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Tell me about Rickenbackers.

#41
mcm said:
Really cool looking, way over priced, and can't support a band.
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What an utterly ridiculous thing to post.

You obviously (1) do not have a Ric or (2)if you do, have never played it with a band or (3)simply do not know how to play it.


Lemme see.........hmmm...a few pretty good bassists out there have made a ton of great music and a ton of money playing Rics in A BAND. Can't quite seem to remember who they were...gee whiz...but I do know that personally a 1969 and a 1972 Ric paid ALL my bills in L.A. for almost 10 years in the 70's. Oh, uh, while I was in a band where I...uh..you know...played it.

Anyone want to educate good ol' mcm? I mean, we all are about helping and educating the uninformed here.
HAGD.;)
 
#43
After owning my Ric 4003 for only a short while my opinion is they are bright and punchy but lack the real low end boom that my Precision and Jazz Bass have. I can see playing my Ric in a lot of different situations, but I don't think it is a good fit for my current blues trio.
 
#45
Alas, this is true. If Rics could support a band, obscure groups like The Beatles, The Who, Yes, Rush, and Genesis would have made it instead of fading into obscurity.
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So true. Why, just the other day I was listening to this band with a bass player/singer called Lenny or something similar, and it was a real shame he played a Ric, because his band simply didn't hit hard enough with it.
 
#47
Jaco Taco said:
Alas, this is true. If Rics could support a band, obscure groups like The Beatles, The Who, Yes, Rush, and Genesis would have made it instead of fading into obscurity.
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Yeah, every one of those bands listed were nothing but one hit wonders. And it's all Rickenbacker's fault. If the bassist in each of those bands would have played a bass other than a Ric, maybe they would have made a few dollars with their music.
 
#52
hsech said:
After owning my Ric 4003 for only a short while my opinion is they are bright and punchy but lack the real low end boom that my Precision and Jazz Bass have. I can see playing my Ric in a lot of different situations, but I don't think it is a good fit for my current blues trio.
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eban3 said:
"toy " bass ...........
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Yep, no low-end boom with my '03 model(although I probably wouldn't pick a 4003 for blues either:) ):

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#53
I've tried two rick basses. Both 4003 models. and i didn't like them. They look gorgeous, but they feel light weight, and sound very thin. The neck is nice, but that's about all i liked from playing it. The neck is very thin IMHO. I feel there will be hate on me for saying that: my rick copy sounds, feels, and has more weight to it than an actual rickenbacker. And is obvs, less expensive. The only downfall to my copy, all the ones i've tried before purchasing mine, the switch is defect after a while. But it's easily replaceable.
 
#58
rekesbass said:
I don't get the "no low end" thing...the newer 4003's have lots of low end...I think it's the punch of low mids that everyone confuses for low end.. I use my Ric for all styles of music and it never dissapoints..I like J's and P's and Ric's(obviously) for their differences..but my Ric certainly does not lack any low end..
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No, a 4001/3 does not sound like a P bass or a J bass, nor is it supposed too, but it seems many like to compare the three. It's like the same thread about tail lift being a problem that comes up every now an again. Rickenbacker basses have not had tail lift issues in a dogs age but that does not stop the topic from coming up.

If you are looking for serious thump, I suggest a 4004. That bass looks like a Rickenbacker but it's a low end and all around monster! A J bass? Try a 4002, you'll never look at your J bass the same way again. Both these basses have very powerful humbucking pups and they are configured differently than the 4001/3.

Yes, 4001/3's have more kick in the low mid low range and that is exactly where I prefer to be. Rickenbacker basses work for me and my sound. They are not for every one and that's a good thing. And this is coming from a guy who "cut his teeth" with fender P basses in my early days.

Sepp
 
#59
These discussions are fascinating. I have played Rics, just out of curiosity to find out what the fuss is all about. It's a nice instrument with a variety of sounds.

A Ric would be a great addition to the herd. But, a Ric is not on the top of my list of things to spend money on. They are just another take on how to build a bass guitar and make it work. So there you go. I'm on the fence and still don't understand all the fuss from both directions.
 
#60
Gaolee said:
These discussions are fascinating. I have played Rics, just out of curiosity to find out what the fuss is all about. It's a nice instrument with a variety of sounds.

A Ric would be a great addition to the herd. But, a Ric is not on the top of my list of things to spend money on. They are just another take on how to build a bass guitar and make it work. So there you go. I'm on the fence and still don't understand all the fuss from both directions.
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Fer me, after playing a J for decades, I couldn't get sounds that drew me to bass in the first place. I'm not talking about Geddy, but more McCartney and Mike Mills. Luckily, once I got one I discovered that the neck suits me better than a J.

They also look killer and are unique.
 

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