knob really didn't make much tonal difference unless I had my treble all the way up. Got a larger capacitor installed for the tone pot for a much darker sound. So get the T-bird, but you may need to tweak the tone knob a bit for more tonal range...

I believe Leo Smee from Cathedral plays a T-bird.:bassist:


My .02
 
#31
Can't say much for Ric's 'cuz I've never played one. Tried one briefly in a Daddy's about 4 or 5 years ago, but so briefly I can't remember. Other things may have added to the memory loss:hiding:...

Anyhow, I do have a Gibson T-bird, and love it (not as much as my Jazz). But for your type of music, the T-bird works perfectly!! The only issue with my T-bird was that the tone knob really didn't make much tonal difference unless I had my treble all the way up. Got a larger capacitor installed for the tone pot for a much darker sound. So get the T-bird, but you may need to tweak the tone knob a bit for more tonal range...

I believe Leo Smee from Cathedral plays a T-bird. And they're the BALLZ!!:bassist:


My .02
 
#34
4004lk-bodyfr.jpg
 
#35
lamarjones said:
Make sure you can deal with how a T-Bird hangs and the neck dive. If you can, then go for it.

People will say teh strap button relocation works, and that it's not too bad. But it is definitely an issue that may or may not affect you. You need to know.
Click to expand...


you do know that the gibson one doesn't dive right? the epi is the only one that still dives to this day as far as i know.it's just that the old gibby T's dived,so everyone has the common misconception that the newer Tbirds dive as well,but i'm pretty sure they don't.
 
#36
infamusblkdeath said:
you do know that the gibson one doesn't dive right? the epi is the only one that still dives to this day as far as i know.it's just that the old gibby T's dived,so everyone has the common misconception that the newer Tbirds dive as well,but i'm pretty sure they don't.
Click to expand...

+1000.....They don't dive. Get a 3" strap and the Gibsons hang perfectly.....no dive at all. I owned an Epi as well and the one dove like an Acapulco cliff diver!
 
#37
infamusblkdeath said:
you do know that the gibson one doesn't dive right? the epi is the only one that still dives to this day as far as i know.it's just that the old gibby T's dived,so everyone has the common misconception that the newer Tbirds dive as well,but i'm pretty sure they don't.
Click to expand...

disagreed, owned one last year for a short while. Owned 4 different ones overall. I have 5 straps that are at least 3" thick.

If you sling them real low and then hold the neck up, it doesn't dive nearly as much but then you are correcting.
 
#39
Rickenbacker. They're great. The dude from Sleep uses one. You might want a 4004, I haven't played one, but those who have tell me that they're wonderful. I have played 4001's and 4003's, and they're fantastic.

I tried a Thunderbird last year. I was pretty disappointed with the feel and the sound. Not a bad bass, but not something I think about getting anymore.

Of course, I'm quite biased.
 
#40
BruceofBruce said:
hey all,
so Ive been prowling through the posts here looking for some opinions.
and there are a lot of them.
let me explain my situation and then I'd love to hear some advice.

I'm playing Bass in a Stoner/Doom metal band. Sabbath, the Melvin's, Mastodon,Sleep Electric Wizard ,Orange Goblin. riffy low end stuff.

my current set up is a GK back line 600 head and a 2 10 cab and a 15 cab.
a boss Octave pedal and a Russian Big Muff.

I use both sparingly and rely more on the clean sound.

the bass I'm playing now is a Fender Areodyne Jazz.
I got it at the right price and it's got a neck I love.
I have smaller hands.

but.
I'm looking for something else.
a deeper growl I guess.

so I've been thinking about a different bass.
now I'm drawn to and torn between the Gibson Thunderbird IV
and a Rickenbacker 4003.
problem is I can't find 2 in the same shop to compare.
they both sound and feel great....but I'm still not sure.

with all that in mind what do you guys think?
thanks!
Click to expand...

You can actually get a lot of grit out of a rick 4003, the key to it is using the lightest guage strings you can find. Flats can add some whack while taking the very top end off.

You won't get a low bottom kapow like you can with something with humbuckers, but you can make up for it with clank and some overdrive using the rickenbacker. With both PU's on it'll give a decent pinch but with lots of upper end rip....

I've played one or two thunderbirds and never thought much of the sound. There are better options if you need the low bottom thing (my G&L's for instance can do pretty decent metal sound with both pickups on).

LS
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back