St. John from Des Moines

Oh, also, it looks like this "Chic" might have a more accurate bridge pickup placement! https://www.ebay.com/itm/404495875570?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=404495875570&targetid=1530439033131&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9017986&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=pla-1530439033131&abcId=9307249&merchantid=6296724&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjMKqBhCgARIsAPDgWlw4G18-NApA8ofaDYq-Tl7Po-pZlYDmMzqoxpJomSSD1fzwWksE1VoaAq15EALw_wcB So, that means that they at least do exist. 🙂

Yeah, I did notice that, and am a little embarrassed that I didn't bring it up in my original comment. One only needs to think of the 70's J-Bass vs those that came before and after to understand what a difference a seemingly subtle placement shift can make. I understand the science of placement in at least "101-level terms", so I really probably should take the matter more seriously. Even so, it does seem from frequent testimony that once the stock pickups are replaced with more faithful counterparts, the "Chic" really does seem to do admirably well at landing close enough to the real thing to capture its essence, or at least a satisfying approximation thereof. If only Ric would just get over themselves and make a "Squier" or "Epiphone"-equivalent, eh?

SHORT VERSION: 33.25" v 34" scale length is a much smaller difference than I had thought. I had [mistakenly] believed that proper Rics were 30" scale, and I felt that the difference betweeen 30 and 34 would be too great to have any hope of achieving "the Ric sound". But now that I know that a proper Ric is actually much closer to 34" scale, I feel a bit more safe going for a 34" instrument. I'll at least make sure it's neck-thru, though! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONGER VERSION: I'm so glad that this thread existed that I even created an account on this forum just for it - despite living "across the pond"! 😄 So, I've been eyeing the [so-called] "Chickenbacker" for quite some time now! Between a) as outrageously expensive as a proper Rickenbacker is - especially over here in the states, and b) how, while I find the signature "clung" of "the Rickenbacker sound" to be very unique and a lot of fun, there's just no way this sound would ever become my "main thing" in bass tones, there's just no way I could ever justify buying a proper Ric (short of winning the lottery or getting a record contract, there's just no way!) And yet, there's a part of me that REALLY loves this sound (to say nothing of the even more incredible looks), and certainly, if nothing else, it's a very unique, singular tone, as made famous by countless bassists, my personal favorites of them being Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, [early] Roger Waters, and [early] Geddy Lee. The biggest hesitation I had about the Chickenbacker was scale length and neck type. I figured I could upgrade the electronics later, but that I was stuck with the body stuff. Most I found were set-necks, rather than neck-thru, and all of them were 34" scale. Well, I had mistakenly believed that a Ric was 30", and felt the 4" difference "a bridge too far" to cross for the cheapie to have any real hope of matching the tones of the big boy. Also, I was distressed by how many were set-neck, rather than neck-thru. At least we do have some neck-thru variants of the cheapie available. But learning now (by way of this thread, actually) that the proper Rics are 33.25. I feel that 0.75" scale length difference might be marginal enough to be able to land at least close to the proper sound (with pickup mods, of course!) So I'm thinking I'll go for one after all, and just replace the electronics with something much more faithful later down the road! Yay Chickenbacker!!!! 😄 Cheers!