Mr. Foxen

Probably best hitting the for sale section or wanted ad here.

Another one of those magpied pile of parts I accumulate forms itself into a bass: [IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Incarante/JohnHallisacock.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='MafianBass' timestamp='1334429096' post='1616190'] Not got a gig in brizzle until june now ZMech, playing the o2 with Dub fx. Not certain I'm up for building my own rig from scratch mr foxen, love the idea, but I need to be able to sort my prob fairly quickly.. Thinking Crown stereo power amp into Barefaces at the moment...... but this all could change, Has anyone tried or heard the new warwick WCA stuff???? been offered a deal with them... [/quote] Kinda meant I'm thinking of selling the BFM cab. Doesn't really agree with driven valve amps so of limited usefulness to me, used to run a kilowatt power amp with it.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334735805' post='1620306'] Out of interest does the 4004 sound exactly the same as a 4003? [/quote] Think quite a lot established now that they aren't made consistently enough to say. What probably should be noted quality wise is that the models that get imported to the UK are going to be last pick of the bunch, the better ones go to US dealers, and the very best are probably cherry picked by staff or very soon after coming off the line, same with Gibson (best go to endorsers there, dunno if RIC do endorsers). Also once things are grouped by a brand, you stop talking about individual instruments and talk about them generally, so inconsistency reflects badly on the brand. Talk about a bass on its merits, not its brand and you can pick out its individual quality level, talk about a whole brand and the likelihood of getting a rubbish one is absolutely a consideration. As for the constant Fender comparisons, bear in mind every flaw with a Fender is addressed by another manufacturer who retains the good points and addresses the flaw.

That irrational bit is the problem with things. It means that stuff can drop in quality for no return. The main issue is not recognising the lack of quality because brand snobbery masks it. The massively competitive higher low end is what has driven the Squiers to being really very good instruments, pretty comparable to heyday Fenders. Pricing things high just for the sake of it and addressing competition via means outside of the market just shows contempt for your customers. Like that guy selling bags of pebbles for tone on your hifi.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1334702479' post='1620154'] My point was (as I'm sure you're aware) that a custom bass, however good it is, is not a Ric, and if you really want a Ric (or insert the name of any other brand you really want) then a custom bass, unless it's an [i]exact[/i] copy (in which case I want checkered binding, toaster, crushed pearl full width inlays, Feb '72 profile neck, and a plexi TRC that says Rickenbacker on it), will not suffice. I know, I've had several boutique customs. I use them for different things. If you really want a Fodera, a Shuker won't do. If you really want a Hondo then a vintage stacknob J won't work! With regards to price, a Ric is what, £1700-ish new? A custom Sei to my spec would be going on £3k. A custom Alembic to my spec would now be upwards of £8k. I haven't liked any Shukers I've tried. I'm not keen on Overwaters, but they're also more expensive. Personally I'd say you're looking at stuff like ACG, Shuker, Rim, if you like what they do. All great basses but simply not the same type of thing at all. Apples and oranges. John, never had a Ricky twin neck. I believe the guy who bought my 21 fretter has one though. [/quote] But that is all just brand names. They don't mean more than letters. That's the point. People need to learn about buying quality being buying quality, not buying a name, there isn't a link between the two.

[quote name='Davebassics' timestamp='1334694848' post='1619997'] Class B for me! Maybe Class A in the Winter. [/quote] Class AB for audio amps, class B has a glitch where the waveform crosses 0v, you need a little overlap where it operates in class A to sort it out, so with a class AB amp, if you play really quietly, its in class A, louder goes to B. In a vox AC30 the overlap is quite big, so they are sometimes called class A, but technically aren't. Oh, and the Peavey Windsor I think, has a thing they describe as sweeping between class A an B, but it is actually unbalancing the phase inverter to the crossover point isn't at 0v and you get the distortion from the glitch. Not sure how useful knowing that is, but I was trying to explain the Vox AC30 thing to someone.

[quote name='thunderider' timestamp='1334693217' post='1619965'] they sh*te then??? [/quote] Fine for doing what they are supposed to do. You can eat spaghetti fine with a fork, but trying to eat soup with the same fork reflects badly on you, not the fork.

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1334691181' post='1619919'] Fender use graphite on only a handful of models. Are you really suggesting that if I spend £800+ on, say, one of these: [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-american-special-jazz-bass-olympic-white-rosewood/44078"]http://www.gak.co.uk...-rosewood/44078[/url] , I should regard the neck as "disposable" and expect to replace it when it twists?! And that's not a design flaw, whereas Ric addressing the issue 50 years earlier is?! Anyway, we will clearly have to agree to differ on the merits of Rics. I love mine - but FWIW I do accept the heavy handed tactics of JH do detract from the brand [/quote] Again, development. When Fender basses came out, the disposable neck was the idea, they are engineered for mass production, all the routes on one side, modular construction, all minimal handling, hence being able to buy current equivalents for £60 or so. Now if you are into paying for a name on a headstock, that's a whole different thing. Nothing to do with engineering. Take this designed to be made for £60 bass, use it till it develops a flaw, replace flawed part, fine. Pay a bit more, get a less flawed part. Now, the part I think is stupid, is where someone spends maybe £1400 on a bass, and assumes it will develop an issue requiring correction, and accepts that, because it has a name written on it. And if wood is the flawed material, using wood is an engineering flaw. Acceptable on a £60 wood bass. Pay £1400, you can have a graphite neck without the issue. Have they changed the design to consider the known preventable flaw, if so, why retain the means to correct it? Edit: Also, as far as I recall they are still single action truss rods (although I've only come across one with the truss rod out) an single action truss rods are the source of the S bend issue. double action truss rods are the solution, but are at a much higher unit cost.

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1334689794' post='1619889'] Why is Fender using graphite "development", but Rickenbacker using twin truss rods an "engineering issue"? [/quote] Rickenbacker have been using twin truss rods for what, 60 years? Fender have moved on from disposable necks to reinforced necks. Edit: Also, prevention vs. possibility of cure.

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1334688732' post='1619866'] Twists occurring is surely an issue arising from using wood to make necks? The most twisted neck I've come across was on a Mexican Fender Jazz - nasty "S" type twist which a respected luthier was unable to do anything with. Which is presumably why Alembic, Dean, and Ibanez have all used twin trussrods, and Fender use graphite rods on their US range? [/quote] If it is twisting, there is an engineering issue. That's all there is to it. Use wood right, and the chance of twisting is pretty well minimised, couple of quarter sawn pieces, laminated, and well seasoned, graphite will sort it too, but if it is twisting, then it has been done wrong. Not twisting = good engineering, twisting = bad engineering. Fender necks are made in such a way to be disposable replaceable items, plan being once the frets wear out, bin it, put a new neck on. The obsession with name over everything is the only thing wrong with that concept. All ways of bodging round the original issue is going to be inferior to correcting the issue. Edit: also relevant to note: Fender putting graphite in to sort the issue is an example of development, which is something that keeps their continued production valid.

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1334687727' post='1619850'] Not really. It does allow for a small amount of correction should a twist develop, and allows dead spots to be moved or eradicated in a way that single truss rods can't. Not that these are problems that should really be occurring at the price point of a Rick anyway. [/quote] Twists occurring is the engineering issue. The little block of lead inside some Rick necks is for dead spots.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1334678124' post='1619623'] I didn't start this thread to bash Rics but I think I'm now beginning to see what it is people like about them. They are starting to sound like quite a personalized bass. You need to add in your own touches like choice of string, amp and speaker. [/quote] But Fenders are infinitely more customiseable than a Rick, because Fender don't threaten legal action against anyone who makes a upgrade part for them. Fender buy the upgrade parts and put them on their basses (like the lines with Badass II on, dimarzio pickups in etc). That's a really big deal. [quote name='4000' timestamp='1334680544' post='1619676'] FWIW, answering Mr Foxen's point, you [i]can[/i] get a custom built bass for similar money to a Ric, but what if what you ultimately want is a Ric? It's like saying you can buy a new BMW for the cost of an E-Type when you actually want an E-type. Have my Seis been better than my favourite Rics? They've been much better at being Seis, but much worse at being Rics. I don't really get why people worry about it all. If it doesn't work for you, move on. [/quote] Do BMW do custom now? Not a comparable thing, BMW is say Warwick, factory standards, to a quality level. Price out a entirely custom made car, not even custom options on a car (like a Fender with a Badass and Dimarzio), a full on "I want it this shape and this engine, and this metal" and then you have a comparison at the price point.

I've not found the pickup to be high output. I mean, some say 'high output' on but the output isn't high.

Yeah, tagging went out the window because I can barely be arsed to upload pics an spell things by the time I'm done staring into amps with a meths and flux headache.

[quote name='GregBass' timestamp='1334645681' post='1618920'] I find it strange that you guys keep saying this. I have had two Ricks - I still have one, in fact - and they are the best made basses I have ever had. They certainly kick my Fender and Warwicks into the long grass in terms of build quality!! [/quote] But that is comparing them to other mass produced basses from massive production line factories. The 'its a small family owned business' thing has already been said, that is supposed to give a high degree over oversight and quality control. Being as good as something knocked out by a bunch of production line numpties isn't a boast. [quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1334662010' post='1619241'] Does your Fender have a through neck, twin truss rods, and stereo output? [/quote] Twin truss rods isn't a win, it is down to poor engineering. Through neck is a taste call, an can be implemented better, like in suck a way you don't have to route a hole for the bridge to float over. My £70 Johnson has stereo output.

Think the issue is mainly in the price point. You can have something built entirely to your spec for that money. You have every right to expect a high degree of being exactly what you want for the price.

Not necessarily a deserve rep, but put bad valves in them and don't maintain them and it will show up.

Everyone who has tried it decided they'd messed it up. Put a line on so you can put it back. Mounting externally might be OK.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1334610945' post='1618643'] Useful as a 'Join the Dots' trainer..? ...or graft on a Ricky headstock..? Worth a mint, then..! ([i]Notice how I deliberately didn't put the whole word 'Rickenbacker' in to this post so that the Rick Police don't have their time wasted looking at a post which isn't, in fact, to do with fake Rickies. Clever, huh..?[/i]) [/quote] I bought this recently: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150794130890?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

All about the driven valve amps. 'They sound their best through amps that don't reproduce the input they receive.'.

[quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1334606955' post='1618539'] The best output section I ever tried was the class A Aguilar DB750. [/quote] Sure the output is class A, rather than the preamp? That would be really seriously hot all the time.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1334610314' post='1618627'] Mmmmm Laney Klipp. Great amps. [/quote] Definite theme of being exploded among the ones I've seen though. Think they were a bit tight on the filter caps or had supply issues, seem solid enough once it is all sorted though. The eating valves rep might also be down to maintenance issues, they don't seem to be doing anything that unusual.

I get the same, I think it is a non-functioning option: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/169043-message-search/