Cool Rics on eBay / Reverb / Craigslist

[uwe]

They have the same 33.25" scale length right? Does the B string even sound good? Maybe there's a reason Ric doesn't make 5 strings anymore.

It sounds great. About half as loud as the other strings. Except for the G string which isn't quite there either. But the E, A and D sound just fine, 3 out of 5 ain't bad.

And the shorter scale provides for an enticingly rubbery feel of the B, what's not to like?

Why Ric doesn't build 5ers anymore? One word: realization. 

[4stringer77]

Ouch, that's harsh.

[steveonbass]

That is the truth.  5 string Ricks are worthless.  Finding a 4 with a solid E isnt even easy.

[Dave W]

That is the truth.  5 string Ricks are worthless.  Finding a 4 with a solid E isnt even easy.

All 5 of the Rick basses I've owned had solid Es. Never heard one that didn't. Not quite as booming as a 34" scale but certainly not weak or lower in volume.

[ilan]

FWIW, when Chris Squire recorded The Fish (on Fragile), it's all his Ric except for the roaring low E for which he used a Fender Jazz.

[steveonbass]

I've owned 6 Rickenbackers.  2 had an E that could cut - a 72 and a Shadow - the rest washed out on stage.  I tried everything.  My tech was Chris Squiers tech - a Rickenbacker guru.  No shit.

[Jeff Scott]

My tech was Chris Squiers tech...

Who's Chris Squiers? 

[Dave W]

FWIW, when Chris Squire recorded The Fish (on Fragile), it's all his Ric except for the roaring low E for which he used a Fender Jazz.

What Chris Squire used on one track to get the sound he wanted doesn't concern me. Never heard the album, although you couldn't escape Roundabout.

I've owned 6 Rickenbackers.  2 had an E that could cut - a 72 and a Shadow - the rest washed out on stage.  I tried everything.  My tech was Chris Squiers tech - a Rickenbacker guru.  No shit.

I've owned 5, including a 4004. None had an E string problem. One of those is now played regularly on stage by the friend I sold it to. No problem hearing the E.

Maybe the problem is with the tech, Rickenbacker guru or not.

Who's Chris Squiers? 

Leo's former stringmaker. 

[steveonbass]

I'm not arguing for the sake of arguing.  This is my (and many others i know) experience as a working bassist who has owned many Rick basses.

No need to be offended. I still love Rickenbackers - Just much more challenging to find a good one - mix wise - than, say, a P bass.

There were ZERO issue with Jim Mouradians tech skills. He was one of the best.

[Dave W]

I'm not offended in the least, but I don't believe it. It runs completely counter to my experience, both when I gigged my old jetglo 4003 and when listening to other Rick players. There's nothing inherent in the scale length or the pickups that would prevent the E from being heard clearly in a mix. If not, then IMHO either the bass isn't set up optimally, or it's not EQ'd optimally at the amp or by the sound guy.

FWIW, I've heard plenty of Precisions get lost on stage over the years. And that's despite the fact that most sound guys know how to handle them, or at least think they do. Again, it's not the bass.

[doombass]

My '74 4001 had a weak e-string for years until I realised it was due to the weak breaking angle over the nut. Pushing the string down slightly between nut and keywind revealed the problem clearly. So next string swap I made sure to wind the string as far down on the post as possible. Problem solved.

[Dave W]

Does any guitar maker besides RIC use the term keywind?

[doombass]

Does any guitar maker besides RIC use the term keywind?

Not to my knowledge but I do like that term.

[ilan]

A very clean 4001CS, CoA, #189. GBP4,295 ($5,587) BIN.

[66Atlas]

Wow, this one's pretty.  The condition almost seems too good to not be a refin but who knows...

https://reverb.com/item/5131209-rickenbacker-4001-fl-1973-fireglo-fretless-fret-less-fire-glo-checker-binding-ric