Talk me off the ledge, please....

[Bikeguy57]

I had 2 beautiful Ricks in the past...Had. Normally I advise buying a pristine used bass, and let the first sucker pay the depreciation. With Ricks, people ask more for them used than you can get them new. Call Bruce at Wildwood for the best price and service.

 

[Jigmay]

Do it.
Squire was one of my biggest inspirations. A bought a white ‘78 locally and I am growing to love it. Neck is thin/jazz like. I have had no problems with the neck, bridge or ergonomics.I have a bunch of basses and this one is slowly entering Top 3 status. Been playing with Ric-o-Sound going through Source Audio dual mono pedals and the sound is glorious. It’s a deep well to explore with the SA pedals and I’m having a blast.

 

[Nek07]

Lately I've been jonesing (80's term) for a Rick. Yes was one of my first favorite bands, still have vinyl, including Fish Out Of Water, saw them live 4 or 5 times in the late 70's early 80's, Tormato, In the Round, etc. I can extend my credit and buy a used 4003, but should I? Currently playing Jazz and Reverend 5-strings as my goto's. But I really want a Rick. help.

If you need credit to get it, it feel like it is not the wisest choice. Maybe put money aside for it, and if that itch still itch when you got a good part of the money, go for it.

 

[farace]

Absolutely a try-before-you-buy proposition IME. As many have mentioned, they are unlike anything else out there

Many years ago I had a 4001 fretless and the way they went about making it a fretless proved to be such a distraction that I sold it less than a year later. The idea of using dot-inlay fretted fingerboards with no fret slots cut in them might have made sense from an economic perspective but it definitely didn't work in a practical sense, for me at least. The whole one-dot-per-fret position on the binding wasn't cutting it either

At this point, the only way I'd even consider getting one would be if I had an extra $1000 lying around (over the purchase price, mind you) to cover the cost of replacing the fingerboard entirely with a totally blank piece of ebony. No lines, no dots, no binding - just black wood. I saw one just like this on an old YouTube video by the notoriously cranky Dave of Dave's Fun Stuff and it seemed to me like the perfect solution



How long did it take you to adapt to the weird inlay pattern?

I can’t really see the fingerboard dots when playing, so those don’t bother me. I, too, found the dot-per-fret in the binding easy to get lost in, however (no doubt exacerbated by my fairly strong eyeglass prescription), so I changed some of them. I drilled out the dots at the 3, 5, 7, etc. positions and replaced them with Luminlay dots, their model that essentially creates a white dot ringed in black. Problem solved. I don’t really need the luminous aspect, but it’s nice to have, too. Total cost for this mod about $20 if I remember correctly.

 

[bundavis]

Lately I've been jonesing (80's term) for a Rick. Yes was one of my first favorite bands, still have vinyl, including Fish Out Of Water, saw them live 4 or 5 times in the late 70's early 80's, Tormato, In the Round, etc. I can extend my credit and buy a used 4003, but should I? Currently playing Jazz and Reverend 5-strings as my goto's. But I really want a Rick. help.

I can relate to dreaming about owning a Warwick. I started playing in 2000, played my friwnds thumb in 2003 and fell in love. They have always seemed out of reach because of the price. I wanted a neck through and not a bolt on. 20 years later i saved and saved and finally bought 1 about a year and 3 months and it was the bwst decision i made, evwn thoigh it took 20 years to talk myself into spending the money...
I had another opportunity 5 years ago to get a 1967 4001 jetglow bass and passed on it because it wasn't right at the time...
If you have never played 1 at least tey and.spend.so.e.ti.e with 1 before you jump on spending the money my friend...

Good luck with your choice my friend

 

[jamro217]

"Talk him down, Johnny."
"C'mon down, Reeljerc."
"Uh...okay."

 

[MrAB4003]

If you need credit to get it, it feel like it is not the wisest choice. Maybe put money aside for it, and if that itch still itch when you got a good part of the money, go for it.

I agree! You should absolutely do it once you have the money.

 

[jamro217]

Try as many as you can before buying. Unlike Fenders or other massed produced instruments, Rics are like a high-volume custom shop with a limited menu. Each specimen is unique. If you do decide to borrow money to buy a non-essential item, Rics do hold their value, so you won't lose your shirt if you resell it. Just don't overpay. Hope this helps.

 

[Khrist92]

Don't put it on credit.
However, when you do get one, make sure you get the right one - a 4001v63. Closest approximation of Squire's model without the price of a 4001CS, and better QC as well. Swap out the harness for a stereo capable one and you'll be set.

 

[Tom Henrich]

Lately I've been jonesing (80's term) for a Rick. Yes was one of my first favorite bands, still have vinyl, including Fish Out Of Water, saw them live 4 or 5 times in the late 70's early 80's, Tormato, In the Round, etc. I can extend my credit and buy a used 4003, but should I? Currently playing Jazz and Reverend 5-strings as my goto's. But I really want a Rick. help.

BUY A RIC !! BUY A RIC !! BUY A RIC !!

It took me 40 years to get mine and its awesome. I loved Chris Squire but Geddy is my dude.

 

[goldendomer04]

I say buy it, but from a store like Guitar Center where you can try it out for a couple weeks and return it if it doesn’t work out….

 

[Steve Cooke]

I put my 1st Ric on credit in 1990! If you are like me, you will justify it until you get it....Plus, if its a smart buy, and it doesn't work out, you wont lose $ if you have to re-sell it.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I think you will find greater pleasure in hunting one out in store. Buy the one that speaks to you in feel rather than looks.

That is unless you just want a new shirt that you can wear that happens to be a Rickenbacker bass.

 

[sgiacomo]

Lately I've been jonesing (80's term) for a Rick. Yes was one of my first favorite bands, still have vinyl, including Fish Out Of Water, saw them live 4 or 5 times in the late 70's early 80's, Tormato, In the Round, etc. I can extend my credit and buy a used 4003, but should I? Currently playing Jazz and Reverend 5-strings as my goto's. But I really want a Rick. help.

Play one first and make sure the ergonomics work for you. I loved the tone of mine but didn’t along with the neck profile (2012 year model) and the body edges were “sharp” because I am a weenie

 

[reeljerc]

The nut width on them (not including early ones) is 1 11/16". How does that compare to your other basses?

The Reverend Mercalli 5 nut width is 47mm, which feels very comfortable.

 

[reeljerc]

Grab it off the rack and dash out the door shouting, "Pay ya next week!"

Like Pete Townsend!

 

[jeffb28451]

I understand. I've had 4-5 Rics and now have a 4001 v63. They are quite inconsistent basses, and I would never buy one without playing it first.

I would not make any unusual financial moves to get one, though. A Jazz can do a pretty good "Ric", (ask Geddy) but a Rick is not going to do a very good "Jazz." I am not one who will say that a Ric is a "one trick pony" but if I only had one bass, it would be a Jazz, not a Ric. A Jazz, a Ric and a Stingray pretty much cover my wants, though.

Take your time and enjoy the shopping. Maybe you'll find a real buy or super unusual one that just begs you to go crazy with the credit card, but unless you do, Ric's do tend to have a pretty steady re-sale price on the used market for each type, vintage and version.

 

[reeljerc]

You need to visit this page....
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-rickenbacker-club-part-twelve.1070836/

You are in Santa Ana and never had a RIC?

I'm literally walking distance to the factory, but it's not open to JQPublic.

 

[reeljerc]

I understand. I've had 4-5 Rics and now have a 4001 v63. They are quite inconsistent basses, and I would never buy one without playing it first.

I would not make any unusual financial moves to get one, though. A Jazz can do a pretty good "Ric", (ask Geddy) but a Rick is not going to do a very good "Jazz." I am not one who will say that a Ric is a "one trick pony" but if I only had one bass, it would be a Jazz, not a Ric. A Jazz, a Ric and a Stingray pretty much cover my wants, though.

Take your time and enjoy the shopping. Maybe you'll find a real buy or super unusual one that just begs you to go crazy with the credit card, but unless you do, Ric's do tend to have a pretty steady re-sale price on the used market for each type, vintage and version.

I have a Stingray too. Use it for R&B/slap gigs. Thank you.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Are they worth 3K+? Not to me, I bought my '73 and '78 for $250 each (humble brag).

The '67 4005WB (Jetglo) I had for 38 years cost me (my parents, actually ) $175 in 1973 (humble brag).

The Reverend Mercalli 5 nut width is 47mm, which feels very comfortable.

Are you thinking of a 5-string Rick? 1 11/16" is about 43mm on a 4-string Rick.