4000

I have chronic back and neck problems, with several prolapsed discs. 9.75lb is too heavy for me.

They vary greatly from bass to bass. I’ve owned about 20, played many hundreds. Some of the older ones like mine (and even the odd newer one) are under 9lbs. Typically these days and through the ‘70s they were more 9/9 and a half, occasionally towards 10. Walnuts are typically around 8 and a half-ish. Same with Cheyenne’s. Heaviest I’ve had was my first CS, probably close to 10lbs, which is why I sold it. The 2nd was lighter, but still heavier than my ‘72s. The lightest I’ve had are the ‘72s, a couple of 4000 basses (72 & 73) and the Cheyenne II.

Not a vintage colour in the real sense, but yes, Blueburst was discontinued a while back. You can buy the switch separately though. 😉

Yeah, I guess. To me it doesn’t really sound ‘genuine vintage’, but then neither does anything built after early ‘73. 😉 I could never get the tone I wanted out of Rics til I got my first ‘72. The first time I plugged it in it was the sound I’d always heard in my head. The only later basses that have come close IMO are the C-Series, and to a lesser degree the V63 and CS. I think the 4003 basses these days are a bit more amp-friendly as well. You really have to work to find the right combination with the old basses.

Not all Rics are heavy. Many of the newer ones I’ve played are about 9 and a half pounds, but mine are probably under 9.

As much as I love that vintage Rick 4001 tone (and bear in mind mine really are about proper vintage tone with the screw top high gains and 1/2” toaster) I think in most situations a good 4003 is a better call. I once went to see my mate play live; he was playing a ‘90s 4003 at the time, so relatively hot output. I took my 2nd 4001CS and he played it for a song, but the 4003 sounded better in the mix. When we’d previously played them at home the CS sounded quite a bit better solo’d, but it’s all about the mix.

Dave, the switch just puts the cap in like on the old 4001 basses. The switch out removes the cap. So with the switch in (tone put pulled up) you get a more vintage tone. Tone pot down = cap out. Of course the 4003 generally sounds more beefy than the old ones regardless due to the hotter pickups and different pot values. http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.asp?news_id=25&news=recent

I’m thinking of trying a set of these on my Azure ‘72. It’s just so much to spend to find out you don’t like them!

There absolutely are scenarios where I wouldn’t use a Ric. But In terms of providing different tones, you have two very different sounding pickups, like on a Jazz. And compared to a typical Jazz, you have an extra control, a pickup selector, stereo capability and a mute. So whilst none of those things guarantees getting a sound you like, it is inherently capable of more variation than a Jazz. It just often seems that people aren’t prepared to experiment. Obviously if the Jazz gets the specific sound you want and the Ric doesn’t that’s a different issue and nothing to do with a Ric’s versatility. Also, for all those who instantly think “clank” and no more, or maybe McCartney at the opposite end of the spectrum, don’t forget Maurice Gibb, or Graham Gouldman of 10cc, or David Paton’s lovely lines on the early Kate Bush records.

The Classic I had was extremely heavy, at least 10lbs, and all the ones I’ve played have been similar. I really didn’t get on with anything about it TBH, but I’m very interested to try a Special.

How are you finding Valinor, anyway? Any decent gigs? 😉

I think the newer basses sound different than the old ones, even with the cap in. Hotter pickups, lower pot values all contribute. Whilst I get that some people don’t like the various tones that Rics produce, I’ve never understood why people find the tones limited. Two tones and two volumes with two very different sounding pickups, plus stereo if you need it; I’ve found more useful sounds in them than in most of the actives I’ve had. Plus they’re very sensitive to playing in different areas between the bridge and neck. And you’ve got a mute! And then you can simply change the strings, which I find is one of the biggest tone-changers on any bass. I think people often just put everything on full and that’s that; I’m constantly fiddling with my controls, changing the tone for different passages.

I haven’t had any. No money.☹️

It’s basses with contours that are the problem for me! Flat with binding? No problem.

Well, I actually broke down listening to that. Because it’s Christmassy in all the best ways, because Christmas this year comes at the tail end of a horrendous year where (amongst many other things) I lost my dad, which makes it all the more poignant, and because it brought home how much I miss Chris Squire.

They’re like that because they are more balanced tension across the set, according to John Hall. I never really got used to it either, because I spent far too many years playing Rotos. Having said that my gauges are more like the inner two than the outer two. Haven’t used 45s for years. FWIW, a lot of the problems some people have with Rics tend to be where they are used to playing more Fender-type basses, because they are utterly, utterly different. I learnt to play on a Ric and thus to me they feel like home, whereas Fender-type basses never do. YMMV. Addressing an earlier point, I cannot understand why people think P Basses are dull-sounding. Have they never heard JJBurnel? It’s all about the eq. I had a P copy that was brighter than any of my Rics, I never had the tone up full.

Playing mainly with a pick, which is how I first learned, saved my playing life when my nerve problems started. Now there are all sorts of things I can’t play with my fingers and I’d be stuffed if I couldn’t play with a pick.

Strangely, a Ric - with binding, not without - is still the most comfortable bass for me these days, due to nerve problems in my arm and how I rest it on the bass.

I can’t listen, unfortunately. To me he makes nails down a blackboard sound like Karen Carpenter. 😂 My favourite is probably Greg Lake.

Dave, is it possible to have a favourite anything featuring Mick Hucknall, other than favourite thing to be dropped down a well?😂

Steve Curtis said he has a method for removing and replacing the frets without needing to re-lacquer the board (all my Rics have lacquered boards, obviously), thus keeping it feeling as original as possible. https://www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com

My main ‘72 Ric is at the point where it may soon need a refret; at the moment it’s a real fretless wonder. I took it to Steve Curtis at The Guitar Workshop in Manc at the start of the year expecting to get it done then, but he very lightly dressed it and said it has a bit of life in it yet. I’m still not looking forward to when it is eventually done. Strangely having my spare done, which is rarer due to the colour, doesn’t really worry me too much.

I use a VT500 with two One10s, which I’m very happy with. Haven’t tried the Trace cabs though.