The post on RIC's fb page (https://www.facebook.com/ricguitars/posts/1108826119201038) says "NOT a one-off!" and "They're coming" and "more details to follow". They even changed the cover photo to a matte black headstock with laser engraved TRC. In the comments they hint that the color scheme will be used on other RIC guitars also.
The pics show sort of a matte Shadow. Matte black with black hardware and black/checkerboard binding, and dot inlays. Unfinished and unbound Macassar ebony board. Vintage style knobs.
(https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/14202731_1108814345868882_3423674546330885800_n.jpg?oh=1af84612a1ad5377d1966fc728c5c9af&oe=58861659&__gda__=1481432306_1a298d484fe4b1bce98d5926e76ff1e5)(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14192762_1108814342535549_3423689529702035435_n.jpg?oh=2336e708e7375fe9872334f5699620dc&oe=587E6F84)(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/14192537_1108814349202215_8099203502969103559_n.jpg?oh=1caca7c2e73f30b180dafaccd475f2b6&oe=5882EE20&__gda__=1480679754_e557395f9422e5b496b1ed84e2ac1da3)(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14086200_1104918776258439_3909545052154992357_o.jpg)
Very nice. :-)
I wonder if it got some inspiration from this one:
(http://blaat.net/bass/plaatjes/800/full-fr-4003-fl.jpg)
(picture is a little too blueish.)
It's beautiful, and it's bound (pun intended) to be expensive. What really surprised me was the "not a one-off."
Is it me, or does the neckwidth really look reasonably (small).
Gorgeous... but I dread to hear the price... :o
Matte finishes are a cost-cutting measure and should be priced less than high gloss. Like Fender's Highway 1 or Gibson's "Faded".
Best looking Ric I have ever seen.
Quote from: ilan on September 03, 2016, 01:31:47 PM
... Matte finishes are a cost-cutting measure ...
Doesn't work that way with cars... :mrgreen:
(http://www.carcleaningguru.com/files/2012/07/makita-9227cb-polisher.jpg)
Fixed!
Quite a cool finish, but reminds me of the Gibson 'Goth' range. Maybe not quite the best time for it?
Quote from: ilan on September 03, 2016, 01:31:47 PM
Matte finishes are a cost-cutting measure and should be priced less than high gloss. Like Fender's Highway 1 or Gibson's "Faded".
Not necessarily. Those were quick and easy one or two-step finishes designed to cut labor costs, but a matte finish can be multi-step and labor-intensive (as with cars, as Ken says). The topcoat has a flatting agent added to prevent it from becoming glossed. We don't know yet what Ric is doing, but somehow I doubt they would skimp on the finish to cut costs.
Regardless, we know that the checkerboard binding will add quite a bit to the price.
The nonsense with cars (so I've heard) is that you mus'n't "clean" them, as you would a normal finish, as this would give the matte finish a "shine", as per Alanko's post... :mrgreen:
I've seen a few cars with that flat finish, and always wondered how you clean them. Do you have to use detailing clay to remove dirt? Presumably you run the risk of shining up areas if you aren't careful, and I imagine door handles end up glossy anyway?
I guess the same will happen to the Ricks eventually around playing areas. A few of my Fenders past and present had satin-finished necks that either turned glossy over time or I buffed them out myself.
Stealthenbacker - now you see it, now you don't. Probably commissioned by the Israel Army. :popcorn: (Sorry, Ilan, couldn't resist!)
I love those Cheerio looking inlays.
Quote from: uwe on September 06, 2016, 11:12:39 AM
Stealthenbacker - now you see it, now you don't. Probably commissioned by the Israel Army. :popcorn: (Sorry, Ilan, couldn't resist!)
The real camouflage bass is a Fender Jazz. Blends in the background to the point where you are indistinguishable from the zillion other J players around you. This is why a J clone is the IDF standard-issue bass.
Does it come with a special 'Iron Dome' protective hard shell case?
Quote from: ilan on September 06, 2016, 02:31:27 PM
The real camouflage bass is a Fender Jazz. Blends in the background to the point where you are indistinguishable from the zillion other J players around you. This is why a J clone is the IDF standard-issue bass.
:rimshot: :thumbsup:
I would like it even better without the binding.
(http://www.hho4free.com/images/acetone.jpg)
Problem solved!
I like it. It's not easy to make something as iconic/classic as a Rick look simultaneously brazenly modern and different, yet retain 100% of its instant recognizability. It could have ended up looking just all wrong, but I think they nailed it.
Bit man-o-whorish, uhum, ... -warish, ain't it? Goes together well with assless chaps 'n' such. 8)
It's a good-looking Ric alright.
It is sexy as hell. In the promo pic I saw of it elsewhere last week the fretboard was much more obviously laquered, which is a show stopper for me.
Quote from: uwe on September 08, 2016, 12:37:52 PM
Bit man-o-whorish, uhum, ... -warish, ain't it? Goes together well with assless chaps 'n' such. 8)
It's a good-looking Ric alright.
You're the expert on assless chaps, aren't you? :mrgreen: Isn't that what you planned to wear when you bought that bright green Dean, or whatever it was?
No, this bass is classy and tasteful. You will need to dress properly.
And by properly you mean boots, jean cuttoffs, a mostly open shirt and copious facial hair?
I have no regrets over my Dean Dimebag Flying-V at all, Sir! It's my best-sounding Flying V!
RIC just posted this pic on their fb page (https://www.facebook.com/ricguitars/photos/a.236064636477195.57331.235019996581659/1115792135171103/?type=1&theater) - "4003 NOIR set to ship" -
(https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlp1/v/t1.0-0/p296x100/14203105_1115792135171103_1485946153120787955_n.jpg?oh=3a7d42857bd81cba0f935d6bbbe81448&oe=583CE10B&__gda__=1485141491_09d15e1c05e30b4f375c2fc0738bbf0e)
Quote from: Dave W on September 08, 2016, 10:50:12 PM
No, this bass is classy and tasteful. You will need to dress properly.
Tux for a Tux bass... camo for a stealth bass...? :mrgreen:
Quote from: Granny Gremlin on September 09, 2016, 07:35:41 AM
And by properly you mean boots, jean cuttoffs, a mostly open shirt and copious facial hair?
Quote from: Highlander on September 09, 2016, 02:50:48 PM
Tux for a Tux bass... camo for a stealth bass...? :mrgreen:
No, and no. :P
All I meant was that it should involve pants. With a seat. :)
Sorry Dave, just didn't think I could get quite this lucky... :mrgreen:
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/Brasilikilt/Iainkilt2.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/Brasilikilt/media/Iainkilt2.jpg.html)
As long as it keeps him from playing bagpipes, it's good. :)
Rather stupidly only just spotted the header change... only going to be 25 of them...?
Are there Ric collectors like some folks with some brands in our parish, i.e. completists...?
Quote from: Highlander on September 11, 2016, 12:24:38 AM
only going to be 25 of them...?
Based on this -
http://www.swingcitymusic.com/shop/rickenbacker-4003-noire-limited-1-25/
$2,699
I like it sort of, I wish they brought back the checkerboard binding on a more traditional finish.
Not a bad list price at all.
Quote from: Highlander on September 11, 2016, 12:24:38 AM
Rather stupidly only just spotted the header change... only going to be 25 of them...?
Are there Ric collectors like some folks with some brands in our parish, i.e. completists...?
No, we keep completists out. And the worst completist of them all is the fin-completist!!!
Collecting for fins is sins, ya...?
It wood be a cold day in the hot place before anyone wood ever accuse you of such sins... not sure about "would" though... ;)
Quote from: Highlander on September 11, 2016, 12:24:38 AM
Are there Ric collectors like some folks with some brands in our parish, i.e. completists...?
http://www.rickbeat.com/ -- check out the Gallery section
Ah... I may be gone some time... ;)
I looked at one of theses in Tokyo last week. I was not blown away by it. Especially the pseudo-binding.
Quote from: Happy Face on August 09, 2017, 08:13:12 AM
I looked at one of theses in Tokyo last week. I was not blown away by it. Especially the pseudo-binding.
It's not real checkerboard binding?
There were a series of white dashes on the face (a quarter inch in from the edge) rather than a classic checkerboard binding.
I should have photographed it.
The Noir has checker binding inside black outer binding. It is not set in "a quarter inch" and is not just a painted or printed pattern. But the white checks surrounded by the black outer binding satin black finish overall may give the impression it is further inset depending on the perspective of your view. There's a closeup of the upper body of a Noir on page 141 of the new 2nd edition of my book.
I like the checkerboard with the black outer binding. Like a 4002.
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1/0/5/5/4/webimg/482395715_tp.jpg)
Quote from: Paul Boyer on August 10, 2017, 08:37:15 AM
The Noir has checker binding inside black outer binding. It is not set in "a quarter inch" and is not just a painted or printed pattern. But the white checks surrounded by the black outer binding satin black finish overall may give the impression it is further inset depending on the perspective of your view. There's a closeup of the upper body of a Noir on page 141 of the new 2nd edition of my book.
Thanks. That makes sense. That said, it looked sorta cheesy to me. I think the Shadow looks a little better and the Blackstar way better.
But what do I know? :-\
Quote from: Happy Face on August 11, 2017, 10:17:19 AM
Thanks. That makes sense. That said, it looked sorta cheesy to me. I think the Shadow looks a little better and the Blackstar way better.
But what do I know? :-\
Perhaps it's the satin/matte finish that is throwing you for a loop?
That, but mostly the look of the binding. I was not tempted to try it out.
If I were in a metal band, I'd probably feel differently. But maybe I'd opt for the well lower priced Epiphone Nikki Sixx bass!
Quote from: Happy Face on August 11, 2017, 10:17:19 AM
I think the Shadow looks a little better
I think so too but the binding looks the same. It's noticeable from some distance, when a Fireglo w/CB from 20 feet looks like plain white binding.
Owning both a Shadow and a Blackstar I somehow feel I should own one of these too. But not at current price and probably not at current neck-width. ;-)