Cosmo Valdemar

I always meant to have a 'Rickenfecker' truss rod cover made for my CMI Rick copy... Never got round to it though. As for the bass in the OP, I would leave it blank, for mystery and intrigue. If you put a Musicman logo on it the only people who would notice it would most likely be the only ones who would recognise it as not being authentic. Any chance of seeing some more pics of the bass? I'm intrigued now, a passive Stingray...

[quote name='Beedster' post='1261733' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:10 PM']However, I never really used the VTC when I first had it, and blending the bridge PUP with VTC with the neck PUP provides some lovely tonal options, many of which are highly useable. I'm genuinely surprised as I'd had always seen Rics, like Precisions, as one trick ponies, but that is far from the case. It's also helped loads by playability and almost endless sustain.[/quote] Since I got mine a couple of weeks back I have found my favourite setting to be everything on full with the VTC kicked in. There it is, the classic Rick sound. It sounds particularly wonderful throught the Line6 R&B setting. Apologies for slight thread derail

You can mess around with your EQ all you like, you will never get another bass to sound like a Rick - similar maybe, but they have a genuinely unique element to the growl that is unmistakeable. Lots of people say their Jazz bass can pull off a convincing impression. I don't doubt they can dial in a cutting, clanky pick tone, but it will still sound like a jazz. But this is all academic I suppose. To me the classic Rick growl is one of the holy grails of bass tone - I have immersed myself for years in its sounds, listening to the countless classic records it was played on. I know it when I hear it. But then again on the other hand, there are certain basses that I'm not much of a fan of that are considered to have a unique and unmistakeable tone - I could probably convince myself I could pull off a convincing impersonation on a Wishbass.

[quote name='Beedster' post='1258534' date='Jun 6 2011, 04:18 PM']Yep [/quote] I thought as much.

I'd also contact the manufacturer, they may be far more helpful than you might think. I once found a dead A string in a set of Rotos. I emailed them and got a reply the same day from Jason Howe (the boss I think), apologising profusely and offered to send me a whole new pack free of charge. No return of the defective string needed, no proof of purchase, nothing. I was very impressed.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1256956' date='Jun 4 2011, 11:16 PM']Amen,,,,,, hence why I am in such a terrible position where I dont know whether to let this one go!!!! [/quote] Beautiful. Keep.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1256032' date='Jun 3 2011, 10:38 PM']If I had a gig for a Ric I'd be really keen to buy one, but I see them as a 'pick sound' bass and I rarely use a pick. Very pretty basses though.[/quote] I was in a similar boat to you. My band just didn't suit Ricks (or is it the other way round?). Now I am temporarily bandless I decided to chase the tone I've been after for years and bought a brand new Mapleglo 4003. I generally don't use picks, and although the Rick sounds great fingerstyle, I find myself gravitating towards using a pick whenever I play it - it just feels right on this bass, and the growl is utterly wonderful.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='1256480' date='Jun 4 2011, 02:18 PM']I've only gone and done it [/quote] Hurrah! Is it one of the recent ones with the wonderful neck? I see the pickup cover's come off in record time! Spill the beans!!

I think they are a lot more portable than you would imagine - for a start they have the castors and handle so you can push them along - easier than carrying a 4x10. Also if you are loading them into the van they are easy to tilt back and slide in, if you see what I mean. It's a two man job but again easier than you both having to lift up the 4x10. Of course, all this is assuming you have the transport and space to accomodate one! But if you have, I say go for it. A roaring 8x10 is not an experience to turn down. Don't know if this is true or not, but I was once told by a sound man that Ashdown 8x10s sound a lot livelier than the Ampeg equivalent (which I have never got on with) because they are really 4 stacked 2x10s... Or was that the Ampeg? Anyway, P bass > ABM head > 810 = heaven.

[quote name='OldGit' post='352892' date='Dec 12 2008, 05:49 PM']And that Roundabout line was doubled on a Gibson 6 string gu1t@r ... [/quote] Not wanting to resurrect a zombie thread here, but I keep seeing this bit of information popping up on various threads. The guitar only doubles the riff at the very end of the track, around the seven minute mark, and it is quite blatant. The rest of the track is clearly straight bass - unless the guitar was dropped to bass tuning there would be a clear octave effect, as can be heard at the end of the track. I seem to recall reading an interview with Mr Squire about him overdubbing the bass part with the guitar, I can only assume he is referring just to the final part of the song. The rest is just classic Rickenbacker grind. No secrets or tricks.

[quote name='TRBboy' post='1251926' date='May 31 2011, 07:23 PM']I wish Ibanez would make an RG series bass! Although cheesy (which I like), it would probably be my ultimate rock bass. Bright yelllow, black scratchplate, pointy headstock, and fitted out with Dimarzio P/Js. Something like this but a bass; [url="http://www.sixstringzone.com/products-reviews/ibanez/RG550-20/rg550-yellow.jpg"]http://www.sixstringzone.com/products-revi...g550-yellow.jpg[/url] Love it!!![/quote] Not an Ibanez, but similar! [url="http://rainbowmusic.co.uk/shop/article_DCZ121/Dean-Custom-Zone-Black.html?pse=coa"]http://rainbowmusic.co.uk/shop/article_DCZ...ck.html?pse=coa[/url] No J pickup I know, but at that price you would have enough left over to put that to rights. I personally think these look great but the low price sets off the old alarm bells.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1252813' date='Jun 1 2011, 04:02 PM']Just about every Rickenbacker I've played has felt different. There's one in Fuzz here in Nottingham with a horrible fat lumpy neck. You just need to carry on playing every one you come across until you find one that feels right.[/quote] That, alas, be the truth. I've played my share of Ricks with just such necks, it's almost enough to put you off them for life. Almost did for me. It's not just that they are big, (I personally prefer a substantial neck) they just felt a bit shapeless, almost as if they were at odds with the rest of the bass. Difficult to describe really. As I said before, the brand new 4003s seem to have a different shaped neck (at least mine does) - slimmer than before, but still meaty enough for me! I couldn't be happier with this one. And that's without mentioning the tone...

The pickups look a bit like Lakland chi-sonics to me...

For years I was in the same boat - lusting wildly after that incredibly rich Rush/Yes bass tone but struggling to get along with the instrument in question. A few years back I bagged an '81 4001, but the neck was far too skinny for me. I occasionally tried a mate's 4003 from a few years back, and to put it kindly it's a bit of a dog - clubby neck being the worst offender. A few days back I bought a brand new Mapleglo 4003, on a whim but with the knowledge that I could always return it. It feels like a complete overhaul to the equivalent model of a few years back. The neck is far better, thinner but by no means skinny, and the tone is unreal - instant 'Astral Traveller'. The bass just feels right, even with the pickup cover. I'm a very happy chap Might put post some pics when I get home.

Picked up a Line 6 bass amp (or 'Squire in a box' as I like to call it) from Beedster earlier today - a top gentleman and gracious host despite pressing circumstances. I wouldn't think twice about doing business with him again, and neither should you. All this in an idyllic picture book setting to boot.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1244727' date='May 25 2011, 08:17 PM']I has OBBM make me a stereo to two mono jack cable. id the job with my dual mono basses.[/quote] I read on some official Rick propaganda that use of any old stereo cable/y-splitter will result in 'unwanted hum and significant loss of treble' - anyone noticed this?

[quote name='4000' post='1244681' date='May 25 2011, 07:43 PM']Make a stereo cable. It'll still work.[/quote] Right, now you've lost me! How would you go about making such a thing? Yes, I'm clueless when it comes to things like this...

My new Rick will be arriving soon, and I fully intend to go all-out prog and make full use of the stereo output. I know Rickenbacker don't make the separate box required to split the signal anymore, the closest I can find is this: [url="http://www.ricsrus.com/Accessories.html"]http://www.ricsrus.com/Accessories.html[/url] £70 seems a bit much for what is basically a glorified stereo to mono converter, or is there more to it? Is there a cheaper option?

[quote name='Delberthot' post='1241093' date='May 23 2011, 02:21 AM']You can't replicate the sound of an 8 string with an octave. I bought a Pog for exactly that but it sounded shrill and terrible.[/quote] I borrowed a friend's Micro Pog when recording our last album, I was so impressed with the sound I would happily use one instead of the 'real thing'. Close enough for rock and roll!