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This is the best I've heard a Ric sound live, I do not think a "stereo/Ric-O-Sound" split would do better in a live setting. The concept of separate pickups, amp channels and clean vs dirt is also followed by Billy Sheehan and Geddy Lee. Similar concepts, great results(unique sound, cuts through any mix). Amy(Clatter) got the SWR & 8x8 after comparing it to SVT, got the MESA for dirt after comparing other ways for bass dirt.
JC heard this setup in Houston at a medium-sized venue(all wooden structure) sitting at a table about 15 to 20 feet in front of Amy's setup. Clean, dirty, and effected all sounded amazing.....sound man actually asked her to turn up during sound check(YAY!!!).
JC heard this setup in Houston at a medium-sized venue(all wooden structure) sitting at a table about 15 to 20 feet in front of Amy's setup. Clean, dirty, and effected all sounded amazing.....sound man actually asked her to turn up during sound check(YAY!!!).
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"Rickenbacker's deluxe instruments are equipped with two output jacks. One jack is used with a standard cord, and is simply for normal mono use. The other jack is a Rick-O-Sound effects output, designed for use with a stereo equipped amplifier or with a Rick-O-Sound kit. These two output jacks should never be used at the same time. Rick-O-Sound can be used to produce special effects and multi-channel output when used with a stereo amplifier, a dual channel amplifier, or two separate amplifiers. Additionally, Rick-O-Sound can produce many other special effects with the use of external effects devices. Different external effects may be run through each amplifier or channel, producing many unique tonal variations.
"Rick-O-Sound provides a choice between three different types of effects at one time. With the pickup selector on the bass pickup, Rick-O-Sound puts out a lush and full bass sound. With the pickup selector in the middle position, a beautiful blend of highs and lows can be achieved, much like a clean chorus effect. The tonal separation is particularly good when using two amplifiers. With the pickup selector in the treble position, Rick-O-Sound produces a bright and full ringing lead tone. An example set-up might have a soft, full jazz sound with plenty of reverb at the bass setting in the amplifier or channel one, a loud and distorted heavy rock sound at the treble position in the amplifier or channel two, and a big pop rock stereo chorus type sound as a combination of the two in the middle position using both amplifiers or channels. Experiment with the endless unique stereo variations which Rick-O-Sound can produce. The results are surprising."
I used to run Ric-O-Sound. The bridge pickup went to a blackface Twin with JBL E120s. I ran the neck pickup to whatever bass amp was available (ranging from a Yamaha B100 115 combo to an SVT with an 810) IMHO Ric-O-Sound was a nice improvement over running both pickups through one bass amp.
Running two identical amps would probably be ideal as long as the speakers can produce the tonal nuances to your satisfaction.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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I've only run my 4001 Ric-O-Sound style a handful of times, but LOVED it!!!! (Usually just don't want to deal with setting up 2 amps.)
I built my own box with a selectable ground lift on one side. For amps, I really liked the combination of my 200watt Mesa Buster 1x15 for the neck pickup and then a 15w Fender Blues Jr for the bridge pickup. I keep the bass cut cap engaged on the bridge pickup so it breaks up in the Blues Jr naturally.
By running my neck pickup clean into a regular bass amp I got a solid fundamental tone. Full range.
On the treble/bridge side the chain was: bridge pickup > light overdrive pedal > volume pedal > guitar amp.
I would use the volume pedal purely to bring in distortion. The amp was set pretty crunchy so you could hear the tone get more and more gnarly as I mixed in the guitar amp with the volume pedal! Worked great. Just a lot to set up!
I built my own box with a selectable ground lift on one side. For amps, I really liked the combination of my 200watt Mesa Buster 1x15 for the neck pickup and then a 15w Fender Blues Jr for the bridge pickup. I keep the bass cut cap engaged on the bridge pickup so it breaks up in the Blues Jr naturally.
By running my neck pickup clean into a regular bass amp I got a solid fundamental tone. Full range.
On the treble/bridge side the chain was: bridge pickup > light overdrive pedal > volume pedal > guitar amp.
I would use the volume pedal purely to bring in distortion. The amp was set pretty crunchy so you could hear the tone get more and more gnarly as I mixed in the guitar amp with the volume pedal! Worked great. Just a lot to set up!
I used to run the neck pup thru a Ampeg SVT Head into a Ampeg V-4B cab , and the bridge pup thru a SVT with a SVT bottom . That was in the early 80’s . Sounded monsterous .
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
In 1979 I performed at a large outdoor show with my 72 4001CS using Ricosound to an Acoustic 361 and an Ampeg SVT. I was told bass could be heard and felt for a mile away. 
I run Ric-o-sound whenever the situation allows for it, it's a glorious sound.
I run the bridge pickup through a 15W tube guitar head into a 210 bass cab. Loud enough, and if needs louder it gets mic'd up.
Neck pickup into a standard bass amp.
I run the bridge pickup through a 15W tube guitar head into a 210 bass cab. Loud enough, and if needs louder it gets mic'd up.
Neck pickup into a standard bass amp.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
They are both pretty good, and they are both quite friendly and quick to share a tip or two. Good people.
I only run my Ric in Mono and it does what I like sonically.
If I was going to get serious about Ric-O-Sound, I’d go for the Chris Squire rig. I believe that the last time I saw him a few months before he died, he was using a couple of SVTs, a couple of Marshall 1960s with 100 watt heads, a couple of SWR Big Bens and some other subs too. It went high, it had some grind, it went low with real authority.
If I was going to get serious about Ric-O-Sound, I’d go for the Chris Squire rig. I believe that the last time I saw him a few months before he died, he was using a couple of SVTs, a couple of Marshall 1960s with 100 watt heads, a couple of SWR Big Bens and some other subs too. It went high, it had some grind, it went low with real authority.
I use Ric-o-Sound when playing my 4003, but only for recording & home enjoyment - live, I go mono to keep set-ups & tear-downs quick & simple.
The neck pickup goes to the SWR Baby Blue combo, while the bridge pickup goes to the dirty channel of the H&K TubeMeister.
The GED-2112 SansAmp can approximate that sound live in a much more portable format, but again, it mainly gets used at home.
A Darkglass B3K helps me achieve majestic distorted blended with clean Ric tones during performances.
The neck pickup goes to the SWR Baby Blue combo, while the bridge pickup goes to the dirty channel of the H&K TubeMeister.
The GED-2112 SansAmp can approximate that sound live in a much more portable format, but again, it mainly gets used at home.
A Darkglass B3K helps me achieve majestic distorted blended with clean Ric tones during performances.
I paid $70 for my Rich-E-Split box and the 20' stereo cable exactly a year ago back in April 2017. Works great for me. I generally split the Ric-O-Sound 4003 into my Fender Rumble 75 for the bridge treble pup and the neck bass pup into my Rumble 500C.
Years ago back in the 80's I made my own stereo split box and I would use my Peavey MKIV head/1820 cab for the neck bass pup and a marshall 100w superbass head through a 4x12 cab for the bridge treble pup. Thunderous stereo onstage sound. I have no buzz issues, maybe because Australian mains wiring is different here to the US and UK. I have no extra shielding in my Rickenbacker (also spelt correctly lol) 4003.
Yeh I used to run 1 channel of my ROS through a 360 and the other through a 361.
Is it still the 1st?
Is it still the 1st?
Having only tried it briefly as I mention(and no longer have my Ric), I think this is the way to go. Not sure I'd see much point in running two identical amps.
This is my rig, BTW. Ampeg Portaflex 210 (right) for the neck pickup, Vox Night Train (left) 15W tube head into an Ampeg MicroCL 210.
You might think the 15W head isn't enough power, but for most of the smallish rooms we play in it has no trouble being heard, given that it's the bright part of the tone. And it gets mic'd for bigger venues.
For places where there is not enough stage space I just run mono with a B3k pedal into the Ampeg head. Having both also means always having a backup amp in case of problems. The Vox rig even doubles as a backup guitar rig in case your guitarist has issues.
You might think the 15W head isn't enough power, but for most of the smallish rooms we play in it has no trouble being heard, given that it's the bright part of the tone. And it gets mic'd for bigger venues.
For places where there is not enough stage space I just run mono with a B3k pedal into the Ampeg head. Having both also means always having a backup amp in case of problems. The Vox rig even doubles as a backup guitar rig in case your guitarist has issues.
Had a Midnight Blue 4000 in the 70's and just with that one treble bridge pup she sounded great. Beautiful colour.
