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Rickenbacker pros/cons

#165
kcole4001 said:
They make Taurus IIIs now, but they're $2000!!! :eek:
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Another $450 for the fitted road case (which is a must).
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There are a few new sets on the 'bay for around $1600, and even better deals on them used, and yes, if you plan on gigging them, the road case is a must.
I've owned 2 sets of Taurus Is and a set of IIs, and imho, the T-3s are the best of the Taurus - real analog Taurus 1 sounds, combined with digital programmability and modern upgrades like MIDI and an LFO. The most satisfying pedal synth I've ever owned or played.

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#167
superdick2112 said:
There are a few new sets on the 'bay for around $1600, and even better deals on them used, and yes, if you plan on gigging them, the road case is a must.
I've owned 2 sets of Taurus Is and a set of IIs, and imho, the T-3s are the best of the Taurus - real analog Taurus 1 sounds, combined with digital programmability and modern upgrades like MIDI and an LFO. The most satisfying pedal synth I've ever owned or played.

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Wow, that thing's huge! I had a Taurus I back in the 70s.

I see you have a Prophet 08! I'm planning on getting one of those, they sound great. I have a nice old Oberhiem Matrix 6.
 
#168
I came close to buying a knock off Ric, recently (univox stereo).
It wasn't that I was looking for a Ric. It was that this one came up cheap. No pups or electronics. I was just thinking it might be a fun project to try to make something nice from..Just a hobby build

I decided against it because it looked too much like a Ric. I was afraid I would never be satisfied with it, because I would see it as a knock off
 
#170
Sartori said:
I play my Ric with fingers quite often...

I've never gotten the complaint about it being rough on the forearm. Do people really dig their arms into the sides of their basses that firmly? It seems weird to be bothered by such a thing, as it's never been an issue for me. Two of my basses are bound, one isn't. I don't really notice the difference.
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It may seem weird to you, but it's not at all uncommon. Fender redesigned the P-bass body 3 years into its history to round off the upper bout, so clearly it's been an issue for a long time. Although I had a number of problems with a Rick's ergonomics, the body edge was the biggest. ...and I have the same problem with any bound edge. They're lovely, but they dig a hole in my arm on stage. Different strokes, eh?
 
#171
I just have a hard time trying to picture putting enough pressure on my forearm for it to be uncomfortable there. Of course there are as many right hand positions as there are bassists, so maybe it's just that the way I play bass, it's a non issue. Every pair of hands (and arms) is different, as they say.

I suppose that may have been one of the factors in the design of the 4004 basses.
 
#173
Duke21 said:
Picking up a CS sig? Would love to do that but they are rare and cost quite much, even for a Rick now days!
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Ahh, well I may have to settle for a plain jane 4001 then. I'm mainly rambling on here, but I know now I would definitely not buy one without playing it first, and without doing a lot of research first. Not anytime in the near future, either.
 
#174
iamthebassman said:
You bet! Bought my lefty CS new in 1992(I think) for $999.
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999$ ?? Man that is less then a price of a Geddy or a MIA Jazz today. Being a hugh CS fan, this is the one and only bass I'm GASing for... But to be realistic, I will have to put some very serious effort to find one and afford it!
Otherwise, I've got a very nice fireglow 4003, so I consider myself lucky for that.
 
#175
SGD Lutherie said:
Mellow band???

You need to listen to some 70s prog rock. Ricks are not mellow at all. Back when everyone played a P bass with flats, the prog rock guys would be using Ricks with Rototsounds and a pick and distortion. It was the first time you started hearing that bright up front bass tone that is common now.

Here's an some tracks with that classic Rick tone.
(Yes 1971)
Yes - Starship Trooper - YouTube

(Yes 1972)
Yes - Heart of the Sunrise - YouTube

(Sparks 1974)
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(Rush 1981)
Rush- Tom Sawyer - YouTube

Red Barchetta - Rush (Official Video) [Live] Exit...Stage Left - YouTube

Motörhead 1980
Motörhead - Ace Of Spades (Studio Version) - YouTube

Death from Above 1979 - Little Girl - YouTube

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Nothing mellow there. :D

IMO Ricks were part of the movement to bring bass to where it is now, instead of some vague thump in the background.
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All those bands are still fairly mellow. I really think the Rics are too trebley and don't possess enough mids, but that's just my opinion and to each his own.
 
#176
Sykk Reaper said:
Rics are too trebley and don't possess enough mids, but that's just my opinion and to each his own.
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Actually Rickenbackers have a strong high midrange response. Whereas a p-bass will be strong in low mids.

Also there are tone differences in the 4000, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004 4005, models. The 4003 and 4004 models have more bass and low mids than the old 4001 models.
 
#177
Sykk Reaper said:
All those bands are still fairly mellow. I really think the Rics are too trebley and don't possess enough mids, but that's just my opinion and to each his own.
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You just called Motorhead mellow, FYI. Might want to rethink that.

Rics are deeper sounding than most basses in my experience. Less low mids than a Fender, which I like in most circumstances, but people often wrongly assume that means there is less "low end". There is in fact more (again, in my experience). Hofners also go "deeper" in sound than Fenders and you don't hear that mentioned much either.
 
#178
Sykk Reaper said:
All those bands are still fairly mellow. I really think the Rics are too trebley and don't possess enough mids, but that's just my opinion and to each his own.
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That is upper mids you are hearing.

I think the problem here is your incorrect use of the word "mellow". Mellow implies less high end and a warm, smooth tone:

adjective 1 (esp. of sound, taste, and color) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness: she was hypnotized by the mellow tone of his voice
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So a P bass with flats and the tone control on zero is mellow. A Rick is not mellow at all, unless it's the neck pickup with the tone control on zero.

The usual terms to describe a Rick are "clanging", "biting", cutting, "ringing" and "treble punch".

So back when people played Fenders with flats for a traditional bass tone, Rickenbackers where known for the bright cutting tone since people that played Ricks most often put Rototsounds on them.
 

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