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Rickenbacker

#101
JMP....Hello, and welcome to the BEST bass forum in the world, IMO!!:D Now, what you were saying about the "Down stroke" on the 8 string, which I've never played, I guess that it would work perfect for me, since I "finger-pluck"..eh? Anyway....WELCOME, and check the whole board out, you'll be pleasantly surprised...I'm sure!!:)
 
#102
Hi Slaphappy and mr2112!

Yeah, it made sense to me too. But I do know one guy who keeps his the original way, maybe he plays more with his fingers, so that may be why. That makes sense too. To be honest, when I first got the bass I was so psyched, but after a while it just got to be a real bear to play, I lost interest and stopped playing it. Some time after that I figured that I really had to change that string arrangement, so I did and it's been like a brand new instrument, and I play it more than the others now. It really is a beautiful instrument.

Another things about the Rics that you've probably all noticed. You have to get Rics own straplocks for them, at least the piece that goes into the guitar itself, because of the way bigger screw used. They didn't have those when I originally got my '75. So I ended up getting these eye bolts(!), running the strap through them and reclosing the bolt. jeeezz! Well, at least I haven't ever had an accident with it, it's been a good solid custom arrangement, even though it only fits into certain cases because of them.

When I got the 8 string I ordered the special straplock parts and they fit perfectly. At the same time I also ordered a set for the '76 and they fit, sort of. But the original hole was drilled at a really cockeyed angle and the straplock piece had a lot of play in it, really kinda rickety. I may have to do the eye bolt thing if they loosen up any more.


[Edited by JMP on 08-18-2000 at 07:19 AM]
 
#104
With the straplock thing what I did was took a set schaller strap locks drilled the screw hole out out on the piece that goes to the bass to accept I believe a 10-24 screw, the same thread as the stock buttons. I got a 10-24 allenhead screw took it to the machine shop at work and had them turn the head of the screw down on a milling machine to the exact fit of the straplock hole. It sounds like a lot of trouble but it worked pisser and total cost was .30 cents.
 
#105
Now see? That makes alot of sense, Funkster. Why didn't I think of that? Well, I was a young rocknroll hooligan at the time and didn't understand tools and things. So I'm stuck now, since I had to use an eye-bolt that wasn't a machine screw type, but a wood screw type, so there's no going back. Actually, now it's such a part of the instrument that I'd probably miss it if I fixed it right.
 
#107
Hey, Funkster, I'll have to come out your way and check out your band sometime. Email me, let me know when and where you're playing. And email me before you come to the Pats, if I'm around maybe we can get together. I try to avoid going anywhere on game days, too many knuckleheads out and about. ummm... I'm sure that doesn't apply to you....

Does anybody remember seeing a website by some EvilBob guy? I saw it a couple years ago. He had as one extension of it "The Rickenbacker Project" and had all kinds of cool Ric stuff on it, history, tips from readers, serial number info, mods, sounds and various other cool stuff. Last I checked the site was unreachable, and I haven't done any search lately to see if it just has a new address or anything. It was a pretty cool site all the way around, even the non-Ric stuff. I think I saved some of the Ric info he had on it, I'll have to check.
 
#109
I've always preferred the pick sound, and never could really master a finger pick technique. I think the pick technique works great for the 8-string because of the wonderfully strong, aggressive attack and sound of the octaves ringing out. I'd imagine that it would take some work to nail the two strings consistently using fingers. But what do I know? For me finger-picking always resulted in a softer, warmer tone with a little less immediate definition, which some players use to great effect. And on some songs I do use fingers, but just on my 4 string bass. I'm more of a Squire influenced player and I like using a pick, I think I have more control. Maybe that's dangerous, haha.
 
#110
Hey guys

I'm gonna try the "capacitor surgery"tm next week, because finals are over and i'll have some time. Wish me luck!

I don't own one, but i have tried a 8 string bass (though it wasn't a RIC, but an acoustic fender bass) and it certainly makes more sense to use it with a pick. Personally i only use a pick about 5% of the time, but with coupled strings, fingers don't sound nearly as cool as a pick.

JMP, what do you thik about the bridge damper system on the rics? I've been using it lots lately, and i love it! It's just a pain in the a:eek::eek: to screw and unscrew the bolts for the foamy. I have only been playing intros and solos and stuff like that with it.. now i want to hear how it sounds during a whole song!

Another question, JMP (i'm not trying to pick on you, its just that you are new and you seem to know about rics), what strings do you use on your basses? I use extra-light GHS Boomers, and they are the best strings i've ever put on that bass!
 
#111
JMP - I use the pick some, mostly when I want to hand mute, but probably 75% of the time I use fingers. I can go either way but what you say sounds right, I don't think fingers could do justice to the 8 string. I guess you can tell, I want one real bad.

RickenbackerR - Let me know how the patient recovers, I'm considering the surgery too. I would be interested to know if it is reversible.
 
#112
Originally posted by nanook

RickenbackerR - Let me know how the patient recovers, I'm considering the surgery too. I would be interested to know if it is reversible.
Click to expand...

Me too Rick, I need to hear a few more testimonials before I invest in an "experimentation 4001"!!:D I'm just too afraid to touch my 'baby', since it's already set up perfectly...I think...
 
#114
JMP Hmmmm! knuckleheads only on Monday night games;)seriously we have been going to the Pats since the early 80's even the bad yrs we are real fans. I just added you to my bands e-mail list I'll send you something Monday. We are playing Whalom Parks rock fest tomorrow that should be a whale of a time:D My bands web site is
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check it out
Guy's
The bypass surgery is totaly reversable I saved the capacitor in a fuse holder box and put it away with the bridge pup cover. All you have to do is take the jumper off and put the cap back on and your back to the way it was, but I think you will like the results of the surgery.
 
#115
Hey Ricsters, What's your fav. RIC bass song, I only bring this up because I'm listening to the "ultimate" song right now...."RUSH" 'Different Stages'...CD-3...recorded in...19-FREAKIN'-78. Live version of "Cygnus X-1"....WOW..when you crank that one up, you CAN'T beat that tone....It is the SH&@!!!!:D Your thoughts???--Even if you don't like Rickenbackers...that tone is "UNTOUCHABLE"!!!!---IMHO:):)

[Edited by mr2112 on 08-18-2000 at 09:46 PM]
 
#117
Favorite Ric song??? Oy vey! There are so many!!! I'm sorry, I don't think I can manage just one, so here is my list of #1s:

"Xanadu", Rush--Studio version. First bass riff I
ever learned on my then-new 4003 in 1990.
"Hemispheres", Rush--the whole damn song! Amazing and
a very rich tone. His best overall bass
work on one album.
"Heart of the Sunrise",Yes--superclank!
"Cygnus X-1", Rush---the Differ. Stages '78 cd
performance/sound does indeed shred....
"Digital Man", Rush--from Signals. Meaty! Great
line, too!
"Roundabout", Yes--possibly THE definitive Rick song.
Let's all just admit it.

One more comment about that '78 show in the Different Stages set. That is a BLISTERING set! I can see why the band members were floored when they played it back again and heard the fire with which they kicked that set out! That was so cool that they liked it enough to share it with us as a sort of bonus disc in Diff. Stages. Though, if I hear "Closer to the Heart" one more time......
 
#118
Well folks ,,,,,,it does my heart good to see all this attention bieng piled up on such a venerable member of the musical instrument community,,,,,,,,,but as all have said as much,they are the finest of Basses,,,,,,both in playaility, and tone,,,,,,,,great voice,,,,i have only one left,it is a 1977 model 4001,blonde and is flawless,,,,,the neck is like stone,and smooth,,,,,,,,,,i have seen the 5 strings mentioned here also,,,,,,,,,,,i have owned one it was a late 80's model,,,,,,,and very cool to work with,,,,unfortunatly had to part with it to finance some music production,,but would love to own another,,,,,i have seen this Bass get lot written about it on three or four incarnations of this site,and it never ceases to amze me ,how universally appreciated they are,,,,,but hell,i am biased,,,,,,,,,,Thanks to Adolph rickenbacker for the beginning,,,,,,,,,,,,Later on folks.

Aric4001
 

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