Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
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- Status
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
TLC is always on, then during the chorus I kick on my EBS MultiDrive. I pretty much use the OD pedal only in places where there would be another guitar if we were a 4 piece ( notable exception being some of the RATM). I am not thrilled with the tone of the EBS ( although I don't hate it) but my playing aside, I think the tone during the rest of the song was freakin' sick. I love that bass and I love them strings.
The problem is the playback is only as good as what was used to record it and what you're using to hear it. I have a Logitech THX SurroundSound hooked up to my computer but it still isn't good enough. Good sound but I'm sure not even close to how it sounds live.
Oh I know it isn't really an accurate representation of what it sounded like live, but it isn't the worst recording device I've ever used either. I would say it is at least fairly representative of how it sounded to me when I was playing it.
Thanks for the link.
I thought it was a relative, not a form of the same wood. But, IMHO, it would make more sense to put bubinga on the website specs list.
And now I found this info:
Bubinga wood can be an amazingly wavy-figured exotic wood, sought by guitar makers and small box builders alike... often referred to as an African rosewood, although technically NOT from the rosewood family.
Got it here: Invalid Link Removed
So go figure.
Just picked up this 77 4001 from a long time guitarist friend who runs a small vintage shop. A guy came into the shop and traded it in on some vintage stuff from the store. The guy said he bought it new in 77 and played it regularly up till about a year ago. Since my buddy knew I had been looking for a Ricky, he let me know about it to ask if I was interested in grabbing it. Told me it had some issues but was decent and had potential. I jumped on it and since we've been friends for over 40 years, let's just say that I got super "long time buddy" price to low to print deal.
My friend dropped it off on Saturday, so I finally got to see it up close. It has lots of player wear, finish is nicely yellowed, overall I think it has good mojo. There's a few issues (read / see below) with it but I'm fairly sure it's gonna be a nice one one I get done with it. Pencil dated in cavity 11/77. It actually still played pretty good all things considered.
The bass is pretty much all original with just a few issues. Now on to the not so good stuff. The original PG is cracked to bits, it's useless so a new PG is a must. Also has a neck crack running from the nut down the bass side of the neck for about 4 inches or so (see pics). It's not very deep thank goodness and the bass holds concert pitch without issues. The original owner told my buddy he pulled the bass out of the case one night at a gig and noticed it was cracked. He said the bass was about two years old when it happened and he just kept playing it for all these years. He knew he could have sent it in under warranty but never did as he was gigging steady and it was his only bass. There's no movement on the crack, looks like somebody worked some glue into it at one time, and it's smoothed over from years of playing. You can barely feel it, so I don't doubt the owner's story that it cracked many years ago. I don't however believe the owner's story that he pulled it out of the case and found it was cracked. I've seen that type of neck crack in Ric's before and knew it didn't just happen by accident. I knew exactly what caused it.
I could also tell that the nut wasn't original and had been replaced a long time ago too. It's a white plastic nut with a thick wood shim glued under it to get the right height. So when I see the neck crack and the replaced nut, I know I'm pulling that truss rod cover. I want to see just how much some idiot with no clue on how to adjust Ric truss rods has screwed up this bass, and I'm hoping it's not a total loss. Sure enough the rods were screwed in so tight they're jammed into the spacer and the rod nuts are bent down clear to the wood. I can see where the top of one the rods has raised up a bit too. So I have that mental picture of somebody, probably the owner cranking those rods and then hearing that snap sound when the nut blew off and the neck got that crack. While I have the truss rod cover off and the strings off, I see the fretboards loose on the treble side about for about an inch or so. I spread it a bit, get some good glue in there and clamp it overnight.
The fretboard is down nice and tight so today I tackle the rods, nuts, and spacer. After clamping the fretboard so it won't pop off again, and clamping the body to my table, I'm able to get a flat screwdriver under the nuts and bend them up enough the get them off, and yes they were still way too tight. Probably been like that for a long time. Took a small block of wood and drove the rods back in to the neck so I could get the spacer off. Spacer is chewed up a bit and I think I might have to replace it, or at the least get a steel spacer in front of it so the rod nuts don't mash it up more. Anybody know where I can get a replacement aluminum, steel, or brass spacer? The threads on the rods look OK. Tomorrow I'm going to pull the rods out and have a look see. Honestly I think they're going to be OK. If so I'll clean them up, re-wax, and reinstall back into the neck. Pretty much then I have to get the spacer thing taken care of and then adjust it the "correct" way.
The bass needs a major cleanup. I'll bet it hasn't been cleaned for 20 years. Frets will eventually need work, typical roundwound grooving. Looks like still enough fret left to get them crowned. I'm going to string it up with flats when finished. Probably TI Jazz flats. Pots, switch, and jacks need cleaned. Should look decent when I get it finished. I like the fact that it's Mapleglo same as the one I owned back in the 70's.
Well here's the pics. Have a look and let me know what you think? Do I still qualify as a member?
A few more pics can be seen here.
77 Ric 4001 pictures by 60bass - Photobucket
My friend dropped it off on Saturday, so I finally got to see it up close. It has lots of player wear, finish is nicely yellowed, overall I think it has good mojo. There's a few issues (read / see below) with it but I'm fairly sure it's gonna be a nice one one I get done with it. Pencil dated in cavity 11/77. It actually still played pretty good all things considered.
The bass is pretty much all original with just a few issues. Now on to the not so good stuff. The original PG is cracked to bits, it's useless so a new PG is a must. Also has a neck crack running from the nut down the bass side of the neck for about 4 inches or so (see pics). It's not very deep thank goodness and the bass holds concert pitch without issues. The original owner told my buddy he pulled the bass out of the case one night at a gig and noticed it was cracked. He said the bass was about two years old when it happened and he just kept playing it for all these years. He knew he could have sent it in under warranty but never did as he was gigging steady and it was his only bass. There's no movement on the crack, looks like somebody worked some glue into it at one time, and it's smoothed over from years of playing. You can barely feel it, so I don't doubt the owner's story that it cracked many years ago. I don't however believe the owner's story that he pulled it out of the case and found it was cracked. I've seen that type of neck crack in Ric's before and knew it didn't just happen by accident. I knew exactly what caused it.
I could also tell that the nut wasn't original and had been replaced a long time ago too. It's a white plastic nut with a thick wood shim glued under it to get the right height. So when I see the neck crack and the replaced nut, I know I'm pulling that truss rod cover. I want to see just how much some idiot with no clue on how to adjust Ric truss rods has screwed up this bass, and I'm hoping it's not a total loss. Sure enough the rods were screwed in so tight they're jammed into the spacer and the rod nuts are bent down clear to the wood. I can see where the top of one the rods has raised up a bit too. So I have that mental picture of somebody, probably the owner cranking those rods and then hearing that snap sound when the nut blew off and the neck got that crack. While I have the truss rod cover off and the strings off, I see the fretboards loose on the treble side about for about an inch or so. I spread it a bit, get some good glue in there and clamp it overnight.
The fretboard is down nice and tight so today I tackle the rods, nuts, and spacer. After clamping the fretboard so it won't pop off again, and clamping the body to my table, I'm able to get a flat screwdriver under the nuts and bend them up enough the get them off, and yes they were still way too tight. Probably been like that for a long time. Took a small block of wood and drove the rods back in to the neck so I could get the spacer off. Spacer is chewed up a bit and I think I might have to replace it, or at the least get a steel spacer in front of it so the rod nuts don't mash it up more. Anybody know where I can get a replacement aluminum, steel, or brass spacer? The threads on the rods look OK. Tomorrow I'm going to pull the rods out and have a look see. Honestly I think they're going to be OK. If so I'll clean them up, re-wax, and reinstall back into the neck. Pretty much then I have to get the spacer thing taken care of and then adjust it the "correct" way.
The bass needs a major cleanup. I'll bet it hasn't been cleaned for 20 years. Frets will eventually need work, typical roundwound grooving. Looks like still enough fret left to get them crowned. I'm going to string it up with flats when finished. Probably TI Jazz flats. Pots, switch, and jacks need cleaned. Should look decent when I get it finished. I like the fact that it's Mapleglo same as the one I owned back in the 70's.
Well here's the pics. Have a look and let me know what you think? Do I still qualify as a member?
A few more pics can be seen here.
77 Ric 4001 pictures by 60bass - Photobucket
...this is an original Rick, but it needs a lot of care and restoration
!
Call Paul Wilcynski in SF or Dale Fortune, these two guys are the most recommended luthiers for RIC instruments. When redone, you will have a lots of fun!
! Call Paul Wilcynski in SF or Dale Fortune, these two guys are the most recommended luthiers for RIC instruments. When redone, you will have a lots of fun!- Status
