4000

[quote name='Starless' post='1108658' date='Jan 30 2011, 08:57 PM']An over-priced, dodgy QC novelty bass that has been sold over the years on the back of photos of McCartney, Squire, Geddy Lee, Glover et al. They've all moved on to other things when the novelty wears off. I've had four over the years, and all now gone. Never lasted beyond the novelty phase. Won't be getting a fifth one, no point. Fenders and Musicmans much better quality with no ridiculous design 'features' that hamper just about any playing style. There are much cheaper ways of getting a temporary buzz.[/quote]

[quote name='RickIronWitch' post='1108097' date='Jan 30 2011, 01:12 PM']i love the look and the sound of these, everytime i go on to a bass website its in my face, ebay, its in my face. Everytime i listened to a new band that tone was present, it was driving me wild. buying one wasnt an option, but i got my hands on my friends 91' and... i was shocked with how bad the neck felt in my tiny hands, pretty deverstated that i'll never own one and feel comfortable playing it.[/quote] Don't forget that depending on year (heck, depending on day of the week!) they can have big necks, pencil necks and everything inbetween. The only thing that's reasonably consistent is the string spacing. This is why you can't just try one and judge them all by that. Oh, and with regards to tail lift if it's a couple of mm or so don't worry about it. Almost all the post-aluminium bridges suffer a little tail lift with heavier strings. It's when it really stats to flex you should start panicking...

[quote name='Cairobill' post='1107504' date='Jan 29 2011, 06:52 PM']They also have this odd ability to sound totally consistent across the entire register that I have found in very few basses.[/quote] One of my favourite traits. Despite having owned many of the better-known makes out there, both mass-produced and boutique, I've never found anything that matches them in this regard.

[quote name='robocorpse' post='1107475' date='Jan 29 2011, 06:37 PM']Yeah, it was a corker wasn't it!. Oh, if you were wondering, your CS was the one with the paint issues (flaking at screws and that Frank Bello signature on the top bout) [/quote] Yeah, it certainly had some paint issues. Weird how neither of my CSs worked for me tonally. The '69 was lovely, although the action was way too high for featherfingers here. It was possibly the nearest Ric I've come across, in terms of both tone and looks, to my '72 (the main difference of course being the '72 has much, much lower action which suits me better).

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1106803' date='Jan 28 2011, 10:32 PM'] She's had bit of a make over since you last saw her. A fresh lick of paint (still surf green like) and lightly tinted neck lacquer, some new "vintage" style tuners, a new SD quarter pounder (SCPB-3) and a trad '51 P wiring loom. [/quote] Oooh, niiiiice.......look forward to see Betty Upgrade asap!

Last time I tried that it didn't work and it kept telling me I had to watch it on Youtube. Maybe it was down to the specific video.

[quote name='Leowasright' post='1106692' date='Jan 28 2011, 08:39 PM']Phil Rudd.[/quote] Good call. The secret behind DC's groove.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1106551' date='Jan 28 2011, 06:24 PM']Actually Shaun I have a funny feeling I took that one. [/quote] I didn't know you felt that way about me Rich. Thanks for the thoughts; am working on it slowly. Have a great time and say hello to Betty from me. BTW Dave, looking forward to seeing the ACG when it's finished. You show me your ACG, I'll show you my Rim!

[quote name='robocorpse' post='1106171' date='Jan 28 2011, 01:28 PM']I've owned around 15 Ricks, and I've never had 2 that were quite alike. My least favourite ones were 1974-79, they feel somehow thinner and stiffer, and have pickup issues (due to the early version of the Hi-Gain pups with iron-impregnated rubber polepieces) and weird action issues. Best one I ever had was a V63 reissue (which I still own), which is an absolute monster and does take some getting used to, but the TONE is incredible (a few people played it at the Surrey Bassbash recently). There are all sort of problems they can suffer (lifting bridges, pickups dying on one string are the usual probs) but I have only had 2 that had the neck joint problem where the body wings stay straight, and the glue joint allows the centre blank to bend slightly, so you get the "lines of death" round the heel. AVOID THOSE AT ALL COSTS, they are irreparable without MAJOR surgery and a refinish. I had a '67 and it was no better than the 80s ones, but the '69 I had was absolutely GLORIOUS (but someone offered me a price I couldnt refuse...) I have owned 2 4001CS Chris Squires and they were like chalk and cheese, one was an absolute dog, the other was gorgeous but had bad paint issues, I have since sold both of them. I still own 3 Ricks and am unlikely to ever part with 2 of them, but I hardly ever play them now as I'm too scared to take them out of the house. So, I will agree wholeheartedly with all the"marmite" comments, and you should play as many as you can before committing your dosh. You should also decide whether you want an unbound 60s reissue, a bound 70s-90s type, or a modern bound one. Bound looks cooler due to triangle inlays, binding etc, unbound ones are more comfy and "authentic" and have the low output pickups that sound better (IMHO) if you want the Squire/Glover clank or the Macca boom. And they all play differently. Bloody minefield are Ricks...[/quote] My least favourites are '74-'79 also, and I remember that '69 well....

[quote name='david_l_perry' post='1087843' date='Jan 13 2011, 12:31 PM']A shameless bump for this Bass Bash - get yer tickets for the Sunday bash ...and whilst I am at it, have another picture of a previous Moffat gathering [/quote] Nice to see you got my arse on there Dave. Wish I could make it but unfortunately thanks to the tendonitis am struggling to play at the mo, which would kind of spoil it...

Buddy Rich, Peter Erskine, Billy Cobham, Ronald Bruner Jnr, Ian Paice, Stuart Copeland, Phil Collins, Mick Fleetwood.

[quote name='jonsmith' post='1105619' date='Jan 27 2011, 09:42 PM']I love the fact that the strings are parallel - in fact it irritates me that they're not on many other basses.[/quote] +1. Hence my Rim build being as it is, and also the reason why I like the majority of Alembics. To me it feels so much more natural.

[quote name='achknalligewelt' post='1105154' date='Jan 27 2011, 03:20 PM']I'm doing some freelance work, and by the time it's finished I should have saved up enough to get me the bass of my dreams - a Rick 4003, preferably in Jetglo, new or vintage, I don't care, as long as I can afford it. I have already cleared a corner of my dining room to show it off to guests in. But I do wonder. Should I? I know I love the tone, I know I love the look and I know I love the guitars they make, But I have known several players in bands I enjoy start using them only to move on to something else quite quickly. Mike Mills, even. Are they, actually, any good? I have only played one once - it was red, had horribly dirty strings, I didn't have a pick and the owner stood over me the entire 90 seconds I held it. I really didn't like it, but I don't know if that was for all those other reasons, or if I actually don't like them. Help me out here, before I waste £1500 on something I can't get on with and sell on within six months. I currently play a Jazz that I love, and my hands aren't big enough for a Precision. I don't like the look of the Stingray or the sound of a Burns Bison, and the Gibson EB-30 is just stupid. And all that custom uber-80's Warwick and Wal nonsense leaves me utterly cold. What am I supposed to do? It's not like choosing a car or a house, this is [i]important.[/i][/quote] Try a few. As many as possible. They differ massively, despite what most people think. I'm soon to be on my 11th, and my main (and favourite ever) bass is a Ric (which I've had since '93 and will hopefully have 'til the day I die - see the relevant Gear Porn thread), but I've had (and played) some I haven't liked that much. Try as many as you can and then make up your own mind. No-one else can tell you what bass will work for you. Be aware that the trussrod adjustment on 4001 basses differs from that of 4003 basses (and virtually everything else), and be aware of the capacitor on the bridge pickup. If it helps, my 4001V63 sounded & felt different to my 2 earlier 4001CSs, which sounded & felt different to my 72, which sounded and felt different to my '76, etc etc. etc.....you get the picture. I wouldn't advocate buying without trying a few at the very least.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1100238' date='Jan 23 2011, 10:26 PM']Yes I concede you are right, some dug in to my arm way more than others. The neck dive was very consistent though! I appologise in advance to all Ric fans for my below the belt comments.[/quote] I should think so too. Actually, the neck dive [i]isn't[/i] consistent. I've had some that haven't dived at all and others that have. As for digging into your arm, think yourself lucky you don't experience what I experience with forearm contours!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1099867' date='Jan 23 2011, 05:43 PM']I have to disagree, All Rics felt the same to me! I can't bring myself to finish the joke but you know where I was going [/quote] Joking aside, I've played about a hundred and I'd say about 10, maybe 15 of them felt really similar. So it shows how discerning [i]you[/i] are.

[quote name='Stuee' post='1099771' date='Jan 23 2011, 04:11 PM']I think that just about wraps up the whole argument, Conan. Very succinctly and eloquently put, sir. Bravo![/quote] +1. Can't help wondering how many times that comment appears in Robert E Howard's tales? Not often, I imagine.....

[quote name='urb' post='1096741' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:21 PM']That's why I went for a Sei bass - I couldn't be happier with it because I knew exactly what I wanted when I ordered it - every time I pick it up to play it gives me extreme satisfaction and every time I gig it, it sounds fantastic and pretty much always gets complimented on its sound and looks. Ordering a custom instrument because other people have them and you think you should have one is not, for me the point of owning or ordering one, I played the same Warwick Thumb 1990 original for 18 years - by the time I ordered my firrst Sei (my Jazz is pretty awesome as well) I was heartily sick of my Thumb; it's sound was great but its weight, and feel (the neck needed a lot of work doing to it through wear and tear) and I'd already pimped the hell out of it - getting my Sei single cut was the start of the rest of my bass playing life and three years after first getting the bass its sounding sweeter and playing better than ever: I love it. Sorry but some of us [i]have[/i] reached the point where we know what we want from an instrument and it's a nice place to be - I'm not saying there aren't thousands of other wonderful instruments (in fact there are too many wonderful instruments) out there or judging anyone else's tatstes, I just don't have the time, energy or money to keep changing my mind - I'm very happy with my basses and so I can just concentrate on making music and being the best 'me' that I can be on MY bass. If you're still not sure what you want from a bass, or know how much you will use it, then it's probably not the time in your life to go spending 3K++ on an instrument - at some point you might be - until then patience is a virtue Mike[/quote] Mike's bass is lovely - I know, I've played it - but even when you know exactly what you want it's still 50-50 whether you'll get what you hoped for or bond with the bass when it's finished. Martin Petersen himself has said he's never sure what a bass is going to be like until it's made (which makes complete sense; anyone who tells you otherwise is kidding themselves). Using non-boutiques as an example, if you play half a dozen Fenders, Rics, MMs etc, they seldom feel or sound exactly the same.

[quote name='Blademan_98' post='1097981' date='Jan 21 2011, 07:18 PM']David Gilmour all the way...... [/quote] Me too, although Hendrix would've been stellar, and I'd love to play with John McLaughlin...

Depends what you define as simple really (and yes, it is all about context). For instance some would say that John McVie or Rutger Gunnarsson play really simply, but if you really listen to what they're playing it can actually be quite busy. However it's so well thought out and so integral to the song that you don't [i]perceive[/i] it to be busy. Of course Jamerson springs to mind here too....is he considered too busy?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1096783' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:49 PM']Initially it's the aesthetics. Then it's a combination of weight,balance,neck feel,tone...pretty much everything is an important factor.[/quote] +1. It's absolutely true that for me aesthetics are hugely important. If I don't like the look of a bass I probably wouldn't buy it if it was the most amazing thing on the planet.

And my '72......

[quote name='kingofthestuntmen' post='1076376' date='Jan 3 2011, 03:39 PM']Did someone say Sunburst and Tort Plate..? Oh well, in that case - My '72, upgraded (who said ruined..!) with new nut, pots, jack and Badass. Still undecided about fully honouring the original owners wishes by fitting a J at the bridge... More pics here - [url="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/kingofthestuntmen/P-Bass/"]http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/kin...tuntmen/P-Bass/[/url][/quote] Okay, I'll have that one please. From the best year too, if my Ric is anything to go by. Please, no J pickup though....