I got your Thursday fun.
Loose on the streets of an unsuspecting California town.
I only roll with the best.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
I only roll with the best.
Good afternoon Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. Taking a mental health break here at work and thought I would reach out for a bit of advice. I have found myself thinking about a black Rickenbacker I played a year or two ago at a shop in west Seattle. I was quite taken with it as it played and sounded wonderful. I have heard no end of stories of QC problems, unresponsive management, and difficult warranty issues, so am more than my usual cautious. The prospects of buying one, or even playing another locally are non existent, and a trip west of the mountains is not possible until late July! I have heard good things about Wildwood Guitars, and they have some Fireglo and Mapleglo models that look quite nice. I have looked at some Jetglo basses on the Sweetwater site. I am wondering if anyone here has any advice in this regard. Experiences, good or bad, with Ricks, and either of those vendors, or other venders would be greatly appreciated. I hope everyone is having a good week, and thankfully tomorrow is Friday!
Cheers.
Cheers.
TT. Trains are FUBAR tonight, drummer's out of town, so I'm doing some recording. Trying the B-15 amp in GarageBand because it makes the BL happy. Running my own effects into it.
With out scrutinizing one personally, and not playing one first.
It’s really a crap shoot.
I’ve had 4, 2 of which were awesome.
The other 2 had issues.
So unless it’s a really trusted seller.
You’re taking chances into your own hands.
Stretch
Never owned a Ric, played a couple and liked them, been Ric curious for a while now so I decided to go down the used Greco Ric path, that seems to have worked well for Tbird club member and Greco club leader Dylan. I have heard that non Ric Rics are very looked down upon by a number of Ric owners. Unlike this club, where pretty much anything that resembles a Tbird or has Tbird DNA in it is accepted with open arms.
I have bought a lot from Sweetwater over the years. Keep in mind that they include a complimentary two-year warranty. What this means as a practical matter is that they will help you if there is an issue. You’re not left having to deal with the manufacturer on your own. I received a defective bass cab once and they replaced it without any hassles.
Wildwood has a good reputation. I have not used them. But I know that when I was considering getting a Ric a few years ago, they seemed to have the best prices and selection.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
While you were a way, I contacted Thomas and he agreed to sell me you Antigua BaCH. Great price, too. Great kid!
Hope you and Rosa enjoy the heck out of your time away.
Glad to see you pop in, Border.
I had a Ric once. To scratch and itch. The itch quickly went away. I never got it to sound as good as others. My fault, not the Ric. There were some QC issues as far as the fretboard. But this was from from the early 2000s. Pretty Jetglo. Get a good strap that will grip your shirt. Rics are neck-divers, way more than any Thunderbird. As for Sweetwater, I'm not sure you can find a better place to work with if there is a problem. The extra year warranty could come in handy. Zzounds is also great.
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I can only speak to 4003s I have played in stores. The neck is always too chunky on the newer ones I've picked up.
Word has it they have slimmed down the neck and now only use a single truss rod as of about 2022.
surely someone yanking your chain…While you were a way, I contacted Thomas and he agreed to sell me you Antigua BaCH. Great price, too. Great kid!
Hope you and Rosa enjoy the heck out of your time away.
oh wait! thought I saw a Kentucky address on one of these….
Beautiful instrument. I'd love a fretless, but that wouldn't work for me. I'd sound like a deaf and drunk monkey playing that. Maybe not that good.
Does make me wonder who's selling your stuff....
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I dont think so, it's good down at the nut, seems to get closer to the edge as you get closer to the bridge. Doesn't seem go be an issue, I threw some stiffer strings on it and stopped slipping off the board, just curious. Wondering if they put the wrong bridge on it. String spacing is the same as my fender meteora. (I have a mute that fits the 64 and the fender but not my classic pro) so it definitely has a different spacing than the other thunderbirds.Here are my two FWFW, I really haven't had much time to spend with either of them just yet. Would a new, recut nut take care of this issue for you?
I've enjoyed my Rick 4003 Fireglo purchased new from Sims Music out of Columbia, South Carolina in early 2018 via a Reverb transaction. A family-owned business, they were great. The son Justin made the sale.
As for the bass, it has been robust, even after spending a year or so on the boat in a humid saltwater environment -
And the workmanship, fit and finish, on mine is flawless. The neck is thin and fast, even with its dual truss rods. Nice hardshell case as well-
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