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Rickenbacker stigma

#41
billyapple said:
I've recently become the proud owner of a '80 4001 in Azure Glo. I played loads of them before I settled on this one. I've not come across a bass that has so much variation in build quality and shape. Some were right old dogs, but luckily mine has the best neck of any bass I've ever played, beautifully slim and fast, It's just right for me.

The bridge was hard work though. The saddles kept moving in the tail piece and because I'm a pick-playing palm muter the bridge was essentially useless and I've changed it for a Hipshot. plus my pick kept getting caught in the treble surround, so that came off and a Pickguardian (excellent service) went on.

My advice would be to try as many as you can and find the one that fits. I love the style, the tone and everything. Sure it's not a 100% ergonomic instrument, but I find it a lot of fun. I thought some of the brand new 4003's I played were excellent and would've bought one had I not got my 4001 for such a great price with blind luck.

Yes, the output is not massive, but that's what your gain knob is for, plus you can't beat them through a bit of valve!

0ZiPNzo.jpg
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Omg...I love that!
 
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#42
I keep going back to my Ric. Sounds great and possibly the best neck on any bass I've played. Sound is superb and it's my only bass that requires almost NO ADJUSTMENT seasonally. Not even close to my other basses. If the Spector I just copped really blows my nips off, I MIGHT consider selling it but it pains me to think that way....
 
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#46
JimmyM said:
I would have loved to get a Ric 4001...until I played one ;) Sounds great, but I don't find them comfortable at all, so I had to pass.
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The 4001 felt better to me than the 4003; Right now, if I found an old blue w/checkerboard binding 4001 I'd have admit I'd be checking my bank account - just 'cause. That is just an piece of American art.
 
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#49
Somnambulance said:
I play a Midnight blue Rickenbacker in my dreams. The only thing stopping me from pulling the trigger on one are the horror stories I hear about them all of the time. Are they really that much of a pain?
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As others have said, Rics are not the most comfortable basses to play with, pickups are very low output, bad maintenance can ruin a Ric neck for good and they're not very versatile as well. That said, I just bought one from a friend. Jet Glow, perfect condition, nicely setup … :-) couldn't be happier.
 
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#50
I LOVE Ricks and had two in the past but not anymore. The only slight downfall for me is that as an exclusive finger player, there's not (to me) a real comfortable place for my thumb. Not a deal breaker though. I'd love to get my hands on a five string!!!
 
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#51
Titania said:
Folks talk about finding a bass that feels and sounds like home. For me, Rics are home. I have a 4003, 4004 and a 4001SFL. Each has its own personality, and love them all. I have other basses that I also love, but they're just not my Rics.
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Wow. 4001S FL ? Cool. I checked youtube and there are no results. Do you have any idea where I could hear one? MBN! (must be nice!)

Thanks,
Neal.
 
#52
Somnambulance said:
I play a Midnight blue Rickenbacker in my dreams. The only thing stopping me from pulling the trigger on one are the horror stories I hear about them all of the time. Are they really that much of a pain?
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No. They are only a pain if you get one that's really bad and most aren't. Like any bass, you have to try before you buy. Remove the silly bridge pickup cover and rock out.
 
#58
Somnambulance said:
The pickupa being low output can be remedied by how though?
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A preamp, or turn up the gain. Still others replace the standard 4003 single coils with Rick humbuckers, but I never found that necessary with my 4003s or my 4001, I just used more gain. However, I often use a Fulltone Bass Drive with my 4004, not only for the extra volume control, but also because I like the flavor it adds to the bass. It's like ketchup on french fries, to me.
They're not that quiet, though. I found old 4001s to be a good deal quieter than new 4003s. My 4004 is quieter than my P bass, but my P has a Quarter Pounder pickup in it, so it's the loudest passive bass I own, anyway. Depending on how loudly your band plays, as well as what kind of amp rig you've got, you'd probably be fine, anyway. I never had a situation that couldn't be solved by tweaking the gain. Actually, the only problem I ever had with any of my Ricks was that it got noisy in a bar full of neon beer signs and rented can lights all through a wiring system from about 1929.

Also, the newer single coils have adjustable pole pieces, so that helps, as well.

As stated before, lots of people love 'em, lots of people hate 'em. It's just the kind of thing only time and experience can truly answer. I myself chose the jump-right-in route.
 
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#60
If you have the RIC bug, and have the cash for one, I say get it. Nothing sounds like a Ric. If you don't like it after a few months, unlike many other brands, you can sell it used for just about what you paid for it. I made money once selling a used Ric that I bought used myself, after only a year or so. No other bass I know of has that kind of resell value.

RIC's have the best sound of pretty much any bass I've ever played, and I've played quite a few. The problems with them become evident after the first hour of playing- they simply aren't very ergonomically sound, at least if you are used to Fender type instruments. The Midnight Blue had a reputation a few years ago of the paint bleeding over time, but maybe they fixed that.
 
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