Pow_22 Posted Tuesday at 11:53 Posted Tuesday at 11:53 (edited) So I've been pretty much a full time P bass/flats player since i started in bands. Ive had a few flirts with Jazzes and once upon a time a burns bison bass but always come back to the P. Over the years I've had a few basses I've always loved the look of a few others (i still think a Spector Euro in Gloss Black and gold hardware is one of the best looking basses) and had mixed reactions when finally getting hold of them. Now, my main 'always wanted' bass is an original Ric 4005 but finances just cant justify even the reissues but i developed a ric itch. Fast forward to last week and my daily trawl of the usual sites took me to Bass Bros where the had a few ricks in. I love fireglo but to me the newer ones have a sort of 'washed out' or 'bleached' look. Then i saw it - a 1998 Ric 4003 with just the right mojo and for what i thought was a reasonable price - i had to have it! Today, after being ordered late Friday evening she showed up in her rickenbacker hard case and she looks absolutely glorious. After years of P's ill need time to adjust and ill need to get her off to the fixers for a set up with my usual strings when they are in stock but here's a few teaser pics in the meantime. Edited Tuesday at 13:32 by Pow_22 22 Quote
police squad Posted Tuesday at 11:56 Posted Tuesday at 11:56 nice score they sound great with flats 1 Quote
LeftyJ Posted Tuesday at 12:08 Posted Tuesday at 12:08 Awesome! I love the yellowing on the bindings and fingerboard inlays. The toaster in the neck position is a great addition too (I think the high gain pickups were stock?). 1 Quote
Alba Posted Tuesday at 12:26 Posted Tuesday at 12:26 Very nice, looks great and bet it sounds better. Toaster must be a later addition. 1 Quote
Pow_22 Posted Tuesday at 12:29 Author Posted Tuesday at 12:29 Not sure if the toaster is original or not? Serial dates from 1998? Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted Tuesday at 12:36 Posted Tuesday at 12:36 Nice! I got a 4003, my first ric several months ago. EB Cobalt flats sound absolutely massive it. Quote
itu Posted Tuesday at 12:36 Posted Tuesday at 12:36 Does this have that cap bypass switch in some pot? Quote
Pow_22 Posted Tuesday at 12:41 Author Posted Tuesday at 12:41 4 minutes ago, itu said: Does this have that cap bypass switch in some pot? No, no push pull pot on this one Quote
itu Posted Tuesday at 13:36 Posted Tuesday at 13:36 If there's that cap, I stronly suggest you to replace one with a bypass switch pot. Bridge pu is unnecessary thin if the cap is there as always ON. 2 Quote
BlueMoon Posted Tuesday at 14:34 Posted Tuesday at 14:34 2 hours ago, Pow_22 said: my daily trawl of the usual sites 2 hours ago, Pow_22 said: i had to have it! Love it…….a true series of Basschat traits going on here! I love a nice Ricky! Well done. 1 Quote
prowla Posted Tuesday at 15:05 Posted Tuesday at 15:05 Rics are the best basses money can buy. 3 Quote
prowla Posted Tuesday at 15:09 Posted Tuesday at 15:09 1 hour ago, itu said: If there's that cap, I stronly suggest you to replace one with a bypass switch pot. Bridge pu is unnecessary thin if the cap is there as always ON. Well, yes and no... If you run Rick-O-Sound then you can control each pickup separately. If you want to play anything Chris Squire, pull the Treble pickup tone and then go "Oh!". The bypass pot is an easy fit which does unlock some variations. 1 Quote
Pow_22 Posted Tuesday at 15:25 Author Posted Tuesday at 15:25 Thanks all. Still tinkering until i get get it to my tech. Currently im easily getting the nasally snarl but struggling to get much low end. Ill need to have a play with pup heights etc but feels lovely to play. Maybe the lack of lows is coming from being a habitual P bass/flats player Quote
Skybone Posted Tuesday at 16:38 Posted Tuesday at 16:38 It's usually advisable to roll off some of the volume on the neck pickup to about 3/4, with the bridge on full volume. Yes, the 1998 is pre-standard fitment of the "Vintage Circuit" push/pull, though a few people did modify their basses with the circuit. Your new toy should sound full bodied and lovely. Enjoy, it's a lovely looking machine. 1 1 Quote
kwmlondon Posted Tuesday at 17:39 Posted Tuesday at 17:39 I have such a love for these basses. So many of my heroes have rocked (ricked?) one. I worry that one day I’ll see one of those mad 5 strings they did recently and I tell you I WILL buy it… 1 Quote
Jonesy Posted 15 hours ago Posted 15 hours ago Really cool bass, enjoy it! I love the clank with rounds, but I've recently (4 years ago, so recently in terms of the life span of flats!) put TI Jazz Flats on my Ric and love them. Quote
Pow_22 Posted 2 hours ago Author Posted 2 hours ago So first rehearsal tonight with the ric and to be honest i was a bit underwhelmed. I ditched my pedals years ago and go straight into an Ashdown Spyder head into a Barefaced 1x15. The P gets a lovely plumby bottom with a slight breakup, the mids are throaty and growly and the top is open but beefy. The ric was thin, hollow sounding and got lost easily in the mix. Now granted it does need a set up so ill hold judgement but a quick play with pickup heights didnt really help, the neck pup is maxed height wise and i just wasnt getting enough beef. Ill try again after the set up but im wondering if ill maybe need a pre amp pedal for the ric to get a similar beef that the p gives? Im also aware that ric v p is apples v oranges. I just expected a bit more body and timbre Quote
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