Rickenbackers

[Rawb]

So there's a thread about wicks, and none yet about rics. I'd just like to know what everyone on this board thinks, cuz I might get one some time in the future.

Simple question: What do you think of Rickenbacker basses?

[BenJammin]

I've never played one, but I think they look and sound classy.

[MyFriendOfMisery]

I have never played one, but I love the look. Don't they have a trebly tone to them?

[peeted]

there propa bo! they look pretty wered, feel great, sound great and unique. id get one if i had the cash and played 4 string.
i found there tone to be more midsy than trebely, its realy growly any way, kinda like its slightley overdriven but in a good way.

[MyFriendOfMisery]

Kind of on the high mid side? If I had the money and a nice amp I would get one.

[muthafunkabass]

I like them, but there are downfalls.

-Very Chunky Neck (Actually I like that)
-Needs high action for good sound (IMO, and lots of others)
-Tight String Spacing

[BenJammin]

I like them, but there are downfalls.

-Very Chunky Neck (Actually I like that)
-Needs high action for good sound (IMO, and lots of others)
-Tight String Spacing

I don't get that. How does action affect sound?

[Rawb]

-Very Chunky Neck (Actually I like that)

huh? chunky neck? it felt real thin to me.

[British Kid]

If i didn't have such a limited budget, a Ric would be my next bass. they're so awesome, but so expensive :(

[lateralus423]

I like them, but there are downfalls.

-Very Chunky Neck (Actually I like that)
-Needs high action for good sound (IMO, and lots of others)
-Tight String Spacing


How so? like are the pups quite powerful?

[Mr. Pickle]

i love everything about rics except the feel like a giant turd.

[BassVirtuoso]

I don't understand why they are so expensive...

[Mr. Pickle]

very true ^^^

[Worrpigs]

I don't understand why they are so expensive...
true dat. theyre wood isnt exotic, their pickups are nothing outstanding, personally i would rather have a warwick.

[Alma]

I think they sound awesome.

Don't feel or look as good though.

[Sergio]

true dat. theyre wood isnt exotic, their pickups are nothing outstanding, personally i would rather have a warwick.

It's the same with a Music Man: no exotic woods and such, but it is, for the most part, handmade in America.

I don't get that. How does action affect sound?

I don't know if it really does or not, but I seem to notcie a difference. My basses seem a lot more resonant and louder with higher action, so that's why I set them up as such.

[BassVirtuoso]

The action does effect the sound I think. When it's higher you get a quicker sound.

[cmogawa]

i like the way they look
if i ever saw one used and affordable and i liked the sound
i would get one

[Akira]

Look sweet, sound nice, don't feel that good. I don't like how they play.

[User Name]

i like the way they look
if i ever saw one used and affordable and i liked the sound
i would get one
Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen, but 123.

[The_Red_Death]

Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen, but 123.

I agree. The only Ric I've played was a used one, in decent shape, but with the pickup covers missing. The cost? $2600 CAD.

[bryce_the_cat]

used for $2600? that is a little ridiculous.

I've never played a ric, but in my opinion they are one of the best looking basses ever.

[The_Red_Death]

used for $2600? that is a little ridiculous.

I've never played a ric, but in my opinion they are one of the best looking basses ever.

I know. There was another used one there, in better condition, for $1500, I think. Didn't get a chance to play it though.

[SüP]

They sound decent but look atrotious. I could never see myself buying one, new or otherwise.

...but that's just one bear's opinion

[Led_Zeppelin678]

I don't understand why they are so expensive...

They are 100% made in America. Every last component.

The Mapleglo 4003 I played had the best setup of any new bass I've tried out in a store. I loved playing it.

[Led_Zeppelin678]

They sound decent but look atrotious. I could never see myself buying one, new or otherwise.

...but that's just one bear's opinion

If you like Warwick necks you'll love the 4003.

[peeted]

used ricks aint that bad in england actualy, i duno about america, mabie this is one of the few things that we actualy get cheeper :o

[Polyamarous]

When I say "They're sexxy, i'll most likely get one!"
I'd sure like to have one, but the chances of me aquiring one, ever, are very slim.

[kilian]

The action does effect the sound I think. When it's higher you get a quicker sound.
Start to feel ashamed right away. How long have you been on these forums? Man, you need to know that action affects the playability and it does affect the sound. BUT

You can also lower the pickups to get the same effect! :amaze:

Sorry for picking you <3 but eh.. pretty dumb comments here in this thread.



Expensive they are handmade, every single part. There is more work in those basses then you would find in any fender bass or whatever bass. http://www.rickenbacker.com Read the factory part through and amaze yourself.

[rh15951]

Expensive they are handmade, every single part. There is more work in those basses then you would find in any fender bass or whatever bass. http://www.rickenbacker.com Read the factory part through and amaze yourself.

That is pretty impressive. Interesting to see just how they build them actually :thumb:

[Scooch]

If your going to buy a new one instead of vintae make sure it's made in 2006 and has the capicator selector thingy on it, there was a new one in a store that I was going to buy but it was made before 2006.

[PainKiller8191]

i love everything about rics except the feel like a giant turd.
ahh so true

[rh15951]

If your going to buy a new one instead of vintae make sure it's made in 2006 and has the capicator selector thingy on it, there was a new one in a store that I was going to buy but it was made before 2006.

Capacitor selector?

[ChimPz]

I use a ric as my main bass. I love it to death.

[Scooch]

Capacitor selector?
Seems they call it a tone selector, sorry my mistake.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.asp?news_id=25&news=recent

[Mitchell Royce]

Ric's are great. They will cut through pretty much anything. Pair up great with tube amps. The feel is unusual but I like it. The only gripe I could have is that they are very responsive to temp/humidity changes.

As far as expensive, in the US they cost a little less than an MIA Jazz. Are those overpriced as well? If you're not in the US the prices are a lot worse(1600 euros in germany, which is just over 2000 USD) but if you order one from the states(which is a bit tricky but can be done) the price is fine.

[cAPS_lOCK]

Mmm, I've wanted one for ages. It would fit perfect in my soon-to-be postpunk-band.

[antooon]

They're Sexxy! I kind of own one.

[kilian]

MitchelRoyce.. You've got a blue burst one, right? Do you have any pictures of it?

[museic]

im a fan of them.. they sound great and they look awesome... i would like one in mapleglow.

[funkyhoney]

there was a rickenbacker at the music store near me, it was mounted 3m in the air so i couldn't touch it *cries*

and a rickenbacker, in a shop, in australia, is nothing short of a miracle

[kilian]

http://www.yourwish.com/Ric4003BBR/Ric4003BBR04.jpg
There is no bass sexier then this on earth.

EDIT:
Although his and mine bass (http://www.andyargyrakis.com/Images/medimages/TonyNoDoubt2Medm.jpg) comes close :naughty:

[Polyamarous]

Although I can't find a pic, the Lmtd edition or whatever, the one that was red!

EDIT:
http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/85%20rickenbacker%204003%20bass%20b1.jpg

There we go!

[Napes]

I've actually been thinking more seriously about getting one lately. The local classifieds site has one listed at 950$ CAD which seems like a pretty reasonable price.

Of course if I got it the StingRay would probably get sold. Not sure if thats a good idea though.

[nisakss]

Never played one but I love their looks and sound.

[tim_commerfordism]

I've got one - got it second hand for just under half price.

I absolutely love it. It's fingerstyle tone is amazing, and as Mitchell says it will cut through anything. The pick tone is to die for, hell I even love slapping it.
You can also get a low action for tapping if you want, though I'm not big on tapping myself.

They also look awesome!

[AVIATOR]

They rule! Infact I ordered one about a month ago. It'll take 6 month's or more 'til I get it though, wich kinda sucks:mad:! Then again, I guess it's a good thing that they refuse to produce more than 20 guitars a day, qualitywise I mean!:thumb:

[IbanezJumpstarter]

I've never touched a Rickenbacker[or seen one in person]. But, for some reason I have this feeling that if I were to play one it would make my fingers all bloody and scarred and messed up and stuff.

Maybe I'm just crazy. I dunno.

[Roo_bass]

I've never played one. The looks are ok and they sound alright, nothing spectacular in my eyes.

[132WalrusesInMexico]

I've only ever played one once. Those things have the best tone in my opinion. I would love to have one someday, but they're so freaking expensive.

[DDanDevious]

I love they way they look and sound... when I get home Im goinig to most likely buy one... I wanted a Blueboy, but they dont make that color anymore, and its hard to track one of them suckers down. Keeping my fingers crossed for one on ebay or instrument exchange... word.

DDD

[kilian]

Maybe I'm just crazy. I dunno.
Your avatar.. is GREAT!

haha! :lol:

[wicked_child]

great for classic rock, warm pounding tone. also good for metal. but poor for funk and slap.

[Manticore Guy]

I hate how they have the pickup cover. But I do quite like the sound and look of them. Especially the Blue and Orange ones.

[Yman]

id definitly play one if i could afford it.

heres a cool old one. Only the bridge pickup. a Ric 4000 perhaps?

http://i3.tinypic.com/16aofmf.jpg

[pitchfork]

Yeah they're sexy, i'm likely to get a few

I want 2 really old really battered 4001's (for that really nice trebly *hip trust* groovy sound with **** loads of clank)

and a 4003 wit the vintage switch for a bit more bottom end and the 4001 tone at the flick of a switch.

Like the sound, the feel and the looks but i'll be having a couple of fenders and a musicman for slapping and stuff.
Then probably a warwick 6 string and maybe a fretless fiver sadowsky strung as a tenor
add a wal or two and perhaps an alembic

Something like that within the next 20 years

[Mitchell Royce]

MitchelRoyce.. You've got a blue burst one, right? Do you have any pictures of it?

Sorry, it's just regular midnight blue and no new pictures either. That's a good thing though, it's pretty dirty now(man, I really need to clean mine) and it got a chip taken out of the headstock, courtesy of an unnecessary mike-stand. I would have had to wait a couple of months until I could get a blueburst, which I just wasn't prepared to do.

[pitchfork]

I prefer black and white, its so vintage looking and with a nice suit it looks ace.

[Rawb]

bump

If you haven't voted yet, please do so now before the poll closes.

Thanks. :thumb:

[mastrrbasser]

i put other. I love their tone when i hear them on records. Geddy lee comes to mind. But i cant imagine slapping on one. I think they're great basses, but not for me.

[DanD]

I had a '94 4003, I thought that the tone was dull and the neck was uncomfortable. I sold it a few months later.

[HateBiscuit]

I've played several different Rickenbackers. They were all ****ty, cliche, and bland sounding. Haven't played one I liked...

They are more or less reserved for cookie cutter post-punk high-hat **** music.

[mastrrbasser]

http://www.myspace.com/tbp


not much of a metal fan, but that dudes rick has some balls.

[FoStringFlo]

whenever I play em they're set up terribly. Make sure you play the one u want before u buy it so u know it is set up how you like it.

anyways, mccartney played one so they're a-okaly-dokaly in my book :thumb:

[lais817]

Rics = SEX. pure and simple. never played one, but they just sounds so damn gorgous and look..... so curvy :p. I think I'm in love.....

[Lazybassplr56]

I was at Guitar Center about a year ago and I saw a used Blue Rick for $600. The only problem about the bass a big wood chip on the back, but who's going to see that? To bad I didn't get it.

[jollygiantchris]

i have a 4003 in black i bought used at a place in chicago (they also had a midnight blue one but i pref black myself) and i tell ya the tone is absolutely sick especially with a pick as a matter of fact i switched to pick when i got my rick because it sounds so badass. imho the only other bass with the same kind of growl is a warwick and myself i find the warwick neck to be poorly shaped so ill stick to my rick. i also prefer the rick's balance it sits very comfortably and i dont have to waste mobility on holding it in place.

[sixner]

i hate the looks
DISPISE THEM

but i also love the tone
LOVE THEM

so.... hm
-sixner

[Mitchell Royce]

I've played several different Rickenbackers. They were all ****ty, cliche, and bland sounding. Haven't played one I liked...

They are more or less reserved for cookie cutter post-punk high-hat **** music.

Well, you certainly do your name justice.

[Polyamarous]

I've played several different Rickenbackers. They were all ****ty, cliche, and bland sounding. Haven't played one I liked...

They are more or less reserved for cookie cutter post-punk high-hat **** music.

You SURE about that?
Out of curiosity, what bass(es) do you own?

[kilian]

Sorry, it's just regular midnight blue and no new pictures either. That's a good thing though, it's pretty dirty now(man, I really need to clean mine) and it got a chip taken out of the headstock, courtesy of an unnecessary mike-stand. I would have had to wait a couple of months until I could get a blueburst, which I just wasn't prepared to do.
Hmm I can imagine that! When my band gets a bit bigger.. I'm surely going to own a Ric. But I can't justify it to myself to have so much basses. I mean.. Am I going to swap basses during a set list? I mean: for what :lol:

[Polyamarous]

Hmm I can imagine that! When my band gets a bit bigger.. I'm surely going to own a Ric. But I can't justify it to myself to have so much basses. I mean.. Am I going to swap basses during a set list? I mean: for what :lol:

If the next song requires a bass with a different sound, or a differnt tuning. It's easier to just swap basses than to stand around twiddling dials and re-tuning.

[kilian]

It almost never requires a different sound with me.. And if it does, it's a simple flick to swap from 90/100% to 100/90% (P/J bass).

[pitchfork]

I bet most people who hate rics tone only play active basses.

I don't get how someone can hate the looks.

[Chris K]

Well, there was no middleground with ths poll.

I don't hate them, but apart from Geddy Lee and Paul McCartney, I've never heard anyone get a really good tone out of them. I don't need one.

[PainKiller8191]

I bet most people who hate rics tone only play active basses.

I don't get how someone can hate the looks.
i actually love the looks but yeah hate the tone, it may be because it's passive, and although i like active basses alot more, i do love some passive tones (standard J)

EDIT: so what i'm trying to say is you're probably right for the most part

[lemoley]

well i aint tried one but from what i can gather i wouldnt buy one