Why I sold my Rickenbacker Bass

[ezbass]

Sold mine because it was a boat anchor and made my shoulder ache, I should’ve bought the walnut version over the maple, as they’re much lighter.

 

Oh yeah, this thread - 🧟‍♂️ resurrection.

Edited March 7, 2023 by ezbass

[Waddo Soqable]

Folk seem to be interested in talking about rickenbackers at the mo.. 

The ones I had ( I've had 3 proper Rb 4001s in total) were flogged as I recall because I fancied trying something else, and in those days, 70s, 80s, you had to flog or trade one bass to get another.

The last one however was in the slightly more modern era, late naughties, and I flogged it as I wasn't using it for gigs (I was using the Jack all the time) and as usual I needed the dosh. 

I was a frickin idiot to flog the last one, wish I hadn't, I got pennies for it (comparatively), and I'd have loved to still have it now. Certainly can't see me ever being able to afford another. 

[TheLowDown]

I think it's better suited to collectors.

[dmccombe7]

Its an odd thing but i like my Jazz basses to have that top end Ric sound so why i've never bought another Ric surprises me altho the price of a new one is kinda off-putting but a decent 2nd hand one can be had for under £2k.

I dont recall any issues with the actual bass dimensions or weight to be honest.

Dave

[Waddo Soqable]

9 minutes ago, TheLowDown said:

I think it's better suited to collectors.

Huh? 

I don't 'get' that at all, it's a musical instrument, to be used for playing music! 😁

[Dad3353]

11 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Huh? 

I don't 'get' that at all, it's a musical instrument, to be used for playing music! 😁

 

And stamps are for sticking on letters. Some folk collect milk-bottle-tops, others VW Beetles. Some collect basses. S'a funny ol' world. 

[TheLowDown]

1 hour ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Huh? 

I don't 'get' that at all, it's a musical instrument, to be used for playing music! 😁

At £2000+ and with enough anecdotes of QC issues, there's much better and cheaper and versatile ways of making music 👍. 

Edited March 7, 2023 by TheLowDown

[Woodinblack]

Wow, impressive 8 year revival 😃

[geddeeee]

You're welcome!!! 😂

[dmccombe7]

12 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Wow, impressive 8 year revival 😃

And a good job too cause i missed this thread first time around and having a touch of GAS for a Ric again its nice to see what folks are saying about them these days.

Dave

[White Cloud]

Bought a used 70's 4001 in 1984 and initially loved it until I grew to hate it for it's idiosyncrasies. I sold it.

 

Two years later I decided I really missed it so bought a used 4003. Loved it at first until I grew to despise it for it's idiosyncrasies. Sold it. 

 

Crap pickups, dreadful bridge, soft fretwire, bonkers twin truss rod system and questionable build quality did my nut in.

 

To this day I'm really glad I sold them ...yet somehow really miss them and have come close to purchasing another a couple of times: I know if I had I'd have loved it before growing to hate it then sold it.

 

That's Ricks for you. It's like a form of madness. 

[Beedster]

8 minutes ago, White Cloud said:

Bought a used 70's 4001 in 1984 and initially loved it until I grew to hate it for it's idiosyncrasies. I sold it.

 

Two years later I decided I really missed it so bought a used 4003. Loved it at first until I grew to despise it for it's idiosyncrasies. Sold it. 

 

Crap pickups, dreadful bridge, soft fretwire, bonkers twin truss rod system and questionable build quality did my nut in.

 

To this day I'm really glad I sold them ...yet somehow really miss them and have come close to purchasing another a couple of times: I know if I had I'd have loved it before growing to hate it then sold it.

 

That's Ricks for you. It's like a form of madness. 

 

In my experience having owned four, Rics are like girlfriends, always a really good reason why we got together and always an equally good reason why it didn't work out.....

 

Spent my whole life dating Rics, Wals, married a Precision 👍 

[AndyTravis]

14 years ago…I had one…

 

I loved it.

 

I was skint…baby troubles.

 

But, thinking back, I loved looking at it…battled the sound all the time.

 

I dunno - never meet your heroes.

[geddeeee]

I love my 4003 and also hate it at the same time.

 Some nights the tone is fantastic. Other times, I have to wrestle with it.

 

After not having it for 6 weeks as it was in for a truss rod replacement, I vowed never to be without it.

Tried loads of other basses in that time, Precision, Jazz etc, but none of them had the heft of the Ricky.

 

My bandmates commented, "Just not the same without the Rick"...

[msb]

I love a nice Ric , and spent years looking for one here in Nova Scotia before the internet. Finally found a 4001 in Toronto about 25 years ago. It was my main bass for some years , I still get a little weak in the knees when I look at it. 
And four years ago a  set neck 4000 came my way.

Mostly play short scales these days , but I still love a nice Ric. And prefer the older ones.

[Skinnyman]

I have two. A 4003 and a 4003sw. I want to sell one and will be buried with the other. Which one is which varies depending on the day of the week.

 

Such is the Way of the Ric.

[Skybone]

I've tried numerous basses over the years, Ric's just "fit".

[lidl e]

I've had three rics over the years. 

 

To me, the biggest draw by far of a ric, is their looks. 

 

My second bass was a mapleglo ric 4001 that i traded a kramer aluminium neck for when i was 17.

 

I got the ric purely for the looks!

[Beedster]

First time I played my 4003 FL live - the first track of a small gig playing Whole Lotta Love - the feeling of pure joy as I kicked in with THAT bassline wasn't just me, the whole band and some of the audience got it as well. For me it's a sound that just works on some tracks and not on others, I'd certainly have another Ric FL if one came up 👍  

[Paul S]

Here's my Ric story.  I'd never ever tried one but always fancied them.  The sound, more than the looks, but not the clank - that mellow hollow tone you get half way up the neck.  Machine Head.  My problem was they are too expensive to buy on whim and I'd been put off making that kind of financial committment by all the tales of 'you've got to try a hundred before you find the one that fits'.  Then a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to get a quality, early 70s MIJ Faker which was close enough to get a proper impression and I totally and utterly loved it.  I loved the look, complete;ly blown away by the tone.  It say comfortably in many genre, more versatile than I had been led to believe by the detractors.  But heavy.  Getting on for 11 lbs.  I wore it for a couple of hours one rehearsal and my back hurt for the next week.  Plus it has a bound slab body, something I struggle with, so I had to move it on, which was a desperate shame. 

 

 

I've found out that some Rics are lighter, coming in at around 9lbs, some are unbound with a forearm shamfer, but that still isn't light enough so I resigned myself to never having one.  Then Davie @kodiakblair came to my rescue and  sold me a Retrovibe Renegade that needed a bit of conversion work, which got done.  So what I have now is a Retrovibe Renegade with generic Ric style pickups, unbound body, forearm shamfer, weighs under 8lbs.  Does it look like a Ric?  Kinda.  Enough, anyway.  Does it sound like a Ric?  Kinda.  Enough, anyway.  It is light enough for me to wear all night, cost around £350 all in and has scratched my Ric itch.

 

 

 

 

  

[ezbass]

11 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

14 years ago…I had one…

 

Looks like that was a heavy one   

Edited March 8, 2023 by ezbass

[Marky L]

32 minutes ago, Paul S said:

Here's my Ric story.  I'd never ever tried one but always fancied them.  The sound, more than the looks, but not the clank - that mellow hollow tone you get half way up the neck.  Machine Head.  My problem was they are too expensive to buy on whim and I'd been put off making that kind of financial committment by all the tales of 'you've got to try a hundred before you find the one that fits'.  Then a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to get a quality, early 70s MIJ Faker which was close enough to get a proper impression and I totally and utterly loved it.  I loved the look, complete;ly blown away by the tone.  It say comfortably in many genre, more versatile than I had been led to believe by the detractors.  But heavy.  Getting on for 11 lbs.  I wore it for a couple of hours one rehearsal and my back hurt for the next week.  Plus it has a bound slab body, something I struggle with, so I had to move it on, which was a desperate shame. 

 

 

I've found out that some Rics are lighter, coming in at around 9lbs, some are unbound with a forearm shamfer, but that still isn't light enough so I resigned myself to never having one.  Then Davie @kodiakblair came to my rescue and  sold me a Retrovibe Renegade that needed a bit of conversion work, which got done.  So what I have now is a Retrovibe Renegade with generic Ric style pickups, unbound body, forearm shamfer, weighs under 8lbs.  Does it look like a Ric?  Kinda.  Enough, anyway.  Does it sound like a Ric?  Kinda.  Enough, anyway.  It is light enough for me to wear all night, cost around £350 all in and has scratched my Ric itch.

 

 

 

 

  

 

I wish I had pulled the trigger on one of the Retrovibe Renegades when they were available. I think Mr Hall got shirty about it though so they were limited production? Anyhoo, I did buy a Retrovibe Les Paul style short scale bass from them  and it was loaded with their Ric pick ups and it sounds great! With new strings you can certainly get a Ric tone from it.
 

I managed to knock it over yesterday, very obvious big dint on the front now

[Stealth]

No effects small combo so limited bottom end classy bass player buff said

 

 

[Marky L]

2 minutes ago, Stealth said:

No effects small combo so limited bottom end classy bass player buff said

 

 

 

The main man!!!

[neepheid]

This is one determined zombie thread!