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Rickenbackers - the bad stuff?

#61
I`ll agree with people who say they are hard to play finger-style. I`ve also found the neck to be awkward to work around and the bridge is a damn nightmare. They probably are some of the sexiest basses ever built, but after playing one for about 10 minutes my GAS for one has gone from full on to zero.
 
#65
derridiandrift said:
Any thoughts on the price of this one?

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/yrk/msg/1519416812.html
Click to expand...
I'd say the price of that one is what you'd get if you bought it new with all of those pieces.

Not such a good deal, IMO.

As far as fingerstyle goes, I'm a masochist and like playing the 5er fingerstyle.

I see nothing wrong with playing one fingerstyle and many bassists don't either.

geddy_lee.jpg


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#66
I have 3 4003's (FG, BB, MID) and they are all wonderful basses.

I would say that the MID is the best player of the 3, but it has 'finish issues'. I'd be VERY careful if you are buying a Midnight Blue Ric.

If it smells excessively of paint (above and beyond the rather nice usual fruity Ric polish type smell), it's possible it has the same issue as mine, which is that the blue will smudge / bleed into the white binding, though that issue is now supposed to be resolved by new paint blends from Ric.

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#67
Alot of what's going on in this thread is nothing more than perpetuating common myths, like the "you can't play a Ric without a pick" bs. Why is it we need a 4 page thread on "what sux about Ric's", (?),.......jealousy? I'm curious why this particular brand, since in reality, it's nothing more than one of many styles or types of bass guitar. I don't see the what sucks about a Jazz bass thread, or what sucks about a Tbird, etc. And better than half of the issues brought up in this very thread are untrue. I'm just sayin', this whole thing seems to be misguided at best, and intentionally biased, at worst.
 
#68
deedub72 said:
Ricks are not finished in Nitro-Cellulose, they are finished in a polymer finish...call Rickenbacker they will tell you the same thing. This is from Rickenbackers website:

"Following many coats of sealer and color coats, numerous applications of a super high gloss finish are made. Providing not only great visual appeal, this surface treatment protects the guitar from dings and scrapes; the unique chemistry of the material makes it both hard and flexible at the same time. Impact areas do not craze or radiate like polyester, nor does this material turn cloudy or finish-check in cool weather like nitrocellulose"

Which I will claim BS to, my 1980 Azure is seriously checked!!!

Regardless a Rickenbacker is iconic, you cannot mistake it for any other bass. I think if you can afford one and you have your favorites already....get one, it is nice to have at least one in the collection.
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The current finish is different than what the used in 1980 or 1990 ... the term is conversion varnish.
 
#69
Paul262 said:
I'm not going to bore anyone with a wall of text, but what I am going to say is that I'm too afraid of setting up the intonation for C-standard tuning because I'm afraid of messing it up...
But, they are pretty much the greatest instruments ever conceived by human beings, including guitar, since the 4001 tone is that trebly that it can mimick a guitar fairly easily. Throw in some good over drive and fuzz, a ton of amps and you have a tool that is capable of tearing the universe a new *******.
Click to expand...

Pretty much any Ric can be set up for BEAD or CFA#D#. A few simple adjustments will do it. So easy a cave man can do it. You will need heavier strings.
 
#70
12stringbassist said:
I have 3 4003's (FG, BB, MID) and they are all wonderful basses.

I would say that the MID is the best player of the 3, but it has 'finish issues'. I'd be VERY careful if you are buying a Midnight Blue Ric.

If it smells excessively of paint (above and beyond the rather nice usual fruity Ric polish type smell), it's possible it has the same issue as mine, which is that the blue will smudge / bleed into the white binding, though that issue is now supposed to be resolved by new paint blends from Ric.

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Click to expand...


From what I've learned from several 'unofficial' sources, this was a limited issue having to do with the binding glue and/or the paint not being allowed to cure long enough and reacting together. Only the MID finish suffered from this, and apparently RIC has learned from their error, though never admitted the true cause.

I suppose because this would bring in a flood of warranty work when they really can't afford the time to fix the problem.
Not the best way to approach the problem.
Score some negative points on that one.

Only a short production period of these had this issue.

Regardless, in March (if all goes to plan) I'll be buying a new 4003 MID with full confidence.
 
#71
To be fair to Ric, those with MID bleed issues (when covered by a domestic warranty)
apparently got their instruments refinished. Mine wasn't, as I got it thru an importer.
Not Ric's problem, though John Hall got very steamed up when I said it shouldn't happen
on a product at that price and asked for advice on how it could be tidied up. I've learned
to live with it on my bass
 
#72
Paul262 said:
I'm confused... I ONLY play fingerstyle, I keep my fingers behind the treble pickup cover, the metal bit lets your finger sit really nicely. Picking is my problem, cos of the cover, it's pretty much in the way most of the time :(
Click to expand...

I pulled the cover off of my main Ric...makes picking a heck of a lot easier. As for fingerstyle, I just move around till I find a good place to put my thumb. Most of the time I am just moving around...
 
#74
Ric5 said:
The current finish is different than what the used in 1980 or 1990 ... the term is conversion varnish.
Click to expand...

According to the guy I spoke with at Rickenbacker, they have used the same finishing materials since the '60's. I am not saying you are incorrect, I am just quoting what I was told.

My '76 looks damn near new except the buckle rash on the back...my '80 looks like it is like it should be from the '60s in terms of condition.
 
#75
LaXu said:
Interesting, thanks for the responses! Are there no good aftermarket Rick bridges/pickups then?
Click to expand...

Allparts carries a replacement, but it looks pretty identical to the stock one to me so I'd think it would have the same issues.
http://www.allparts.com/Rickenbacker-Bridge-Tailpiece-p/bb-0316-010.htm

This one looks like it should be improved.
http://www.allparts.com/Bass-Bridge-p/bb-0317-010.htm

Geddy, obviously liked the BadAss bridge.

I went with a Schaller on my '77 Jetglo 4001.
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#76
RickenBoogie said:
Alot of what's going on in this thread is nothing more than perpetuating common myths, like the "you can't play a Ric without a pick" bs. Why is it we need a 4 page thread on "what sux about Ric's", (?),.......jealousy? I'm curious why this particular brand, since in reality, it's nothing more than one of many styles or types of bass guitar. I don't see the what sucks about a Jazz bass thread, or what sucks about a Tbird, etc. And better than half of the issues brought up in this very thread are untrue. I'm just sayin', this whole thing seems to be misguided at best, and intentionally biased, at worst.
Click to expand...

Better than half of the issues are untrue? Why don't you bring up the untrue myths and lets shake this out because although some of these issues are overplayed, there are most certainly design and quality issues with a Rics...both present and past.
 
#77
Tarrbot said:
I'd say the price of that one is what you'd get if you bought it new with all of those pieces.

Not such a good deal, IMO.

As far as fingerstyle goes, I'm a masochist and like playing the 5er fingerstyle.

I see nothing wrong with playing one fingerstyle and many bassists don't either.

geddy_lee.jpg


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Click to expand...

is it possible that geddy lee and john deacon were brothers, separated when they born?? :smug:
 
#78
12stringbassist said:
To be fair to Ric, those with MID bleed issues (when covered by a domestic warranty)
apparently got their instruments refinished. Mine wasn't, as I got it thru an importer.
Not Ric's problem, though John Hall got very steamed up when I said it shouldn't happen
on a product at that price and asked for advice on how it could be tidied up. I've learned
to live with it on my bass
Click to expand...

I'm confused as to why there's a thread about what's wrong with Rics, but since it's here, I guess I'll play.

I'd say that getting a new axe through an importer warranty issues like those mentioned here should make the Ric a non-starter, especially for those of us who make money off these things. I mean, since the last price jump, these axes are insultingly expensive, so you'd be reasonable to expect at least a valid warranty, no matter where you happen to live. And when you add in the stupid long time it takes to get one. To me, the price and waiting period go towards something a little less off-the-shelf.

I also think that John Hall is a major problem. He's revelling in fanboy worship and can't handle being questioned on anything. How many times have we heard of people getting censured on the Ric forums for not toeing the line on everything?

For me, I've just never played one I liked. I love the look of them, and I think they've got a fairly good voice because I think mods are cool -- and I used to be into that whole Manchester sound movement; I think it was the best bass for that. But I've never been able to get with the comfort factor of a Ruc, and the sound's a little too... unique for me.

That being said, if ever I could find an affordable 4005, I'd probably jump on it like a fat kid on a chocolate bar.
 
#80
It's a fair enough question for someone to ask - 'I'm thinking of buying a Ric / other bass,
are there any pitfalls with such a make or model?'

You can play a Ric with or without a pick.
Some like the pickup cover, some don't.
Some find the binding hurts their forearms - some don't. You get used to it.

My only advice, apart from making sure your Midnight Blue doesn't reek of paint, is to try
one out - have a good long sit down with one and see how you get on with it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

John Hall got annoyed due to me basically buying a 'grey import' or whatever they call
it. I got it cheaper than my other 2 that came thru a dealer. I took the risk.

I asked for advice on anything I could do to get the problem resolved. I knew my bass'
warranty would only be valid in America.

I got banned from the official Ric corporate forum for raising a customer support issue
in the open there. I admit that it wasn't the appropriate place to do it. I dealt with Ric's
customer services people as they advised me to afterwards

I don't know whether he basks in fanboy worship or not. I'd rather talk about actual basses
than people on here.
 

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