enndee

My 2007 colour of the year, Amber Fireglow 4003. This and my Alembic Custom 5 Elan are the two best basses EVER, in my opinion anyway!

Here is my Alembic Custom 5 Elan which along with my 4 string Rickenbacker 4003 are the only basses I gig with now (Blues/Rock). Only recently got the Alembic and I am now selling or have already sold the other 6 basses I have/had. For me, these two basses are the absolute ultimate and nothing else comes close in any respect. My amp is an Ampeg SVT Classic through an SVT 4 x 10.

After lusting after a Ric 4001/4003 for many years I finally bought a new Amber Fireglow (2007 special colour) 4003, last year. As I almost always play fingerstyle, first thing I did was to take the pick up cover off, as so many people do. Now that isn't as straight forward as you would imagine either!!! Next thing was to fit a thumb rest and I was in business. Initial impressions were slight disappointment! This is an expensive guitar and apart from fantastic looks, I wasn't sure where the value for money was coming from! However after just a few days playing I realised that this was going to be a life long love affair. I have 6 other basses (Gibson Victory, Gibson SG both short and long scale, Fender P, Goodfellow fretless, Guild DeArmond Starfire) and in terms of sound and playability, the Ric is always my first choice. When I upgraded from Ashdown amp and cabs to Ampeg, the Ric REALLY came into its own. The tonal range is just amazing and the Ric/Ampeg combination gives me everything I could ever wish for sound wise. As others have said, best to play a Ric before buying, if you can. But don't just play it for 5 minutes, it takes a few hours of playing before you realise what a fantastic guitar it is - even so there will be those that just don't get on with them.

On a couple of slow songs we do in my band, I split my time between playing keyboards and bass. I usually run the synth through the PA and although the sound is OK, it is so much better through my Ampeg SVT450 and Ampeg SVT 610HLF 6 x 10 cab. The head only has one input, so is there any technical reason why I couldn't make up a lead or a box to take both instrument inputs into a single jack?

Rickenbacker 4003 in Amber Fireglow. DeArmond Guild Starfire, in Tobacco Sunburst finish. Bernie Goodfellow Custom fretless - one of the first he made, dates from 1988, is gorgeous and in immaculate condition! Gibson Victory in natural finish. Fender Precision in Tobacco Sunburst. Just can't resist 'em!!!!