Rickenbackers - the bad stuff?

[Geddyfleaharris]

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.

Without speaking for Rickenboogie I think his point is why does this thread exist? You don't see threads asking for the bad points of Fender J or P basses. Or EBMM bad points. In reality I doubt there is a bass built that is 100% perfect to 100% of the people. Simply can't be.

I haven't read all the posts but here are a few thoughts.

IMO Rics have gotten a reputation for being pricey and which has brought on some of the negativity. But that is perception. I compare them to other American made basses and their price doesn't seem that out of line. They are only pricey if a person isn't willing to pay the sticker. A new EBMM SR 4 HH is close to $1700 in the stores around here. A Ric would be about $300 more. Is it worth $300 more? I don't know. But it is the price.

IMO a lot of the "issues" are simply part of the Ric experience/design.

An example - the binding issue. Is this really an issue? If you don't like the binding don't buy a Ric. It's how they are built. It doesn't bother me.

The only "issue" I will say there might be is with the bridge. It is awkward to work with but once it is set up you usually do not have to fiddle with it much. I have a Hipshot replacement bridge on one of my Rics that is probably going to be swapped back to the original. The Hipshot saddles just move too much for me.

IMO a lot the "issues" are perception issues. Either you like the bass or you don't.

I still have a lot of respect for the fact that Ric has not gotten into mass, overseas production.

 

[john_martin_sai]

Without speaking for Rickenboogie I think his point is why does this thread exist? You don't see threads asking for the bad points of Fender J or P basses. Or EBMM bad points. In reality I doubt there is a bass built that is 100% perfect to 100% of the people. Simply can't be.
---------------------------------
I still have a lot of respect for the fact that Ric has not gotten into mass, overseas production.

B I N G O !

 

[Ric5]

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.

They changed the finish this decade. The older finish would not meet the current air pollution standards in southern California. That is what I was told.

 

[cassius987]

A new EBMM SR 4 HH is close to $1700 in the stores around here. A Ric would be about $300 more. Is it worth $300 more? I don't know. But it is the price.

Last week I contacted two Ric dealers on brand new 4003s and they both asked for less than $1700. $2000 is the MSRP and only really holds true for COY and discontinued stuff; no one should have to pay MSRP for a standard Ric. If you go to MF or another big box and that's what they ask of you, look elsewhere.

I agree with the basic sentiment that Ric instruments garner more negative attention than they probably deserve. I have this opinion at least, because all three of mine are amazing--to the point that I sold off my Fender and EBMM stuff after buying the first two of my now three Rics. There have been well documented cases of Ric lemons and some cases even caused me to question how committed RIC is to dealing with "the issues", but most of that ended in 2008. 2009 was a pretty great year for RIC and their QC, and I think things are looking up. Meanwhile just because one of my Jazz Basses that was MIA Fender was an utter piece of s***, I'm not making threads about why Fenders are bad. Not dissing the OP--just the weird focus on anti-RIC. Like I said earlier I think a lot of people misunderstand/misrepresent Rics because they aren't just reinterpretations of Fender like, well, basically everything else is. Don't buy a Ric if you're looking for a P Bass (although I think in the right hands they are sometimes very similar).

 

[jbcoll]

I'm a bit surprised more isn't posted about the weak E string problem. I had no problems with the binding, bridge, pickup cover, or fairness of the price, but I've owned two 4003s - an 06 JG and an 07 AFG - and would still be using one if not for the E string issue. A thru G sounded great. I also found the thinner neck of a Jazz to be more comfortable, but would have stuck with the Ric if the E had more punch.

 

[12stringbassist]

The other BAD thing about Rickenbacker is they didn't make enough of these...

Interesting to see that the thinner string is set below the normal bass string on Ric 8ers. Mine (a Dean) and most others put the thinner string above for best use on downstrokes.

Same goes for on my 12 string basses - and you know Ric will never make one of those!!!

Ric would sell the 8-string as fast as they could make them, I'm sure.

 

[cassius987]

I'm a bit surprised more isn't posted about the weak E string problem. I had no problems with the binding, bridge, pickup cover, or fairness of the price, but I've owned two 4003s - an 06 JG and an 07 AFG - and would still be using one if not for the E string issue. A thru G sounded great. I also found the thinner neck of a Jazz to be more comfortable, but would have stuck with the Ric if the E had more punch.

I hear about this problem a lot, but I've definitely never had it, and if you want, I have plenty of recordings to prove it. The only theory I have as to why this problem happens is that a lot of string sets are sold with low-tension E vs. higher-tension everything else. It's just stupid, but it happens a lot, predisposing the bottom string(s) to sounding floppy and pathetic compared to the others. I also know of a few cases of this issue that turned out to be entirely the fault of the string because it was a dud, one was Thomastik Infeld strings and a couple others were roundwounds I can't recall. Regardless I am at a complete loss about the frequency of this complaint, as I have never experienced it--not on any of my Rics, not on any of my friends Rics, and not on any of the ones I have played in stores. That's a total of 8 out of 8 Rics (my 3, 3 belonging to friends, and 2 played in stores) that didn't have a "weak E" problem...

None of the above implies that you didn't have a problem or that "weak E" never happens, I just wonder how often the instrument itself is actually to blame. A good setup and a proper set of strings goes a long way.

 

[george.c.]

i have the same problem with my E string as well and all the tweeking in the world only made a very slight improvement.also when im on the rear pickup only and i roll off the tone the volume drops off completely.the last time i used it was at rehearsal and i spent the whole session trying to get a tone that i was happy with and also trying to get volume out of it.i had to drive my amp hard to get volume out of the E string but then when i would play on the D and G strings the volume would be too loud.gave me the sh1ts and even the other members said whats going on.ive given up on it to be honest.i have put it in storage for now until i decide what to do with it...its the only ric i have played so i cant draw comparisons with other rics but next to my fenders its no competition..

 

[cassius987]

You could definitely try adjusting the pole pieces if you haven't already--I set mine completely flush and then give the A and D poles a very tiny heighth boost. And as a general rule I think a lot of people set their pickup heighth higher on the bass side. Tried that? As for the treble volume issue, are you sure you're plugging into the mono jack, not the Ric-O-Sound jack? If not then something is goofed up. If the bass is under warranty I'd just send it back for an overhaul.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you and the bass. If not... sorry dude. At least you've got other basses you like.

 

[Jjango]

Without speaking for Rickenboogie I think his point is why does this thread exist?

It's par for the course, really. Nary a week goes by without some variant of the "Rickenbackers are overpriced" or "Rickenbackers are overrated" thread getting posted. It's one of the most common (not to mention, overdone) topics on TB.

I think at the heart of it, people just love to kvetch. See the multiple "How dare Fender raise their prices!" threads. Or the "Sadowskys are just expensive parts basses!" threads. Or the "All Gibson basses sound like mud!" threads. Or the ever-popular "What's the deal with relics?" fight threads, which get regurgitated on a near-constant basis.

I don't mind the legitimate threads from owners who are trying to get the best out of the gear they own, but the misinformed pile-ons by everybody and his brother ("I tried a poorly set-up one in a store once through a crap amp for ten minutes, and hereby declare that they all suck for all eternity") do get a bit tiring.

In some ways we really are like a bunch of old ladies, gossiping about our neighbors' [DEL]kids[/DEL] basses over the backyard fence.

Some day, I'll post a thread about a Sadowsky-made, relic-ed, mudbucker-equipped, Thunderbird-bodied, extended-range bass with a whammy bar, and the world will just explode.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

If you play with your fingers and not a pick, this is the way you want the strings set up. It's perfect for me because that's how I play.

The nice thing about this bass is that you do have the option of reversing the order of the strings to accomodate pick usage.

Interesting to see that the thinner string is set below the normal bass string on Ric 8ers. Mine (a Dean) and most others put the thinner string above for best use on downstrokes.

Same goes for on my 12 string basses - and you know Ric will never make one of those!!!

Ric would sell the 8-string as fast as they could make them, I'm sure.

 

[cassius987]

In some ways we really are like a bunch of old ladies, gossiping about our neighbors' [DEL]kids[/DEL] basses over the backyard fence.

Sad but true. Also going in my signature.

 

[george.c.]

i've tried every adjustment possible but have been unable to find the cure.my problem is that i bought my ric as a grey import therefore voiding the waranty but at the end of the day a bass guitar is a very basic piece of equipment that should seldom have issues and being a ric i never wouldve thought.the E string problem is a major issue with many owners not just me...anyway it taught me a huge lesson..the upside is that i know i can sell it for more than what it owes me

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

Try adjusting the pick ups down on the G-string side until you achieve vol. equality. It's not possible for this to not to work. That is unless you are not getting any vol at all from the E-string, which, if that's the case, you have a defective pick up and it needs to be replaced.

i've tried every adjustment possible but have been unable to find the cure.my problem is that i bought my ric as a grey import therefore voiding the waranty but at the end of the day a bass guitar is a very basic piece of equipment that should seldom have issues and being a ric i never wouldve thought.the E string problem is a major issue with many owners not just me...anyway it taught me a huge lesson..the upside is that i know i can sell it for more than what it owes me

 

[theevilplankton]

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.

 

[Tarrbot]

i've tried every adjustment possible but have been unable to find the cure.my problem is that i bought my ric as a grey import therefore voiding the waranty but at the end of the day a bass guitar is a very basic piece of equipment that should seldom have issues and being a ric i never wouldve thought.the E string problem is a major issue with many owners not just me...anyway it taught me a huge lesson..the upside is that i know i can sell it for more than what it owes me

What strings have you tried? Strings make a major impact on sound. Have you tried different sets/types to see if anything changed?

 

[kcole4001]

Hey, amidst all the dribble something of value finally materializes!!

Thanks for the post. You (Jjango) and Cassius have provided somthing usefull!!

Regarding the allen screws, there was a dude on ebay selling a complete set of all the adjustment type of screws (excluding pickguard screws and the like) as a package for a few dollars (I seem to remember around $12), and I looked for a link, but he may have sold out as I couldn't find him in a recent search.

I frequently do a Rick related search on ebay just to keep current in what's selling and to see if there is a cool deal somewhere, but this guy hasn't been around for a bit.
He used all easily available parts from a hardware store, but had to buy in boxes, which is why he had extra to sell and thought that others would like the idea.
Perhaps no one was interested.

 

[68Goldfish]

I've only had my rick for just about a week now. I swear my E string is allmost too loud. I have to be carefull not to really stand on it for fear of blowing my speakers right out of the cabinet. No noticable neck dive at all. I can see how some people might get iritated at the binding digging into your arm but it's not really that big of a deal. There is a tiny bit of tail lift that I'll be keeping an eye on. I'm also going to switch to .100 E string roto's that should ease up the pressure on the tail and neck a little. Really the only thing that I'm debating with is taking off the pickup cover. It's pretty much right in the way. I can play behind or in front of it but I think it would solve some tone issues that I find myself trying to EQ around if I could just play right over the top of the pickup. I'm going to fabricate something to fill in the hole the cover leaves behind. I don't like the idea of the whole pickgaurdian thing becuase I want to keep the chrome surround. Other than that I can't really think of any major issues.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

Nice, a satisfied musician!

I've only had my rick for just about a week now. I swear my E string is allmost too loud. I have to be carefull not to really stand on it for fear of blowing my speakers right out of the cabinet. No noticable neck dive at all. I can see how some people might get iritated at the binding digging into your arm but it's not really that big of a deal. There is a tiny bit of tail lift that I'll be keeping an eye on. I'm also going to switch to .100 E string roto's that should ease up the pressure on the tail and neck a little. Really the only thing that I'm debating with is taking off the pickup cover. It's pretty much right in the way. I can play behind or in front of it but I think it would solve some tone issues that I find myself trying to EQ around if I could just play right over the top of the pickup. I'm going to fabricate something to fill in the hole the cover leaves behind. I don't like the idea of the whole pickgaurdian thing becuase I want to keep the chrome surround. Other than that I can't really think of any major issues.

 

[LaXu]

Without speaking for Rickenboogie I think his point is why does this thread exist? You don't see threads asking for the bad points of Fender J or P basses. Or EBMM bad points. In reality I doubt there is a bass built that is 100% perfect to 100% of the people. Simply can't be.

This thread was simply a completely honest, no hidden agenda thing because what I've read about Rickenbackers is mostly praise so I wanted to hear the other side of the coin. I was wary of just buying one since it IS an old design and those tend to have less than desirable design choices.

I have only had a very brief chance to play with a 4003 and it wasn't even thru an amp and the bass in question had obvious flaws, some of them simply because it was old and used. Here in Finland the official dealer hasn't even been able to get a Rickenbacker CASE for the last 4 years, let alone an instrument so I can't just go and try one.

In the end I'll probably get something else because even though I dig the Ric design, I don't want to deal with the awkward bridge, no warranty etc factors on a several thousand euro instrument or have to buy expensive replacement parts to fix them. I've been that road before and it was not a good one.