4000

Some of it is to do with context. When I saw Jeff Berlin at Bass day he was playing standards in a trio format and I loved it. However the first time I ever heard him properly was on a free disc which included Manos De Piedra IIRC. I thought his playing was great, but his tone was blah and the music was truly awful.

I love Jimmy Johnson's playing with James Taylor (and much of the fusion stuff I've heard him do), so went to see him last year playing with Allan Holdsworth. I didn't enjoy anything about the gig, even Jimmy's playing, because I didn't enjoy the music (which I half expected). I must clarify that it's not because I don't like fusion; I love RTF, I love Matt Garrison, I love Mahavishnu, but they all have a certain energy and a certain musicality that touches me. The other stuff may have energy and musicality too, but it doesn't communicate to me personally. It's not that I don't understand it, I just don't like it.

The Alain Caron clip is a good example; playing music that I like I may think he's a genius, but I absolutely hate everything about that clip. To reference another thread, I hate John Scofield's and Pat Metheny's guitar playing, and yet think John McLaughlin is one step short of God. So I think it's about finding something that connects with you. If it doesn't, technical or not, chances are it will leave you cold.

[quote name='MB1' post='258263' date='Aug 8 2008, 04:08 PM']MB1.
P.Md[/quote]

Don't suppose you have any idea of the weight? Over/under 10lbs?

[quote name='elom' post='40731' date='Aug 3 2007, 12:49 AM']Everyone loves Lydia - I still prefer the pink bobble hat phase though.

Hey, they should get her for Bass Day! Can we start a campaign?[/quote]

+ lots.....she's fab.

Those really are 2 of the nicest Overwaters I've ever seen....

[quote name='Rich' post='258503' date='Aug 8 2008, 09:21 PM']Yup, a big +1 for Phil Lynott. "I'd like to thank you all for coming tonight... especially those who came more than once...". Classic. [/quote]

Yep, doesn't get any cooler than Phil, bassist or anything else really. If you look cool up in the dictionary, I'm sure a picture of Phil will be grinning right back at ya.

Obviously in a thread like this everyone's going to have different ideas, but I'd also say Lemmy (personal fave), Jean Jacques Burnel, Tony Levin, The Ox, Stanley Clarke (the cover of the brown album is sufficient for me), Stu Zender, Me'shell and Bernard Edwards, with a special mention for Mark King who is cool because he's arguably the nicest, most pleasant "star" I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Chris Squire is my favourite player and so is cool in that respect. Bootsy!

Oh, and I have to add Glenn Hughes on Made In Europe, for that sound, that bass, and those trousers.....

[quote name='lozbass' post='255253' date='Aug 5 2008, 11:48 AM']I haven't used Bare Knuckle pickups (other than in a Sei I tried at the Gallery...err, uplugged) but I have Wizards in a Sei Jazz - I've been extremely impressed: you may wish to consider them as an alternative to the BKs.[/quote]

If it was a singlecut that's my Sei. It has Bare Knuckles and they sound very good. I think they'll wind to your preference; the bass wasn't built for me but I believe Alex asked them for something specific. Of course it also has a Demeter circuit and is a through neck with a maple and macassar ebony top, so it's difficult to say what the pickups would sound like without the circuit and in a Fender-type bass.

[quote name='LeftyBass' post='257398' date='Aug 7 2008, 05:16 PM']Nope, while we all know the phases McCartney's 4001S went thru, it was Squire who says he painted and wallpapered his bass several times in the 60s and after each time he had a guy in Soho strip it, removing wood from the body each time, thus leaving it thinner than the average Ric bass, which he feels has something to do with his bass' unique tone.[/quote]

Yep, it's something he mentions in every single interview I've read.

Now on ebay....

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='256082' date='Aug 6 2008, 11:10 AM']Indeed - looks great - especially with the blue lights!

My fave solid colour Rumour still remains the blue four string... the one that will never be sold![/quote]

I tried that bass at Bass Day UK a couple of years ago. Bernie said "oh that one's thrown together, try the others". So I did, but I liked that one by far the best. Shame he wouldn't sell it, I'd have happily bought it.

[quote name='overwater#1' post='255659' date='Aug 5 2008, 06:38 PM']...and I wasn't even born

This one does seem heavy, but I personally feel better playing a heavy bass. I have played much lighter basses, and never feel comfortable with them...Heavier feels more solid, I don't know, its a personal mentality, much the same as why I prefer to play 6 or more strings, I like the size and the feel of a wide neck in my hands, although the two extra strings are fantastic! I probably wont be saying that about weight in 20 or so years time, but at 17, Im making the most of it! [/quote]

At 17, I could've worn and played the Ark Royal. At 27, the Starship Enterprise. Now, at 44, I couldn't bench press a dry Martini.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='75389' date='Oct 17 2007, 12:55 AM']Chris Squiers bass was one of the original export 1999 ricks(4001S exports). Apparently he had the 4th one into the country.

the first 3 went to the Ox, Pete Quaife (Kinks) and Donovan (?)

Chris' 1999 went through a lot of different guises involving putting wallpaper amongst other things on the face of the bass that had to be sanded off resulting in the bass ending up around 3/4 the weight it originally was.

Indeed, the horseshoe is missing - you can't just take the horseshoe section off as it is an integral part of the pickup. this guy has replaced it with a standard high gain pickup. If he doesn't have it then you are in the mire as shoes are as rare as rocking horses' doo daa.

One interesting fact is that when RIC serviced Chris' original 1999 bass last year, they discovered that one of the pickups was completely disconnected and had been for several years[/quote]

You can take the shoes off actually; it's only the very earliest reissues that have magnetised horsies.

[quote name='Musky' post='70216' date='Oct 6 2007, 08:55 AM']I could very well be wrong, but I think the 4001CS came with the bass cut capacitor that Rickenabacker abandoned in the early eighties. I know they've messed about with the inclusion/exclusion of this in some of their more recent models, but I've no idea what model has got it nowadays.

But it's just a capacitor - a minor amount of modding to any 4001/4003 should sort you out.

Though thinking about it, the CS has a toaster, low output pickup so maybe not.

Hmmm... I've had Ricks for 25 years now - I really ought to get a bit more up to date with the specs![/quote]

No, they didn't come with the capacitor. I've had 2 (got 1). The biggest difference is the reissue horseshoe (although he's not using one...).

I've also a/b-d many times against V63s (owned one, nearly owned another, played several) and in every instance the CS has sounded harder (I personally suspect the vermillion fingerboard, unique to the CS, although I could be wrong). I will however add that my Ric ear is annoyingly sensitive, although our guitarist, who has a similarly discerning ear, agrees. Every Ric I've owned (heck, pretty much every one I've played) has sounded different, although you may only notice back to back; I'll add that a friend of mine couldn't tell the difference between my CS and V63 but to me they were night & day. The most aggressive-sounding Ric I've ever played is my single pickup 4000.

[quote name='Waldo' post='70110' date='Oct 5 2007, 06:57 PM']Can't say I find that tone particularly impressive, IMO.[/quote]

Different strokes for different folks and all that. I love it. So, anyone wanna buy my CS (see for sale section)?

Minus the add-ons and if a right hander - and with some crescent inlays - that's what I'd want a Jaydee to look like. Had one very similar actually, but without the neck binding; great bass, but soooo heavy. They really seem to vary a great deal. I've played some that were fairly light but never had the funds to buy them at the time.

[quote name='BassBod' post='255150' date='Aug 5 2008, 10:20 AM']As said, check battery first. Mine used to get through batteries every 6 - 8 months, but they died very quickly when they went. Lowering pickups is a good idea, and check the (adjustable) pole pieces aren't set really high.

The transistors do distort when they go bad...but from memory its a fairly constant "Jack Bruce" distortion that gets worse when you pluck harder. On mine its was much more noticable on one pickup, but both did it. New transistors cleaned it up completely.

There was a chap at Harrow Audio (google 'em?) who was able to get spares from Pete - get to know the bass, see what needs work and then talk to him?

For the record, I love the Pro basses for their historical importance and the complete dedication that went into them - really ahead of their time. But I wouldn't buy or play one now. Too heavy, poor balance and a bit of a "marmite" sound - the only bass I've been requested not to play!

BB[/quote]

Are they all heavy? I've played about 3 Pro IIs over the years and I only remember one being heavy, although I was young & fit in them there days!

The distortion thing happened to my old Wal Custom after the new owner had had it a couple of years; he sent it to Pete who fixed it. Not much chance of that now...

Niiiice! Now here's where if I'd sold my CS and that was definitely for sale I'd be on it (well, depending how heavy it is..)!

In terms of price, over the last couple of years I've missed out on 2 ProIIEs, one at £899 and one at £820. Ironically I'd sooner have one than a Custom.

I once bought a Ric 4001V63 (a '92) on ebay from the US and it never appeared. Took me a year to get the insurance money and I lost £200 due to the change in exchange rates. Tread carefully & make sure it's tracked and insured.

[quote name='coasterbass' post='254618' date='Aug 4 2008, 04:23 PM']Please can someone PM me with the details of how to make something that sounds like an Agi or Berg for £120 ?? I may even drop you a fiver if it works [/quote]

My GS112s sound like they [i]did [/i]cost £120.... .... I recently a/b-d them with my old Trace 1153 and it dusted them completely. Unfortunately I don't still own it and it's heavier than is comfortable. Anyone know where I can get something similar that weighs 15lb less?

[quote name='Kingbassist' post='254645' date='Aug 4 2008, 04:35 PM']Well, he was re-lacquering the neck so I guess he had to.. Also, Chris McIntyre was the main luthier at The Gallery for a number of years and would have made this bass when he worked there.. So I just went with the re-badge y'know..[/quote]

Whilst Chris certainly did a lot of the woodworking (he built my old 6) I'm not completely sure he was "the main luthier" (I visit the Gallery a lot and have done for many years, and was/am quite friendly with both Chris & Martin, although I haven't seen Chris since he left). I know there were some "issues"...quite possible he built the bass though, but still, it seems a bit of a step to rebadge it, a bit like Vinnie Fodera rebadging a Ken Smith. Regardless, I think I'll stay out of this one, although I'd be interested to hear what Martin would say....

[quote name='Mike Brooks' post='246463' date='Jul 23 2008, 10:30 PM']This is going over old ground but was reminded of this thread by a feloow GB fan.

Not sure if anyone agrees but to my eyes Rumours don't suit solid colour finishes, whereas Spitfires suit fancy woods or solid colour. Rumours just need a nice top to set off the shape/curves, etc.

Just a thought for discussion!

Mike[/quote]

Er...I think the Rumours look best in the Daphne Blue to be honest. Whenever I see a Daphne Blue one I always think I really want one.

[attachment=11536:CSfull1iwell.jpg]

That Eagle through-neck is veeerrrrry nice. Always liked them.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='253662' date='Aug 3 2008, 11:17 AM']I guarantee you that once you've played a Status, you'll never look back![/quote]

You know, I so wish this was true for me....given that i bought my first Status in '93 I'd have saved myself a huge amount of money over the years!

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='251865' date='Jul 31 2008, 09:44 AM']I aim for 9lb being about as heavy as I'd like, though I own a bass that is closer to 10lb. I'd consider anything over 10lb to be heavy

I've owned a bass that weighed over 12lb and though the tone was fantastic I'd not want to repeat the experience and 'yes' I will sacrifice a little bit of tone to save lugging an extra 3lb around on my shoulder at every gig.[/quote]

I have chronic back & neck problems and anything over 9lbs is uncomfortable. Although I [i]can[/i] play my Alembic (around 10.5-11 lbs) standing up, it really isn't worth it for the days of pain afterwards. My 4001CS is borderline. To be honest, the lighter the better; my Sei 4 is the only bass I own that I would actually describe as comfortable in terms of weight over a couple of hours, and that's probably no more than 8lbs, probably less. Balance is also extremely important, but there is a point I can't go beyond no matter what the balance is like (for instance my Alembic balances great, but that's no help. I also played the Sei Millenium 6 that was in the Gallery until a short time ago and although it balanced great - and was absolutely incredible - it actually put my back out for several weeks after; I was in agony once I got home!).

Hmmm, may be considering ebay.....