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(mono jack)
After discovering that my signal was going to ground through that outer-most tab (left side of pic), I tried a layer of plastic tape. I still had extremely low output. If Ric doesn't want to remove any more wood around the jack, IMO, they should carve a groove to allow clearance for the tab.
Hi, guys! I'm not looking for a membership, just want to share something! I think it will be interesting for you!
A story, from beginning to the end:
http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=679295&highlight=
Very inspirational!
Hi, I'm new to this forum. I fell in love with the Rickenbacker basses when I was 8 years old, although I've never owned one. I played an Ibanez sound gear for 12 years and it finally died (RIP). Although I'm planning on fixing it for sentimental reasons I decided an upgrade was in order. I asked around and all my friends tried to steer me away from Rickenbacker. I play a combination of finger and slap styles and everyone said it was a pic players bass. Fender and MusicMan basses were recommended, but I never liked the look of them. I did go to guitar center to play each model. MusicMan basses are nice but didn't feel right. The only Fender I really liked was the Marcus Miller signature series. In the end I made my decision. I just purchased a new 4003 Mapleglo!!
Done rambling now to my questions:
1. Any mods that you feel are necessary for finger style players?
2. Do you feel I was wrong and these are pic only basses?
3. What strings are your favorite on these instruments?
Done rambling now to my questions:
1. Any mods that you feel are necessary for finger style players?
2. Do you feel I was wrong and these are pic only basses?
3. What strings are your favorite on these instruments?
Don't know why I got the red X...It's Bongomania's gorgeous surf green 5 stringer that has stolen my eyes and heart! Any more info on this Bongo? Want to send me an early Christmas present 
I'm in..74 4001..EMG pickups..powered by 18 volts.
Volume tone/Volume tone..yes,it cranks.
Cheers.
Volume tone/Volume tone..yes,it cranks.
Cheers.
The only mods I considered necessary were replacing the bridge pickup cover with an aftermarket bezel and shielding the cavities and pickguard. The myth that Rics are only to be picked, not fingered is strange to me. I am still playing the strings that came on mine, but am looking forward to hearing what it sounds like with flats sometime. Congrats on your new Mapleglo and enjoy playing it anyway you please!
First of all, welcome!
Your friends only know what is best for them, only you know what is best for you. What feels right is a very personal thing.
That's highly subjective, and personally I think it's a load of poo.
1) Not at all, as long as you're comfortable with the feel of the bass. Sometimes it takes a bit of adjustment to your technique for a different bass to feel comfortable.
Personally, I generally float, but do anchor at the neck pup, bridge surround, sometimes the end of the neck, or even the edge of the pickguard.
2) I've played mine mainly fingerstyle since 1986 (when I got my first Rick bass).
Pick only? Certainly not.
Something to consider would be adding a thumb rest above the neck pup on the pickguard.
It is possible to do without drilling holes (double sided tape may work, a glue would be more sturdy), but it depends on how much you rely on them.
I've considered it, and how to make the mod least invasive to the bass, but never felt compelled enough to actually do the mod.
3) My favorite are the stock RIC strings, though the tension is a little different than most medium sets (the A and D are slightly lighter guage). They last the longest for me, and have a little something special about the tone that I like, though you have to order them from RIC or one of their dealers.
My second choice are D'Addario nickel rounds in medium guage, and they're very readily available.
But again, it's a very personal thing, so what I like and what anyone else prefers are generally going to differ.
Pope4003 said:
No way is the Ric a pick only bass - and I've got the wear through the finish above the pickguard and above the treble pickup bezel to prove it.
I have a custom painted '81 Ric 4001 that'll be mine officially this Christmas. I've considered modding my past Rics on and off but I already have basses that cover every other tone I could want. Props to those who do though! I like my Rics to be normally quirky and unergonomic Rics in tone and feel. Plus the unique looks always get me. Although, my '84 Explorer is surprisingly Ric-like in feel and tone! Just more ergonomic and equally cool looking.
Oh, and Pope4003, I play the hell out all of my basses. I slap, tap, finger, pick, and occasionally just drum on them. Rics are no exception. I actually like the feel of the 4001 for slap.
Oh, and Pope4003, I play the hell out all of my basses. I slap, tap, finger, pick, and occasionally just drum on them. Rics are no exception. I actually like the feel of the 4001 for slap.
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
and should you ever decide to sell it, I would like dibs....I am all about custom painted ones.....check out my last ones in the official Rick club thread!
I hope that I don't have to sell another Ric but it'll noted in my mind to send you a PM if I must.
By the way, mine is the 81 from the classifieds that went for $675!
Edit: I checked them out. I like the paint on the black one! Plus that blue '89 is sweeeeet looking as is. I just need a red fretless now...
I am reading this thread with great interest. I think Rics are cool, but I don't see them as being so special that you cannot mod them. I build Franken-Precisions all the time and nobody cares.
Even more interesting to me than the dismay over the mods is the smug omnipotence of the people telling you why you'll regret it. I get that occasionally with people telling me their opinions on tattoos and how I will definitely regret them (I am covered in them) and how it is all right for me to do whatever I want, but they don't like it, and all I can think is, "do you really believe your permission matters to me?" Your thread inspired me to get working on my doo-doo fretless project.
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
The most important question is this:
Does this bass exist, despite an obvious lack of photos?
For Future Generations.......
I did the cap mod, with no solder. Anyone can do it. I searched thru my basement for some freyed or extra telephone wire and found some. Cut and striped it, then put a hook on each end. After placing it around the cap i just crimped it with a set of needle nose pliers. Done............... or so i thought. After playing it the bridge pickup was loud and full but still when both pickups were on it was quiet. I didn't notice as bad when the cap was in the loop but I noticed it now. I took it up to the shop i used to work at and my buddy said it was probably out of phase and after a quick swap BOOOOOOOM! Best sounding bass EVER. I have been playing with it out of phase for like a year now but i always played with the bridge pup soloed cause i didn't like the tone of both running. Goes to show i should have looked at it sooner. Man this bass screams now.
I did the cap mod, with no solder. Anyone can do it. I searched thru my basement for some freyed or extra telephone wire and found some. Cut and striped it, then put a hook on each end. After placing it around the cap i just crimped it with a set of needle nose pliers. Done............... or so i thought. After playing it the bridge pickup was loud and full but still when both pickups were on it was quiet. I didn't notice as bad when the cap was in the loop but I noticed it now. I took it up to the shop i used to work at and my buddy said it was probably out of phase and after a quick swap BOOOOOOOM! Best sounding bass EVER. I have been playing with it out of phase for like a year now but i always played with the bridge pup soloed cause i didn't like the tone of both running. Goes to show i should have looked at it sooner. Man this bass screams now.
With the cap in, there is no way for the pickups to be out-of-phase with each other. They are perpendicular in phase at that point and can't interact.
Glad to hear it! If you like how it sounds, it might be worth soldering the wire in place instead of leaving it crimped, as a purely mechanical connection may fail at an inopportune moment... like when you're rocking out on stage.
On a side note, a while ago I flipped the magnet on the neck pickup on my 1982 4001 to make it RWRP (hum canceling) with the bridge. Now there's hum if I touch the pole pieces. So, I'm thinking of flipping the phase of both pickups to see what happens.
