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Should I part ways with my jazz to upgrade?
- Thread starter southpaw723
- Start date
A bass is a tool. Nothing more nothing less. Sell the J. If you want a J in the future, you can always buy one. There's nothing special about a mass-produced J.
I've had Rics, and always went back to a Jazz. You can't beat a jazz.
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Everybody telling the OP not to buy something he wants. Am on the wrong forum? 
Ideally don't use your credit card to finance the new bass. You would most likely already be taking a hit trying to sell a leftie on short notice. So save up, pay for the Rick with your own money and sell the Jazz without any pressure to accept a bad deal.
I don't always follow my own wisdom, though
I don't always follow my own wisdom, though
I played a 60s Precision for about 10 years before coming to the conclusion that it wasn't for me. I sold it and got a Ric 4001 (which I put the 4003 mod into) quite a few years ago. I've never looked back or had a millisecond worth of doubt. Basses are like shoes - it's got to feel right and look like your style.
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As others have likely mentioned rics look cool and others can get some nice sounds out of them. Really gased hard a black Ric but when I finally got to play the real deal and I was like "meh this doesn't really work for me."
My advice is go play one before you sell gear to raise the funds. Even if it means a little road trip. I won't spend that kind of money on a bass without at least trying the same model.
What he said! No credit cards! Save up for what you want. If its the Ric, go for it. By the time you save up the cash, you may change your mind. At the least, you can do a proper side-by-side and make a call based on your ears. Learned this lesson years ago...
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- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,943
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Didn't realize you were a lefty... Duh!
.What I was going to say is that if you get on Musiciansfriend mailing list, you'll get 15-20% off, plus an extra 8% joining their Backstage Pass program. With (or actually even without) that, a right handed 4003 can be had for $1400-$1500. Many people don't haggle on the price, and pay through the nose. I got quoted $1400 at MF about 2 years ago, called Americanmusical, they told me $1900. I told them no way and quoted the price MF gave me and they immediately said, "We can do that." That freaked me out, and made me wonder about how Ricenbacker does their pricing. Might be tougher with a lefty, but then again, it might be even easier as they don't sell as many of them. I don't know anything about lefty pricing.
The credit thing I asked because if your credit is good, most online places offer 24 month no interest payment plans.
With the discount and the payment plan you can have a Ric for about $60 a month. That's $2 a day. Less $$ than a cup of Starbucks.
Something I have personal experience with...
I got rid of my Jazz Bass a few years back when I got my Ric 4003. I love my Ric to death. They're way more versatile than many on TB will give it credit for.
HOWEVER, I recently got a new Jazz bass because the Ric just feels so different and unique; I needed something closer to the "standard" feeling wise for slapping, etc. etc.
I won't ever get rid of my Ric, but I longed for a Jazz bass when I didn't have one. Wait until you're in a position to have both IMO. If I could only have one, I'd have my Jazz. They're both different tools for different jobs, but the Jazz is more practical.
I got rid of my Jazz Bass a few years back when I got my Ric 4003. I love my Ric to death. They're way more versatile than many on TB will give it credit for.
HOWEVER, I recently got a new Jazz bass because the Ric just feels so different and unique; I needed something closer to the "standard" feeling wise for slapping, etc. etc.
I won't ever get rid of my Ric, but I longed for a Jazz bass when I didn't have one. Wait until you're in a position to have both IMO. If I could only have one, I'd have my Jazz. They're both different tools for different jobs, but the Jazz is more practical.
I was talking to someone with musicians friend and they said they could match the $2000 from Sam ash. I couldn't get either of their credit cards because I'm a "ghost" when it comes to creditDidn't realize you were a lefty... Duh!
What I was going to say is that if you get on Musiciansfriend mailing list, you'll get 15-20% off, plus an extra 8% joining their Backstage Pass program. With (or actually even without) that, a right handed 4003 can be had for $1400-$1500. Many people don't haggle on the price, and pay through the nose. I got quoted $1400 at MF about 2 years ago, called Americanmusical, they told me $1900. I told them no way and quoted the price MF gave me and they immediately said, "We can do that." That freaked me out, and made me wonder about how Ricenbacker does their pricing. Might be tougher with a lefty, but then again, it might be even easier as they don't sell as many of them. I don't know anything about lefty pricing.
The credit thing I asked because if your credit is good, most online places offer 24 month no interest payment plans.
With the discount and the payment plan you can have a Ric for about $60 a month. That's $2 a day. Less $$ than a cup of Starbucks.
Figure out the maths on how much the Rick will REALLY cost you (including the interest) if you put it on the credit card and take X months to pay it off (add a couple of months if you think you're overly optimistic!). Interest on credit cards is a killer.
Not surprisingly, I would advocate waiting, saving, and buying it in cash.
Not surprisingly, I would advocate waiting, saving, and buying it in cash.
Personally, I think that owning a bass that you have an attachment to, and that you enjoy, outweighs the new shiny you're contemplating. Lots of people on this forum talk about regretting the one they let go, and I can only imagine that it would be even harder to recapture that magic since you're adding the need for a lefty model into the mix.
Keep your baby. Save for the Ric. They're always making more Rics, but they'll never make another one of the bass you already own and love.
Keep your baby. Save for the Ric. They're always making more Rics, but they'll never make another one of the bass you already own and love.
There are some people on TB who switched to Rics years ago and never looked back. You might be one of those people that fits well with a Ric. You'll never know unless you try one. I understand the lefty thing as I'm in the same boat! I always wanted a Ric but back when I was touring they were much more expensive than the righty's.
Buy the Ric and try it out for the 30 days return period. Some vendors (MF or American musical) have a 45 day trial period. This would give you a real chance to "take 'er around the block." Make sure you play it every day, play it at gigs, or create jams to try it out. But use it constantly! If you find it doesn't really fit, you can return it within the return policy period. Make sure you treat the bass like your first-born until you decide to keep it. Not a mark anywhere!
Good luck and keep us posted!
Buy the Ric and try it out for the 30 days return period. Some vendors (MF or American musical) have a 45 day trial period. This would give you a real chance to "take 'er around the block." Make sure you play it every day, play it at gigs, or create jams to try it out. But use it constantly! If you find it doesn't really fit, you can return it within the return policy period. Make sure you treat the bass like your first-born until you decide to keep it. Not a mark anywhere!
Good luck and keep us posted!
Who the heck can afford Starbucks??Didn't realize you were a lefty... Duh!
What I was going to say is that if you get on Musiciansfriend mailing list, you'll get 15-20% off, plus an extra 8% joining their Backstage Pass program. With (or actually even without) that, a right handed 4003 can be had for $1400-$1500. Many people don't haggle on the price, and pay through the nose. I got quoted $1400 at MF about 2 years ago, called Americanmusical, they told me $1900. I told them no way and quoted the price MF gave me and they immediately said, "We can do that." That freaked me out, and made me wonder about how Ricenbacker does their pricing. Might be tougher with a lefty, but then again, it might be even easier as they don't sell as many of them. I don't know anything about lefty pricing.
The credit thing I asked because if your credit is good, most online places offer 24 month no interest payment plans.
With the discount and the payment plan you can have a Ric for about $60 a month. That's $2 a day. Less $$ than a cup of Starbucks.
Absolutely correct. I went through the same thing at one time, and I have to say that my love affair with the Ric was more eyes and heart. Once I got one, it turned out that I didn't gig/play it as much as I thought I would. Definitely not saying this will happen to you but to sell your Jazz and load up a student credit card to get one? I'd say no, try to demo one, somehow.
Edit: Yeah, just realized about the lefty thing. That makes it tougher for sure. But for me, it's still a no on the sell-your-Jazz/credit card though.
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I got several of my custom shop guitars at GC on green tag clearance prices and used the 12 mos. interest free option. If you can discipline yourself to pay off before 12 mos. it's a great way to buy instruments that you might be unable to drop the lump sum cash on.
