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The "Ric Sound"?
- Thread starter MK1
- Start date
I used to think one must have a Rick to have the Rick sound, but after watching several YES live DVD's I saw that Chris is getting his tone on any bass he plays, I mean, you can hear it is Chris's sound whatever it is a 4001 Rick, Fender Jazz, Lakland P-bass or his amazing Mouridian bass. In one DVD he plays an acoustic bass, and it still sound like a Rick..!!
This is my feelings towards them too! I was finally lucky enough to see one in person and play one last week (I used to live in Raleigh, NC where they only get Fender and Gibson stuff, now I live in atlanta where people realize that there are other brands) and I fell in love with it. It was like it was playing itself, it played so well! And also, it just looks ridiculously awesome.
lol, i've been thinking something of the likes for quite a while now, that you can make any bass sound like anything out there. But, there is a limit to this, and the best examples are the ric and the eb0. Both have a cap that sends certain frequecies to ground. You can't eq those frequencies as they are just not there. So I think that, without messing with the electronics, it's probably not possible to make an eb0 sound like a ric, or a ric sould like an eb0.
The rick you can just play with the neck pickup only. Also, the cap is bypassable, and in newer model 4003's, you can switch it on and off.
The EB-0 has only one pickup, so it would be much more difficult to do the reverse.
Ricks can sound quite full and are among the most versatile basses made.
The audio in this is my March '73 4001 running through my LA-610 Mk II into Pro Tools. We did this recording yesterday afternoon.
The audio in this is my March '73 4001 running through my LA-610 Mk II into Pro Tools. We did this recording yesterday afternoon.
Of course a Jazz or a P-bass will never sound like a real Rick, otherwise Squire will not bother playing the P or the J bass as he is looking for some variation. But I was still impressed by the fact it was his sound whatever bass he played.
I have an 83 Fullerton Jazz, a 77 black Ric. A squire vintage Modified Fretless with a neck done by one of Fenders Master builders and an 81 Ibanez musician. My 71 P was stolen years ago, I love teem all ane can cover just about any tonal demand with these basses. They all have their place. When I replace the P eventually I'm probably done unless a semi acoustic grabs me. RICS have great tonal variety if used right. Not only the classic Chris Squire, Geddy Lee progressive sound but Sir Paul played one for several years with an entirely different tone. Best.
Rickenbackers not only handle the treble-y grind of prog rock with aplomb, they are also rich in low end tones, especially from the neck pickup. It was said elsewhere before but I'll repeat it, for passive electrics they are frighteningly good at copping a faux upright sound. Even more so when fretless.
If Rics have less of a certain tone than other basses I think it's low mids, which are what really define the P and J Basses. I totally disagree with those who say Rics lack lows compared to other basses--see above--but I think what really is different about them is this slight dip in the low mids area. This is actually what helps give them some of their clarity and richness, and is due to the maple construction.
If Rics have less of a certain tone than other basses I think it's low mids, which are what really define the P and J Basses. I totally disagree with those who say Rics lack lows compared to other basses--see above--but I think what really is different about them is this slight dip in the low mids area. This is actually what helps give them some of their clarity and richness, and is due to the maple construction.
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
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- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
I use the Ricks for EVERYTHING and have had no issues...I like the other stuff as well but I have always come back to a Rick...
nothing sounds better for cover band/classic rock gigs than a properly set up rick through an svt rig or similiar (DB750 and NV610) IME/IMO. It's really the only rig I have had serious compliements on tone with over the years and I have had just about all the choices (jazz, P, sadowsky, US Lakland, Warwick, etc).... only rig I've had where consistently non musician audience members comment on bass tone, you know it must be good....
Can get the meanist, meaty, agressive tone out of all the old school passive bass choices. Almost like a dead lead guitar tone. Especially with the 70's high gain pickups and with the cap bypass you can't go wrong (this is the best years for tone from my experience).
Can get the meanist, meaty, agressive tone out of all the old school passive bass choices. Almost like a dead lead guitar tone. Especially with the 70's high gain pickups and with the cap bypass you can't go wrong (this is the best years for tone from my experience).
My Ric is a 4003 made in 2002 - it doesn't have the vintage/modern push/pull - so it's in "modern" all the time.
But to me the "Ric sound" is all about the treble "clang" provided by the bridge pickup riding on top of a deep low end provided by the neck pickup. The bridge pickup sounds louder than the neck when solo'd on a 4003 - especially if you have it setup close to the strings. On my 4003 the pole peices of the bridge pickup are closer to the strings than on the neck pickup - It is adjustable of course. On 4001 bases I understand the volume imbalance can be the other way around becasue of the filter capacitor.
I also love running in stereo so I can independantly adjust the amps, in this way i think I can can any tone regardless of whether its "vintage" or "modern" but adjusting the EQ on seperate amps.
Its a fantastic bass anyway no doubts.
But to me the "Ric sound" is all about the treble "clang" provided by the bridge pickup riding on top of a deep low end provided by the neck pickup. The bridge pickup sounds louder than the neck when solo'd on a 4003 - especially if you have it setup close to the strings. On my 4003 the pole peices of the bridge pickup are closer to the strings than on the neck pickup - It is adjustable of course. On 4001 bases I understand the volume imbalance can be the other way around becasue of the filter capacitor.
I also love running in stereo so I can independantly adjust the amps, in this way i think I can can any tone regardless of whether its "vintage" or "modern" but adjusting the EQ on seperate amps.
Its a fantastic bass anyway no doubts.
I'm squarely in the "hate" camp on the 4001/3, my main problem with them being exactly the Rick sound.
Plug it in to your amp, no compression or effects, and play a few bars with a light touch - that's the Rick sound. And what makes my 4003 jump immediately back in the case almost as fast as I took it out.
OTOH, my tonal preference is what I get out of my Carvin Bunny fretless, which is about as far on the other side of the planet from the Rick as you can get. So that's probably why I hate playing them so much.
For certain styles of music, tho, they can be pretty serviceable. Classic rock and even blues and a Rick will work OK.
But I'm sooo glad I'll never have to gig with one ever again
LS
I'm squarely in the "hate" camp on the 4001/3, my main problem with them being exactly the Rick sound.
Plug it in to your amp, no compression or effects, and play a few bars with a light touch - that's the Rick sound. And what makes my 4003 jump immediately back in the case almost as fast as I took it out.
OTOH, my tonal preference is what I get out of my Carvin Bunny fretless, which is about as far on the other side of the planet from the Rick as you can get. So that's probably why I hate playing them so much.
For certain styles of music, tho, they can be pretty serviceable. Classic rock and even blues and a Rick will work OK.
But I'm sooo glad I'll never have to gig with one ever again
LS
I'll totally take it off your hands if it's annoying you so much!
Perfect, I've got a 4003 with the push/pull circuit and love it more than any bass I've ever had a go on. Not for every style around but definately for me.
They're extremely versatile. The "sound" depends on the player.
I was flipping through the TV channels the other night and came across a traditional Polka Festival. Yep, the bass player was playing a Ric.
I was flipping through the TV channels the other night and came across a traditional Polka Festival. Yep, the bass player was playing a Ric.
I'm squarely in the "hate" camp on the 4001/3, my main problem with them being exactly the Rick sound.
Plug it in to your amp, no compression or effects, and play a few bars with a light touch - that's the Rick sound. And what makes my 4003 jump immediately back in the case almost as fast as I took it out.
OTOH, my tonal preference is what I get out of my Carvin Bunny fretless, which is about as far on the other side of the planet from the Rick as you can get. So that's probably why I hate playing them so much.
For certain styles of music, tho, they can be pretty serviceable. Classic rock and even blues and a Rick will work OK.
But I'm sooo glad I'll never have to gig with one ever again
LS
You better send that awful bass to me. I'll make the sacrifice and play such a horrible instrument so you don't have to.
