ubit Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I was in guitar guitar in Glasgow the other day. The car was getting a service and I thought what better to waste the time than spending ages in a guitar shop. After a long time perusing, I decided to try out a couple. ( I generally avoid this because I find my mind goes blank and I can't remember fancy licks to impress anyone listening) I seen a blue Ric 4003 hanging and thought , I have never tried one. At least not for about 25 years. I was blown away. I've heard folks knock them, but this was a lovely bass. The super high gloss fingerboard was a bit disconcerting at first, but I think I could certainly get used to that. I am officially converted because I never liked the look of them, although grudgingly,the blue was the one colour I liked. I can now say I am definitely a fan. There is a nice range of sounds and the finish was lovely. Definite GAS ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I hear you man. I tired a 74' 4001 18 months ago in a local shop, thinking that they're twangy odd looking things and thought i'd never get on with them, that bass sound and vibe really stuck with me.....so recently i bought a 1975 4001 - and....simply amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 It seems they are marmite I was on the nah side. Now I am definitely on the I want one team ! It's got to be dark blue though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I say this every time when folks talk about the 4003 - Make sure you try playing in a standing position before committing your hard-earned. That's what buggered me up. Spent over an hour with one in the gallery (on a stool), bought it, took it on a gig and couldn't play it. Lack of arm chamfer was physically painful. Also the songs in the band at the time required the use of a pick, and even with the bridge pickup cover removed, I was still catching the pick on the pickup surround, which stands proud of the body. Sold it within 2 weeks of buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 I'm a finger player and commented to the boy in the shop that the cover was right over my sweet spot for fingering.....erm playing. He said most folks remove it, which I would obviously do myself anyway. Never tried it with a pick, but I think you could get this problem with any guitar if you have the pickups too high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 (edited) Arm chamfer is very important right enough. It is a bit of a slab I will take this advice on board. I'm not exactly in a position to buy at the moment anyway, so lots of time to think on it. Edited June 17, 2016 by ubit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1466082917' post='3073248'] I was in guitar guitar in Glasgow the other day. The car was getting a service and I thought what better to waste the time than spending ages in a guitar shop. After a long time perusing, I decided to try out a couple. ( I generally avoid this because I find my mind goes blank and I can't remember fancy licks to impress anyone listening) I seen a blue Ric 4003 hanging and thought , I have never tried one. At least not for about 25 years. I was blown away. I've heard folks knock them, but this was a lovely bass. The super high gloss fingerboard was a bit disconcerting at first, but I think I could certainly get used to that. I am officially converted because I never liked the look of them, although grudgingly,the blue was the one colour I liked. I can now say I am definitely a fan. There is a nice range of sounds and the finish was lovely. Definite GAS ! [/quote]This happened to me at the Epsom branch and my wallet was the sorrier for it, [URL=http://s308.photobucket.com/user/ezbass/media/513d22b9-b781-4121-8e31-0bd18dc8c43e_zpsqhjmsedo.jpg.html][IMG]http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk344/ezbass/513d22b9-b781-4121-8e31-0bd18dc8c43e_zpsqhjmsedo.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I think they are, by a country mile, the ugliest.musical instrument ever assembled. But here's the thing: They sound absolutely AWESOME! That Ricky sound is massive, just kills me, and if you add a pinch of fuzz? Goodnight! But that body? I just can't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1466169541' post='3073840'] This happened to me at the Epsom branch and my wallet was the sorrier for it, [URL=http://s308.photobucket.com/user/ezbass/media/513d22b9-b781-4121-8e31-0bd18dc8c43e_zpsqhjmsedo.jpg.html][IMG]http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk344/ezbass/513d22b9-b781-4121-8e31-0bd18dc8c43e_zpsqhjmsedo.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] I adore the S version. If I was going to buy a Ric it would be an S. or a 4004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1466171466' post='3073856'] I think they are, by a country mile, the ugliest.musical instrument ever assembled. [/quote] Yeah I'm on the fence too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1466171466' post='3073856'] I think they are, by a country mile, the ugliest.musical instrument ever assembled. But here's the thing: They sound absolutely AWESOME! That Ricky sound is massive, just kills me, and if you add a pinch of fuzz? Goodnight! [/quote] That was exactly my take on it mate. The sounds have definitely sold me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1466172139' post='3073869'] Yeah I'm on the fence too... [/quote]I wanted to just check that my original opinion of Rics still held true when I decided to try the one above, that they were nasty, unplayable things. I was sold within minutes. There are better built, better looking and, dependent on your opinion, better sounding basses out there, but once I put in on a strap and plugged it in, there was no going back for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 I think I could deal with the slab body. After all, the original P basses were the same, indeed, I have a Cabronita which emulates the original P and it's definitely playable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I quite like marmite from time to time but the shape of the 4003! Now the 4005 is a different thing altogether , but I think I'd need to sell the car to afford one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1466179902' post='3073946'] I wanted to just check that my original opinion of Rics still held true when I decided to try the one above, that they were nasty, unplayable things. I was sold within minutes. There are better built, better looking and, dependent on your opinion, better sounding basses out there, but once I put in on a strap and plugged it in, there was no going back for me. [/quote] When Mrs C dragged me along to latitude festival last year I saw a number of live bands for the first time in a while. Far and away the best bass sound was the guy from the vaccines... Utterly thunderous low end yet clear and barky. Stuck my head in the tent to see what the guy was playing and much to my surprise it was a ric... Sounded huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 I was blown away and I was playing it through a poxy little Fender Rumble. I would love to hear it through a decent bass rig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Great basses. I have historically owned two and absolutely loved everything about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 I play finger style, as long as you remove the pickup cover and install one of the finger rest surrounds its easy enough to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Slab body and binding kills it for me, the bridge pickup/cover design is just mental and entirely unnecessary. Why that has never been redesigned, with the same aesthetics but completely removable, escapes me. The 4004 interests me much more, but I have never had chance to try one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) I briefly had a 4004cii before the 4003. It was a 2013 I think. Didn't feel like a £1600 bass, hated the Humbuckers....you certainly don't get the Rick bite unless you're prepared to have a new harness installed. It was easier to play without the binding but the sound deficiency made that pointless for me. Edited June 22, 2016 by martthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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