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Rickenbackers

Ric5

Ric5

Inactive
Jan 29, 2008
29,772
30,452
Colorado
www.3dentourage.com
Disclosures
I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
#1
I have been playing Rickenbackers since 1973. I love the tone and the look ... But I really have a hard time with the Rickenbacker Cult mentality and the "attitude" of the Rickenbacker faithful. The Arrogance makes me uncomfortable.

For instance it is fine to modify and build copies of Fenders, but not Rickenbackers. If I build a Rick copy and post it here I will get a lot of hatred directed my way, and I get that hate just for modifying Rickenbackers. But If I build a copy of a jazz bass and put in active electronics then everybody will praise my workmanship.

If you compare basses to cars then Fenders are like a Chevy, Gibson would be a Buick, Ibanez would be a Toyota, and ... Rickenbacker ... would be an Edsel ... There is no other bass manufacturer that can't seem to make a proper 5 string bass.

I am thinking of making a special TRC for my 2 Rics that says Edsel or Edselbacker
 
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#4
Ric5 said:
I have been playing Rickenbackers since 1973. I love the tone and the look ... But I really have a hard time with the Rickenbacker Cult mentality and the "attitude" of the Rickenbacker faithful. The Arrogance makes me uncomfortable.

For instance it is fine to modify and build copies of Fenders, but not Rickenbackers. If I build a Rick copy and post it here I will get a lot of hatred directed my way, and I get that hate just for modifying Rickenbackers. But If I build a copy of a jazz bass and put in active electronics then everybody will praise my workmanship.

If you compare basses to cars then Fenders are like a Chevy, Gibson would be a Buick, Ibanez would be a Toyota, and ... Rickenbacker ... would be an Edsel ... There is no other bass manufacturer that can't seem to make a proper 5 string bass.

I am thinking of making a special TRC for my 2 Rics that says Edsel or Edselbacker
Click to expand...

Ric5,
Do you really think posting a rant here will change the minds (or the attitudes) of Rickenbacker enthusiasts?
You do an excellent job of converting 4-string Rics to 5-string Rics, you sell them to folks who do indeed praise your work, & you even turn a profit from doing this, so why do you give a fig if some random strangers on the web don't like modded Rics , or the people who mod them?
The real reason for your frustration appears to stem from the fact that Ric doesn't build 5-string basses, and when they did build 5-string basses, those basses never met your expectations.
I humbly suggest you let go of your frustration with a company that will continue to endure - whether you like their basses (or their cult-mentality fans) or not , & be happy with the knowledge that you can & do modify them to meet your approval.
 
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#5
superdick2112 said:
Ric5,
Do you really think posting a rant here will change the minds (or the attitudes) of Rickenbacker enthusiasts?
You do an excellent job of converting 4-string Rics to 5-string Rics, you sell them to folks who do indeed praise your work, & you even turn a profit from doing this, so why do you give a fig if some random strangers on the web don't like modded Rics , or the people who mod them?
The real reason for your frustration appears to stem from the fact that Ric doesn't build 5-string basses, and when they did build 5-string basses, those basses never met your expectations.
I humbly suggest you let go of your frustration with a company that will continue to endure - whether you like their basses (or their cult-mentality fans) or not , & be happy with the knowledge that you can & do modify them to meet your approval.
Click to expand...

Ya ... you are right ...

I am venting ...

In another place I ran into their arrogance and intolerance and I let it bother me ... They accused me of being a butcher ... and the guy accusing me can't even tell the difference between a active and passive pickup.

Thanks for being a voice of reason ...
 
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#8
Well, I think you are using a very wide brush when you say "Rickenbacker people" - there are a lot of them (me included) who like what you do with Ricks (there's even a whole page of your 425s in the 2nd edition). I think your concentration on the few loudmouths is keeping you from listening to the appreciative murmurs that are out there. And I think your reactions to them get you into trouble on the boards. You can't please everyone, so why turn up the heat?
 
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#10
Ric5 said:
I find the Rickenbacker people turn on me the way a cult turns on people who leave ... no mercy
Click to expand...

Just had a quick browse on your 425 site and I think those 5-bangers look great...
And let's not forget is also a Fender cult that baulks at anything modified ("why change perfection?") or Non-Fender ("if it doesn't say Fender on the headstock it's not a P-bass"). I say "Brouhaha" to the lot of them.
 
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#14
Ric5 said:
For instance it is fine to modify and build copies of Fenders, but not Rickenbackers. If I build a Rick copy and post it here I will get a lot of hatred directed my way, and I get that hate just for modifying Rickenbackers. But If I build a copy of a jazz bass and put in active electronics then everybody will praise my workmanship.
Click to expand...
Is an argument being made with this hatred? What's the reasoning behind the problem people have with this?
 
#15
PaulBoyer said:
Well, I think you are using a very wide brush when you say "Rickenbacker people" - there are a lot of them (me included) who like what you do with Ricks (there's even a whole page of your 425s in the 2nd edition). I think your concentration on the few loudmouths is keeping you from listening to the appreciative murmurs that are out there. And I think your reactions to them get you into trouble on the boards. You can't please everyone, so why turn up the heat?
Click to expand...

3dd0d362_what-do-you-mean-you-people-tropic-thunder-movie--1309633407.jpg


:D:roflmao::D:roflmao::D:roflmao::laugh::laugh::laugh:!
 
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#18
Humans are tribal primates who like shiny things. Fender Tribe, Rickenbacker Tribe, Gibson Tribe, etc. I think I've managed to inadvertently offend all of the above by pointing out various blatant design deficiencies, all zealously defended by the relevant tribal group. Actually I've found TB a haven of free thinkers compared to the Rickresource forum. You want to see some serious groupthink , try posting a legitmate constructive criticism over there! Its cool, people who run fan sites only want to hear happytalk that reinforces their beliefs, no different than partisan talk radio. I was worried about posting my Ric 4001 bass build here on TB, needlessly, as it turned out. People have been generally positive, as its a one off build for my own use. I've seen 6-7 Ric inpired builds on Luthier's Corner, still waiting for my Cease and Desist letter from John Hall. I suspect he's got bigger fish to fry with Chinese knockoffs. If you post a heavily modded Ric on the Rickenbacker Club, you might get some good natured stank, but I doubt it. Post it on LC and people will ask how you did it, and cheerlead you through every step of the build. Its just the internet, people say stupid things, don't worry about it.

P. S. Your 425 conversions are superb, wish Ric would do the same!
 
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#19
Ric5 said:
I have been playing Rickenbackers since 1973. I love the tone and the look ... But I really have a hard time with the Rickenbacker Cult mentality and the "attitude" of the Rickenbacker faithful. The Arrogance makes me uncomfortable.

For instance it is fine to modify and build copies of Fenders, but not Rickenbackers. If I build a Rick copy and post it here I will get a lot of hatred directed my way, and I get that hate just for modifying Rickenbackers. But If I build a copy of a jazz bass and put in active electronics then everybody will praise my workmanship.

If you compare basses to cars then Fenders are like a Chevy, Gibson would be a Buick, Ibanez would be a Toyota, and ... Rickenbacker ... would be an Edsel ... There is no other bass manufacturer that can't seem to make a proper 5 string bass.

I am thinking of making a special TRC for my 2 Rics that says Edsel or Edselbacker
Click to expand...

" But I really have a hard time with the Rickenbacker Cult mentality and the "attitude" of the Rickenbacker faithful. The Arrogance makes me uncomfortable."

Other people's arrogance makes you uncomfortable?

What is the purpose of this thread?
 
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#20
PaulBoyer said:
Well, I think you are using a very wide brush when you say "Rickenbacker people" - there are a lot of them (me included) who like what you do with Ricks (there's even a whole page of your 425s in the 2nd edition). I think your concentration on the few loudmouths is keeping you from listening to the appreciative murmurs that are out there. And I think your reactions to them get you into trouble on the boards. You can't please everyone, so why turn up the heat?
Click to expand...

Well the loudmouths shout down the resonable people sometimes
 
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