How was your gig last night?

[dmccombe7]

17 hours ago, peteb said:

 

Was that a Ric or a Stingray? 

 

My second ever bass was a Ric copy, which was awful and put me off them for life. A mate of mine has a Ric that he adores, but I reckon is probably among the the worse 'expensive' basses that I have ever played (sorry Paul)! 

 

I have a curious relationship with Stingrays. I think that they sound, look and play great. But... I never seem to take them out on gigs! I have bought, then sold, the bought again a number of Stingrays, but hardly ever played one on a gig. I currently have a red 91 Ray, which a mate of mine sold me cheap after me admiring it for a few years. Because he wanted me to have it and insisted on letting me have it so cheap, I feel a bit bad selling it on. That and my missus telling me to just keep it as I will inevitably buy another one in a few months time! It currently goes out as my spare for the tribute band gigs, but rarely leaves its gigbag! 

 

It was a white Ric. I think it was the S version but not having any pics of it i could be wrong.

Dave

[Geek99]

@peteb that’s about five miles from my house, wish I’d known 

[Geek99]

10 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

It was a white Ric. I think it was the S version but not having any pics of it i could be wrong.

Dave

You got better though… thanks to Rick-anon 

[Geek99]

16 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I don't know exactly why, but I have never 'got' Rics. I suppose to me, the various design elements just don't look like they go together. But that's just me.

No, it isn’t 

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

You got better though… thanks to Rick-anon 

Must admit i do love the shape of them.

Think if money wasn't an issue i would have one in my collection along with a MM Stingray, G&L L2000, WAL, Alembic, 1960 P bass and a Jazz, Overwater Progress 4, Gibson Grabber/Ripper, Kramer DMZ, Status (original graphite version), Vigier and so many others. 🤣

Dave

[Woodinblack]

22 hours ago, Norris said:

I've been keeping half an eye out for a 5er. They don't get brilliant reviews though. My 4er hangs on the wall waiting patiently for the day...

 

I kick myself for not getitng one just after the brexit change when Thomman were kicking them out at €1350, even with taxes that would have been pretty good, but didn't know what getting stuff imported was like at the time. By the time they had that sorted themselves they were gone and never came back.

Problem with rics are they are just too expensive for what they are worth for me - at under 1.5k I am happy to go for one, at over that they have to be special, and they aren't really special enough.

[msb]

On 28/07/2025 at 13:01, Len_derby said:

I know just what you mean. For me it’s because they are associated with influential and iconic players and relatively rare. You certainly don’t see many on my pub and club circuit of venues.

I’m lucky in a way, as I had the chance to try @Norris’s out at a Bass Bash a few years ago. Lovely as it was, it didn’t feel right. That’s saved me a heap of money and disappointment. 
I do have a hankering for one of Retrovibe’s short scale Lil’ Richard looky-likeys, though. A itch that needs scratching 😆.

 

I spent some years before the internet looking for a later Fireglo 4001 , and eventually found one in Toronto. There were never any for sale here in Halifax. It was just exactly what I hoped it would be , and for some years I was a Ric guy. I’ve had it now for close to thirty years. I just play it at home today , but any time I pick it up it feels perfect. Incredibly stable neck , I’ve only adjusted the truss rods twice in that time. Also managed to find an old burgundyglo set necked 4000. I thought I’d miss the neck pickup and knobs. I was wrong. They are beauties. And despite owning and playing Rics for some years , I still get excited when I see a nice one. They simply do that to me. Still.

[msb]

And feel is such an odd thing. I was a Pbass guy for years , and missed many opportunities to buy other classic basses at a time they would sell for next to nothing. Back when used meant cheap. I thought that a Pbass was all I’d ever need. I was an idiot. Today , I’ve acquired a wack of other basses that are very different from Fender styled basses. I prefer short scales today. Some have binding or sharp edges , thin necks , thick necks , light , heavy , good looking and ugly. And although something may feel very different or weird when I pick it up , I’ve found that with a little time I can get accustomed to just about anything. And regret passing on some great opportunities simply because they felt different.

[Stub Mandrel]

40 minutes ago, msb said:

simply because they felt different.

 

That's what matters to me. I don't want all my basses the same.

[msb]

And after I got that 4001 I thought that was the only Ric I would need. I had an opportunity to buy a 4002 for $1200 Cdn and passed on it. That one hurts now.

[dmccombe7]

39 minutes ago, msb said:

And after I got that 4001 I thought that was the only Ric I would need. I had an opportunity to buy a 4002 for $1200 Cdn and passed on it. That one hurts now.

OUCH !!! that's approx £650 over here. How long ago was that ya numpty. (Can i call you that without offending ?) 😂

Dave

[Jack]

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

That's what matters to me. I don't want all my basses the same.

I think this is an underrated opinion. A lot of people go "ooooh I like that bass, I'll just put my strings on it, get it set up to my usual action, put the EMGs that I like in it... etc etc". Just stick with what you've got then.

 

I'm kicking myself for changing my SB2 to VVT. No tone control is part of what makes that bass unique, even if it is a weird quirk.