hi mojo , i can understand the let down that must have been, i did the same myself , i took a chance and purchased a new 2011 fireglo on line, and it was the same experience as yours, if you have had rics that sound like rics should , anything else after that is not acceptable. luckily i sold the fireglo on to someone who wanted that particular sound that that bass made , certainly was not the traditional piano wire sound i was used to, it was more like a dead thud!!!! the secret is get a used one in mint condition with the piano wire sound, they are out there i have found 2 of them just recently both jetglo one was a 1999 and the other a 2006. good luck. george