The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Rickenbacker Basses => Topic started by: hieronymous on March 18, 2014, 10:50:43 PM
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I used to go out to Massachusetts (from Japan or now California) whenever I could, to record with one of my best friends (a drummer) at another friend's home studio. I would leave a couple of instruments there so all I would have to bring was effects that I wanted to use. But five years or so ago I got busy and didn't have as much income so I haven't been back in a long time. I finally decided to have my friend with the studio ship me my 1993 Jetglo Rickenbacker 4003S/8:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/13258978055_87b1455019_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13258978055/)
It's BTBH (black trim black hardware) - I replaced the bridge pickup mount with the one from Pickguardian. It's really hard to take pictures of because it reflects everything like a mirror - I feel like I finally understand why "glo" stands for "gloss"! I haven't plugged it in yet - hopefully it's working ok electronically, gotta check that soon. The action is a little high, but I'm going to just play it for a while. I bought a couple of packages of the Rickenbacker 8-string set when they closed them out a while back, need to decide if I'm going to change them now or later. I have a kind of a solo gig coming up in a week and a half so I need to decide soon!
Here's a shot of the headstock:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/13258973055_a6bc8ac6f3_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13258973055/)
The 4003S/8 was originally strung with the octave string on the bottom, but I much prefer having it on top so I had it changed (by Krishna Jain, who refinished my Telembic (http://guitargarage.blogspot.com/2008/06/1973-telecaster-bass-re-modification.html). I remember reading somewhere that the reason it uses 8 identical tuners is so that it can be restrung either way. I feel like I read it in a post by John Hall but not totally sure of that.
Anyway, I'm really happy to have it back in my hands - I played it for like an hour outside today, we've been having super-nice weather. My fingers are sore but it was worth it!
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Gorgeous! But then, you knew that! :)
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Thanks Paul! I love your book by the way!
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Love this one- the blackout look really works on it. That first photo on the steps is great, by the way.
Hey when Krishna reversed the string courses, do you know if he used the same bridge saddles? (e.g. flip the existing ones around so that the small slot and big slot were in the appropriate positions). Or did he replace them with new, and recut? After doing the structural repair on mine, I never went back to tackling that.
I've had enough of these in my hands now to know that roots go on the bottom - end of story (at least for me). When they are setup that way, I can actually hit (mostly) just the roots when I want to via fingerstyle playing, and then reach for the pick to dig into the octaves when that suits the song. This is a lot easier for me than constantly trying to swap basses live, and as a result I find that I'm playing these coursed stringers a lot lately. Yes... might be a phase, but it's a really fun phase. Gotta see where this rabbit hole leads... 8)
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Fantastic! Glad you got it back, and ended up not selling it. ;) My '93 FireGlo is magical...
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All our exes live in
Texas Massachusetts. My old Precision was waiting for me in the Berkshires. It's great getting an old bass back. Cheers! :toast:
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Hey when Krishna reversed the string courses, do you know if he used the same bridge saddles? (e.g. flip the existing ones around so that the small slot and big slot were in the appropriate positions). Or did he replace them with new, and recut? After doing the structural repair on mine, I never went back to tackling that.
I've had enough of these in my hands now to know that roots go on the bottom - end of story (at least for me). When they are setup that way, I can actually hit (mostly) just the roots when I want to via fingerstyle playing, and then reach for the pick to dig into the octaves when that suits the song. This is a lot easier for me than constantly trying to swap basses live, and as a result I find that I'm playing these coursed stringers a lot lately. Yes... might be a phase, but it's a really fun phase. Gotta see where this rabbit hole leads... 8)
I ordered new saddles, either directly from Rickenbacker or Pick of the Rics, and Krishna cut new ones. 5$ apiece at the Ric Boutique! (http://boutique.rickenbacker.com/SADDLE-BRIDGE-4003-SERIES-BASS_p_538.html)
That's cool that you're playing it with fingers just for the roots. I just attack mine with a pick! I definitely had left-hand fingering problems when I had it with the root on top - root on the bottom just fits my finger pads better...
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I ordered new saddles, either directly from Rickenbacker or Pick of the Rics, and Krishna cut new ones. 5$ apiece at the Ric Boutique! (http://boutique.rickenbacker.com/SADDLE-BRIDGE-4003-SERIES-BASS_p_538.html)
That's cool that you're playing it with fingers just for the roots. I just attack mine with a pick! I definitely had left-hand fingering problems when I had it with the root on top - root on the bottom just fits my finger pads better...
Thanks - that kinda what I suspected. I was holding out in hopes that I could land one of Teeder's 8-saddle bridges on the next run, and knock this out all at once. I'll probably reverse the strings at some point regardless, as I'm not playing it much at all right now. I have trouble getting the octaves to ring out (left-hand fingering problems) when I play it as-is with the roots on top. Usually, it just sounds like a 4-string ;D
For some of the stuff the band does (some Motown/R&B, etc...) I have to revert back to fingerstyle. I'm just not dexterous enough with a pick to pull certain things off, but I'm working on it. These basses are certainly helping to challenge me in that regard.
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Thanks - that kinda what I suspected. I was holding out in hopes that I could land one of Teeder's 8-saddle bridges on the next run, and knock this out all at once. I'll probably reverse the strings at some point regardless, as I'm not playing it much at all right now. I have trouble getting the octaves to ring out (left-hand fingering problems) when I play it as-is with the roots on top. Usually, it just sounds like a 4-string ;D
I almost bought one of those 8 saddle bridges, but passed at the time, since I wasn't using the bass. If those ever reappear, could you let me know? I'd be into getting one now, though I miraculously still haven't really noticed much in the way of intonation problems.
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I almost bought one of those 8 saddle bridges, but passed at the time, since I wasn't using the bass. If those ever reappear, could you let me know? I'd be into getting one now, though I miraculously still haven't really noticed much in the way of intonation problems.
Yeah definitely - I still hover at RRF. I know how it is with side projects, and so I figure "it'll be where its at" and whenever he's able to get to it I'll see the communication there and try to grab one.
When I'm playing it without other instruments (...or with just bass and drums) the intonation doesn't really bug me. In the band setting, however, I always end up feeling like I'm slightly out of tune - whereas the Hamers and BC Rich are dead on all the way up the neck.
I wonder if the Ric strings play into it at all? Maybe I'll try a set when I do get around to this...
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When I'm playing it without other instruments (...or with just bass and drums) the intonation doesn't really bug me. In the band setting, however, I always end up feeling like I'm slightly out of tune - whereas the Hamers and BC Rich are dead on all the way up the neck.
I wonder if the Ric strings play into it at all? Maybe I'll try a set when I do get around to this...
Aha, that's a good point - mine is always being played by itself, I haven't had to deal with playing with other tonal instruments. 8)
Not sure about the strings either - I don't think they are available anymore new though.
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All our exes live in Texas Massachusetts.
All mine are buried in the shed... :o
How could you have left that Lady so far from home, H... shame on you... ;)
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How could you have left that Lady so far from home, H... shame on you... ;)
I kind of can't believe it myself - I used to go back east a lot more - I needed an actual project where I was going to use the bass to make the push to get it out here. Credit goes to my buddy who took care of it back there and put in the effort to pack it really well and ship it to me.
In the meantime, here are a couple of shots of the fingerboard:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/13259341564_fb6b3eb2d9_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13259341564/)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/13259346874_fe1bcb1023_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13259346874/)
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Beautiful fretboard! Also, that neck looks crazy thin, especially to be an 8 stringer.
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Beautiful fretboard! Also, that neck looks crazy thin, especially to be an 8 stringer.
You might be right - I had a Tune 8-string but never thought to measure the neck and have since sold it. Never had them side-by-side either. AFAIK, Ric never changed the neck dimensions for otherly-stringed versions, the 5-string being most notorious...
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Hey, so long as it's stable, thin is good! Fantastic bass by the way :)
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Finally some new pictures of the eight.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/13478683895_53b846f137_o.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13478683895/)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3808/13478736955_66474d9031_o.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13478736955/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/13478673215_e6047fa22a_o.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13478673215/)
I enjoyed working with the reflections to try and be as unobtrusive as possible - not easy, but rewarding!
And I don't usually have that many effects - two are superfluous, the Hematoma is being replaced by the Fulltone Bass Drive, and the TC Flashback by the Space Echo pedal. Have a couple of performances tomorrow - very short but going for both the sound and the image of the black 8-string...
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The 5-string is slightly wider and breath thicker ... You have to squint your eyes to see it though.
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The 5-string is slightly wider and breath thicker ... You have to squint your eyes to see it though.
I've never actually played a 5-string Ric - saw one once back in 2002 at Mr. Music in Allston, Massachusetts.
Today was a beautiful day so I made the most of the 8-string's reflective qualities:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/13937648441_fa02afa0fe_o.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99859390@N00/13937648441/)
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drool.
I hate how much I love the look of these things - not only are they expensive but the necks just don't work for me so I can never let myself buy one despite the sex appeal. Incidentally, I like the root on top (the first 8 string I ever played was that way, as were most of the 12 string geetars I've played so it's just the way I'm used to it.... every other 8 I've ever encountered was octave on top and it always weirds me out), but your reasons make total sense (especially the fingerstyle root only thing - Ima try that next time I come across one.
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+1 on reflective... 8)
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Wow! What a great thread, featuring two of my fav online bass buddies.
That bass sure does look righteous! I once bid on one pretty aggressively, but I was sorta glad I lost since I'm not sure I have the hand strength to handle one. You guys are in a league well above mine!
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I definitely love the look of the 4003S/8 - I love the 4001/4003 in general, an 8-string version is just icing on the cake, it can be cool in an 8-string way, or like a 4003 on steroids. Definitely takes some effort to play - I'm toying with the idea of tuning it down (after listening to King's X on the way home from a meeting) - I definitely really need to sit down with it, change the strings, then consider if it needs any adjustment. Maybe try the down-tuning before changing the strings, just to see what happens...
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I was sorta glad I lost since I'm not sure I have the hand strength to handle one.
I have trouble specifically with that as a side effect of carpal tunnel surgery, but in my experience if the bass is setup well it doesn't really take much strength to fret the string pairs beyond what a 4 string would require. I have my coursed strings all setup pretty much like my 4s (similar neck relief and action), and I do fine on them during extended play 4+ hours.
Just sayin' that there may be hope, and if it is a struggle to play one then a good setup might just be in order.
Sparked from some advice from Carlo, I started experimenting with strings a bit on my Hamer B8S - making my own set of roots/octaves. After some trials and much patience, I landed on the following gauges - made up from a set of D'Addario EXL220M bass strings and EXL110BT balanced tension guitar strings:
E - .095
E - .046
A - .075
A - .034
D - .060
D - .025
G - .045
G - .017
(Edit: forgot to mention that I preferred and kept the heavier "G" root from a EXL-170S set. Mix and match!)
I was a little worried about the 95s being too floppy on a short scale, but so far I'm digging it! This thing flies now, and plays effortlessly. This mixed set strikes good balance between the uber heavy EXL-170-8 set and the extra light SIT packaged 8-string sets.