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Wondering if I should return my Ric

#41
I tried to like my Fireglo. It had the prettiest burst pattern I've seen on a Ric.I had mine for three weeks. Took off pick-up cover (no biggie), replaced the hellish contraption
that passes for a bridge with a brass Wilkinson (must have for Ric, imho) and was blessed with a very distinct tone that I would love to have in my 9 or 10th bass. Loved the neck,
but I have a couple of interesting offers in bands right now and no one liked it's peculiar place in the mix in either band.

I'd like it for recording, but I have five other basses now and that includes the Status I traded the Ric for (plus a bunch of money)
Having a Ric raises certain expectations, not all well informed or based on sonics. I couldn't work, at this time, with the Ric's particular sound and that's just my
opinion, but it's helped by the my two cardinal rules of being the new kid in the band: never show up with a bigger pedal board than the guitarist, and don't bring out a bass in
early rehearsals that make everyone think you're a hot shot (I'm not, but I like good equipment). I'm going with a P and a J for the next two weeks, before the nice stuff comes out.

I never looked for the Geddy or Lemmy side of the Ric, just the McCartney side, so I'm sure I missed something and will be summarily yelled at. Bring it on. Just not a Ric fan, but
I tried.

Oh well, one more thing off the bucket list.... FWIW, I got rid of mine while I could get my money back out of it. If it doesn't click for you right away, it probably won't grow on you
either.
 
#42
12BitSlab said:
Did it come with installation instructions? The last thing in the world that anyone would call would be a luthier.
Click to expand...
There's a video on YouTube. I asked the same questions somewhere on a TB thread, I was assured it's not difficult and it's a DIY job. It is best to remove the strings from the pegs and pass them through the cover.

The video is helpful. The screws that adjust the pickup height are unscrewed, and there are springs in the assembly. You remove the original pickup cover, put the new bezel through the screws, and reassemble. Two hands are better and removing the strings so they are out of the way made it pretty easy. Note the pickup height before starting!



It's really not that scary, just take your time so you don't scratch the finish.

ALSO: This is reversible. I kept the original parts and it's a 10 minute job to undo.
 
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#43
jmattbassplaya said:
Some truth to this!

It wasn't quite an impulse buy as I've been eyeing a Ric for several months now. The one I ended up buying played amazing in the store, too. It's more the other aspects of owning a Ric that has made me go, "oh, well this kind of stinks."
Click to expand...

My Rics are "set and forget" -- the necks are stable and I just play them. In fact my 4003 is getting tonight's gig. Great basses for what I do. YMMV.
 
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#44
I would say return it if you don't like the way it plays. The setups go as easily as anything else once you get the right tools. For the truss rods, sometimes I use a 10-in-1 screwdriver. The part the interchangeable bits fit into is often a 1/4" nut driver itself, and is made of a thin enough materiel that it fits into the pocket well. Then you just need those little bent-angle screwdrivers for the bridge. Some people don't like having to assemble such a toolkit for a bass, but I've never minded much.
But if you don't like it, don't fight it.
 
#45
RyanOh said:
There's a video on YouTube. I asked the same questions somewhere on a TB thread, I was assured it's not difficult and it's a DIY job. It is best to remove the strings from the pegs and pass them through the cover.

The video is helpful. The screws that adjust the pickup height are unscrewed, and there are springs in the assembly. You remove the original pickup cover, put the new bezel through the screws, and reassemble. Two hands are better and removing the strings so they are out of the way made it pretty easy. Note the pickup height before starting!



It's really not that scary, just take your time so you don't scratch the finish.

ALSO: This is reversible. I kept the original parts and it's a 10 minute job to undo.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
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#48
If you like the feel and sound, and it's just the setup proces that bothers you, I'd definitely keep it.

It's more intimidating because it's a little different than the standard setup steps most other basses take, but truly not that hard.

Removing the pickup cover takes about 5 minutes. You dont need to get the treble bezel if you dont want to, I played mine for years without one.

The truss rods arent any different to adjust, and as others of have said, once you set them, you can pretty much forget them.

The bridge isnt bad either. Intonation is a pain, but once you set it up, its done.

I went with the Hipshot bridge because i want to be able to palm mute, but personally i think its more of a pain in the ass than the stock bridge. The saddles jump their groove sometimes if you dig in, the height screws are always moving because of string vibration and lack of downward pressure, and my g string doesnt intonate right on point with the included screws.

The issues with the Hipshot are pretty much fixed with loctite, but I dont think a $100+ part thats supposed to solve issues should be like that.
 
#49
jeffb28451 said:
I tried to like my Fireglo. It had the prettiest burst pattern I've seen on a Ric.I had mine for three weeks. Took off pick-up cover (no biggie), replaced the hellish contraption
that passes for a bridge with a brass Wilkinson (must have for Ric, imho) and was blessed with a very distinct tone that I would love to have in my 9 or 10th bass. Loved the neck,
but I have a couple of interesting offers in bands right now and no one liked it's peculiar place in the mix in either band.

I'd like it for recording, but I have five other basses now and that includes the Status I traded the Ric for (plus a bunch of money)
Having a Ric raises certain expectations, not all well informed or based on sonics. I couldn't work, at this time, with the Ric's particular sound and that's just my
opinion, but it's helped by the my two cardinal rules of being the new kid in the band: never show up with a bigger pedal board than the guitarist, and don't bring out a bass in
early rehearsals that make everyone think you're a hot shot (I'm not, but I like good equipment). I'm going with a P and a J for the next two weeks, before the nice stuff comes out.

I never looked for the Geddy or Lemmy side of the Ric, just the McCartney side, so I'm sure I missed something and will be summarily yelled at. Bring it on. Just not a Ric fan, but
I tried.

Oh well, one more thing off the bucket list.... FWIW, I got rid of mine while I could get my money back out of it. If it doesn't click for you right away, it probably won't grow on you
either.
Click to expand...
I have a Status and a Ric - problem solved.

(Actually I have 3 or 5 Statii and 2 or 3 Rics!)
 
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#52
primussucks9126 said:
The issues with the Hipshot are pretty much fixed with loctite, but I dont think a $100+ part thats supposed to solve issues should be like that.
Click to expand...


I had the same issue with the saddles and Hipshot suggested Loctite. I tried that and was still not happy with it so I called them back and they sent me new saddles, intonation screws (in 2 lengths!!!) and springs-no charge. Now it's stable, fully adjustable, and makes me love playing my Rick.

BTW- I've dealt with Hipshot customer service a few times in the last 24 months and they are amazing.
 
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#53
I think Rica are type of basses you will always love or never like and get use it ..I ve had 3 of them including the v 63. And wanted to love them., just couldn't get use to the bridge , big pickup mount. I wound up selling all 3 ,one by one, went back toy stingray, felt like I was home again.they're not for everyone. ...
 
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#56
jmattbassplaya said:
Hey TB,

I bought a 2016 MapleGlo Ric last week from my local GC. It was a used model that they had for a good price, and I was even able to haggle them down another $100.

It's a really cool bass. I love the look and the fact that it inspires me to play differently than how I normally play on my Jazz or Ray. That said, I'm not in love with it and I wonder if it'd be smarter to return it while it's still in it's 45 day no haggle return window.

I like to tinker and do my own setups, and the Ric isn't easy to do this on. I'm a little perturbed that these basses don't come with their own truss rod tool, and the process of installing and removing the pickup cover is a small burden. The bridge is another matter all together with its floating saddles.

Anyways, I wanted some opinions. Anyone buy their first Ric and learn to love these oddities? Anyone buy one and ended up saying the juice wasn't worth the squeeze?
Click to expand...

Well, other than the annoying to source truss rod socket, hard to remove covers, strange to adjust bridge, heavy, sharp edged body that hangs at a weird angle and digs into body parts, no place to anchor your hand if you're used to playing any other bass on the planet, and iffy customer service, they're pretty awesome.

But seriously, it's almost like a different instrument. Personally I'm happy I have a friend who has one I can use to record if needed, and I have. I'm not even convinced his works right, one of the pickups is way quieter than the other (yes through the normal output), is that a bug or another "feature?"

I'm really just goofing around, if I had some F U money I'd certainly pick one up, but the Ric is too fickle a character for this end user to worry about. Get your tools, dig in, and learn to work with the beast, or you're probably better off returning it.
 
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#57
The Ric seems to be one of those basses in which there is no middle ground. You either love it or you hate it!

IMO, their idiosyncrasies are such that I personally couldn't put up with one for the return it gives. If you're not feeling it and you're within a no quibble return policy, don't be too proud to admit it's not for you.
 
#60
I apologize in advance if this has been posted numerous times on these pages, but this is priceless; the guy has to stop filming 3 times he's getting so angry at Rick...
 
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