Jazz Bass or a Ric?

[Johnny Crab]

@Mo Boogs sell the Gibson T-Bird.
Use that $$ to buy an Epi T-Bird Vintage(the new ones with the chrome pickups and great sound) AND buy a MIM Fender Geddy Jazz.

I've had a newer Gibson TB and multiple 60's Gibson TBs(used over a decade, sold in 1989).
The Gibson got sold because a Rondo T-Bird clone kicked it into the dirt at more than one gig.
Current "go to" basses are the new Epi vintage TB, Fender P, and Geddy Jazz(MIM). Greco's get pulled out sometimes just for something different.

 

[Jeff Scott]

A Ric is like that really hot girl you always wanted to hook up with and then when you finally do it turns out she's terrible in bed.

Nice to see this thread has descended into another Rick bashing thread.

 

[Swerve]

Nice to see this thread has descended into another Rick bashing thread.

No bashing, I'm just taking the piss. Like I said before I really like Rick guitars, I own a 620, just never could get into their basses. I love Geddy Lee and Chris Squire, and both played Ricks and sounded awesome, so what do I know.

 

[39-Bassist]

JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ...Ric is nice but very much a one dimensional sound....but that is just my opinion....1-1/2 cents.

 

[zon6c-f]

A few years ago I purchased a brand new Gibson Thunderbird. It’s an awesome looking rig and has pretty good meaty tone but I just don’t find myself grabbing for it when it time to R’N’R. My other ride is an American Standard P. I’m seriously considering trading the T-bird and a rare Marshall in for a brand new American Jazz Bass. Also in the back of my mind is a Ric 4001. Any recommendations between the two? I play in a classic rock cover band that does 70s, 90s pop and Smithereens and a power trio. I’m just wondering is the Ric more of a one trick pony? I also dig playing funk every now and then and I know a J can nail that.

My vote is 4001. Youtube has funksters spanking it. More versatile than one tone only jazz

 

[Craig4003]

Anyone who thinks Rics are "one-trick ponies" or "not versatile" doesn't know much about them. Chris Squire and Paul McCartney sounded nothing alike on their Rics.

For someone who already owns a P-bass, either a J-bass or a Ric will open up some new sounds, and there is some degree of similarity between them (Geddy Lee switched from a Ric to a Jazz and you could hardly tell on the records), but I would argue the Ric will provide more variety relative to the P-bass. P's and J's still sound basically like Fenders, and neither of them has a pickup as far toward the neck as a Ric, which makes for quite a different tone.

 

[Manticore]

If you gig regularly, you really ought to have both. If it's one or the other, my personal preference is a Ric. Look askance at those suggesting a Ric is a one-trick pony; I've found the tonal range is actually somewhat wider than a J. I have both and use both, but I prefer the Ric for most applications.

 

[GrapeBass]

My vote is 4001. Youtube has funksters spanking it. More versatile than one tone only jazz

It comes across that you don't have much experience with the o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶p̶o̶n̶y̶Jazz Bass. They're considered one of the most versatile basses ever created.

I'm NOT saying that the Ricky is not versatile either BUT they are typically modded to achieve more versatility... both Squire and McCartney had done special mods, they weren't typical by any means.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I'm NOT saying that the Ricky is not versatile either BUT they are typically modded to achieve more versatility... both Squire and McCartney had done special mods, they weren't typical by any means.

 

[Craig4003]

Most basses from any manufacturer are "typically modded to achieve more versatility" -- half the discussions on TB are about replacing pickups, pots, etc. to get a certain kind of tone, after all.

But you don't have to mod a Ric (particularly a modern 4003 with the push-pull knob, which basically makes one of the classic Ric mods official and goes it one better by making it optional) to get a good approximation of Squire's or McCartney's tones (as good an approximation as you're likely to get without using the same amp, recording studio, engineers, etc. as they did for their classic records). Squire's is basically a typical Ric bridge pickup sound pushed to extremes, with Rotosound 66's, very low action (fret buzz is actually part of his sound) and some clever studio engineering (he never sounded the same live). McCartney's is the neck pickup with flatwounds and the tone knob rolled back. In both cases, obviously, a suitable amp with the right EQ settings helps a lot.

 

[2tonic]

Let the ox goring begin!!!!!

Nice to see this thread has descended into another Rick bashing thread.

JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ...Ric is nice but very much a one dimensional sound....but that is just my opinion....1-1/2 cents.

My vote is 4001. Youtube has funksters spanking it. More versatile than one tone only jazz

Anyone who thinks Rics are "one-trick ponies" or "not versatile" doesn't know much about them.

It comes across that you don't have much experience with the o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶p̶o̶n̶y̶Jazz Bass. They're considered one of the most versatile basses ever created.

 

[BigDrew]

Just to throw something else at you; all techs know how to work on and get parts for Fender-like basses. Not so much with Rics. I have both. I regularly mess with the setup and strings on all of my Fenders. I have NEVER messed with anything on my 4003.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I'm unaware of any "special mods" to McCartney's Rickenbacker. But I'd genuinely be interested in knowing what they are if I'm mistaken.

 

[GrapeBass]

Let the ox goring begin!!!!!

Dude, don't bring the OX into this. LOL

If people think I am bashing Ricky's there sorely mistaken. Ricky's have their honored place among the sounds of Rock'n'Roll as they are iconic!

 

[GrapeBass]

I'm unaware of any "special mods" to McCartney's Rickenbacker. But I'd genuinely be interested in knowing what they are if I'm mistaken.

Just search for it...

Here's an example
Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum • View topic - Mods to McCartney's bass before mid 1970's USA Tour

 

[Jeff Scott]

I'm NOT saying that the Ricky is not versatile either BUT they are typically modded to achieve more versatility....

I forgot to mention that absolutely NO ONE mods their Fenders, right?

 

[DigitalMan]

I’m just glad my Ric and Jazz don’t know they’re competing against one another. If they did, how could I leave them alone together in the same room?

 

[GrapeBass]

I forgot to mention that absolutely NO ONE mods their Fenders, right?

Not saying' that brah, but the Ricky's classic tone is not as versatile in different genres as the Fenderkins, even if only because they weren't used as much. So laugh as you will.

 

[pbass2]

For rock consider a Jazz with DiMarzio Model J's in it. They make a Jazz more meaty in the mids, and you won't have the noise problem either when favoring one pickup.

 

[GrapeBass]

There should be a new thread...

"Why are Rickenbacker Players So Sensitive."

Seriously, they don't need to get so defensive, Rickenbackers can hold their own, in their own right.