Leaderboard

Well, it's my first New NBD for a while and I have sold a lot of gear recently.... I've had one of these before and as much as I loved it, I couldn't gel with it for some reason. Still, I had a Ric-shaped itch that I knew I'd have to scratch again one day. I knew the 4003 wasn't right for me as I struggle with the top bezel edge digging in to my forearm. The 4003S is a totally different beast though and actually sits very comfortably for me. I heard recently that Rickenbacker was not going to make any more instruments in Midnight Blue, which to me was a real shame as it's a colour I love. Anyway, after a few fruitless Google searches I managed to find one: brand new at a ridiculously low price. Given the likelihood of finding another one any time soon, I decided I'd take a chance and order it online. Past experience has told me that online ordering is a bit like a reverse version of Russian Roulette, in that five chambers are loaded with not particularly well set up or well cared for instruments and I generally always try before I buy, especially with Rics and their, ummm, folibles. In this instance though I was lucky: perfect condition and finish (no QC issues here), low action, no tail lift, quiet electrics etc. As always, the treble pickup was a lot louder than the neck one so after a bit of adjustment I got that lovely warm "fizzy" Ric sound that I love and that nothing else comes close to replicating. I put on a set of TI Flats and it's a beaut. Haters gonna hate and all that, but to me this is the best Ric I've played and hopefully we'll have a good few years together. Maybe I should call her Taylor...

I'm normally okay with that. My problem EVERY freakin' time is the guitar stand coming with me when I lift my bass to start a set....

My fave spoonerism? "You're a fart smella" - a compliment apparently.

To keep the brass sealed I'll use a spray lacquer, this is the final result. These are a great functional bridge IMO, and I'm more than happy to keep this on the bass as I'm also replacing the nut with a chunkier brass version.

Then, after levelling off the base, going slightly larger and rout the inset edge for the flush fit cover..

My rig from last night. ACG Finn with LaBella flats (what a revelation they are!) Ashdown Little Bastard 30W valve head Barefaced One10 and Super Compact. Astonishingly loud and full, a big fat creamy bass tone all night long.

I'd just let it go mate. You seem to have built up a resentment over nothing there, and its poisoning you. Why don't you share their social media advertising, saying that you played at the festival last year and you wish them luck for this year. You get promo, the festival gets promo, the charity gets more money and you get a nice warm feeling that you've done some good in the world. Everyone's a winner baby!!

I would recommend the original classic ska ... if you can get the feel for this kind of stuff then the other stuff will come easy

;Pressure Drop' would be a great start - just learn one or two numbers properly and get the feel of how it's done .......... musically it's simple enough but different. If you can get hold of a copy, Club Ska 67 is a good value album to practice with - Whine and Grine Club Ska 67 is the same + one track extra - Amazon have one for £3.25 😎

My birthplace, the Whitstable and Tankerton Maternity Hospital.

That effing strap twist alway gets me. I swear there's a strap consipracy going on, and the strap knows it winds me up. It's not like it's just one strap, either. I have around 4 and the cunning bustards all do it. Like bungee cords that always manage to hit you in the bluddy face, the strap twists out of sheer bluddy mindedness. Accidently kicking the muthas down the stairs doesnt help at all. They're so light they just shake it off. I may take my Black & Decker heat gun to the next one and see how it likes that bad boy

It is actually a trick caused by perspective. The neck has a really nasty twist in it and is approx 6" wide! 😀

Ah, yes! I saw this over on the Dingwall megathread. A lovely beast - congrats. I really must do a NBD thread for my newly acquired Super P...

If you’re going to play a ska set , this is a must ,it’s not too difficult and a great rhythm 🙂

I have a spare old one, if you want one to match the tarnished look of the other 3! PM me your address if you want it.

Some favourites

Very nice Nick, nicest colour on a Rick by far.....I am a bit biased though.

This is my Aria after the body refinish:

Very pretty colour!

Also on this topic of Relic, remember buying a brand new shiny bass is a hard thing, the first “ding” in that new pristine instrument is always gutting. - Which is another good reason to buy a pre relic’d bass. A. Because relic’s look badass B. To the crowd you’ve played that bass more than eaten hot dinners C. Because even if you ding it or dent it, it will all blend in, you will be no sadder than when you bought it, because the dents won’t look out of place unlike on a non Relic version.

One word: Catholicism. Left = the Devil = evil. I still have at least one friend who averts her eyes when she sees me doing something with the 'wrong' hand, and who is happy that her left-handed older brother was forced by family and school to learn to write right-handed. Even if she's never been able to read his handwriting as a result. Thank God for computers, huh? We went to high school together; similar backgrounds, main difference between us being, she and her family are religious, I and mine are not. We're all well over 50. I do hope things have changed now.

I’m on the mobile just now , I daren’t try edit the poll on it as I’ll bollox it all up , I’ll try in the morning on a real machine

Sounds good to me. Maybe Cato needs to wear a support with all the bollox he's coming out with., None intended Cato.

Lush. I think that blue colour goes nice with the reddish Ric' fretboard, which has shown well in the photographs. 😎 So are you saying it's comfortable because of the slightly rounded edges on the "S" body, vs the sharp edges of a bound body? It is very lovely... give me a shout if you decide to sell it. Local collection not a problem! 😜

They did disappear for a while, then came back. I stopped taking them seriously when I saw an interview with the owner, whose name escapes me, where said that he got the inspiration for his speakers in a vision from God. I might have thought better of it had he said it came in a vision while doing peyote and listening to Clapton.

Hi! New member from Stockholm Sweden.

If you want to sound authentic it never hurts to spend a lot of time listening to authentic recordings, whatever the genre in question - the main question I would be asking in this instance is what sort of sound is he trying to create, or this or something in between from Brit two tone era Different folks have somewhat different terms of reference depending usually on how old they are...

I used to find that with records. The time spent searching in record shops ( no interweb back then) and tracking down pieces of obscura was equally as pleasurable as finally placing the needle on the vinyl in question, sometimes more so

Absolutely this. I know it sounds clichéd but it really is about the feel. You can play all the right notes in the right order at the right time, but unless you're really feeling it it doesn't sound authentic.

I was away this weekend with my family for a trip to Chester Zoo. We stopped at a farm shop just outside for a cuppa and a nice slice of cake. There was an antiques place next door that had these slabs of wood - I'm told it is mahogany, and it certainly looks like it under the varnish. 45mm thick - a few screw holes but they can be avoided. Couldn't resist, had to fit a couple of pieces into the car boot as it was cheap (£25 for both bits) !!!

Mature bass player here with a bit of GAS! Been playing a lot of guitar recently but started off as a bassist and have a regular bass gig in an Open Mic House Band! Main fretted bass is an Ibanez 924 but it’s just sooo heavy I’m looking for something lighter than the almost 10lb it weighs in at. Played a Zon Sonus recently and was mightily impressed. Always hunkered after an S2 though so if anyone has a spare they want to part with....

Then into the vice for a bit of grinding with a dremel, followed by some filing to get the radius somewhere close.

A first series Hamer Cruisebass; fell in love first time I ever saw one. Likewise the Spector Forte 4X (aka the Spectorbird).

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With the gear as described by the op I’d stick the Terror on flat eq, volume & tone on bass in full and go from there. The OTB has a wonderfully warm tone which should lend itself nicely to ska.

The Specials fused old school ska lines with disco fills, if your mate wants Two Tone style I'd listen to their first album. Otherwise try some classic ska - the Trojan Ska box set would be a good place to start. If you're after the new more thrashy ska stuff I'm not sure what to recommend other than play Specials stuff faster!

Loud. Yes it could, if you don't mind it getting a but hairy when you dig in. I think I posted a clip earlier in this thread from which illustrates it. I imagine it would sound mint through a decent 6x10.

Wanted to post my board on here. Iv had the same setup for a while now and love reverb and drive sounds. The one I don’t really use is the octamiser, which is a shame. id also like to add another drive in like the darkglass alpha onega or microtubes for some heavier stuff, but not sure yet.

Friday night, we had the sort of pub gig that makes me want to retire

I should probably put these here too...

Progress on my new build! Can’t wait to get my hands on this beast!

I’ve done better?? I didn’t realise my comedy was being rated! I shall try harder in future to ensure the quality of my humour remains top drawer and only of the finest mirthment.