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Rickenbacker pros/cons

#106
i have to agree to disagree on that-the 70's ibanez i played,was a nice feeling 3 piece neck-through,well finished, but it fell pretty short on other items like the tuning keys,and the electronics. still,replacing the keys and pickups (getting a bit pricey there),you could wind up with a nice bass. i would only go for something like that if i got the copy for LOW dollars,otherwise, i would much rather save a few more dollars for the real thing.
 
#107
meatwad said:
Live tracks on Opiate is an Ovation Magnum, the studio tracks are the Ric. On Undertow, all tracks are a Ric except for "Prison Sex", which is a StingRay tuned BADG...
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Can you source this? I don't think he owned the Ric until late 1992 at the earliest. Tracks like "Hush" really don't scream Ric to me, although I have made a Ric make those sounds before with little problem, so it's not impossible...

I can believe Prison Sex might be the 'Ray. It doesn't sound like the rest of his tone on that album. And I know this is heresy here, but a tuned-down Ric would have handled that B string better! I know because I've done it many a time.
 
#108
ThudThudThud said:
I always had an issue with where to put my plucking hand on the 4001 and 4003 series ...... The contour of the body, the hand placement,..
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I agree with you there. :hmm:

I've had my 4001 for more than 10 years, and still, for me, it's still uncomfortable... :rolleyes:

I absolutly adore my Rick's tone, look, and anything else, but the plucking hand ergonomy, for some reason, is still a little weird when I pick it up after it's been a while since my last play... :ninja:

The erea I tend to love playing is right on top of the neck pickup, but the chrome metal housing around that pup is sharp and I tend to hurt myself while playing... So I have to be careful when I play it... :scowl:

The sharp edge of the body is a little anoying for me also, not as far as looks goes as it looks great, but the contour of a body like a P bass is more confortable for me on the foreharm... :D

Still, I absolutly adore my Rick, and never thought of selling it !!! Even with the things I just mentioned, I LOVE playing it... :bassist:

The reward is the tone !!!! ;)

Nitram :hyper:
 
#109
nitram said:
The erea I tend to love playing is right on top of the neck pickup, but the chrome metal housing around that pup is sharp and I tend to hurt myself while playing... So I have to be careful when I play it... :scowl:
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There's nothing sharp around the neck pickup that I've ever encountered. Are you referring the to metal surround edges exposed when the bridge pickup cover is removed? If so I highly recommend the Treble Bezel as a great way to solve that problem.
 
#110
cassius987 said:
Can you source this? I don't think he owned the Ric until late 1992 at the earliest. Tracks like "Hush" really don't scream Ric to me, although I have made a Ric make those sounds before with little problem, so it's not impossible...

I can believe Prison Sex might be the 'Ray. It doesn't sound like the rest of his tone on that album. And I know this is heresy here, but a tuned-down Ric would have handled that B string better! I know because I've done it many a time.
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FWIW. Great stuff here...
 
#111
audiomitch said:
Meh. It's in there with the other US manufacturers.
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That's true. People are spoiled with these import and semi import instruments. There are some good cheap basses now, unlike when I started.

But to put things in perspective; in 1973 my Rick cost around $275 new. Same as most other basses.

In 1987 I bought a new Ibanez SR-885LE for about $800. Shortly after that they came out with the lower cost basses.

So the price of a new Rick is right in line with everything else. They aren't MiM Fenders, or even US made Fender (which often have parts made in Mexico, and are much easier to make). They also aren't the $800 Les Paul Studio guitars with no binding and "faded" finishes that sets those apart from the $3000 and $4000 Gibsons.

And they are cheaper than an Alembic. ;)

[Edit] Gratuitous 35 year old (heavily modified) Rick shot ;)

Dethslaker_Dave_76.jpg
 
#113
RobJ said:
There's nothing sharp around the neck pickup that I've ever encountered. Are you referring the to metal surround edges exposed when the bridge pickup cover is removed? If so I highly recommend the Treble Bezel as a great way to solve that problem.
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Yeah ! :hyper:

That's exactly what I was reffering to... Sorry for the confusion. :hiding:

What is this Treble Bezel you are reffering to mate ? :confused:

Nitram :help:
 
#114
Here's the info. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I have one on my 4003 and it's really nice, covers the gap between the pickup and the metal surround and can serve as a nice place for your thumb as well. It also looks like it belongs there as opposed to something obviously added on, imo of course.

By the way other than being a happy user of this product I have absolutely no relationship with the company.
 
#117
cassius987 said:
+1

I knew it when he started off with the smiley face as usual, followed by the stuff about how they are horribly balanced period, never mind that many of us don't have the same experience with them.
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Yeah, none of us have issues like he does. And he's always crying about the service. And the tail lift and the electronics and the toaster and the tuners and the air quality of the furnace in the same room... and... x... and... y... and... z.

It's just another symphony of sickness, IMO.

BTW, I've never in my life heard anyone dog a toaster. That boggles my mind.
 

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