NBD Ric content

JCA2550

Look what turned up this week...

Funkfingers

Send it back. There's a fingerboard inlay missing! 

ICBM

They always miss out the 19th fret one .

Very nice! I'm not normally a fan of the black plastics, but it really suits that one.

Teyeplayer

That’s lush!!!!

prowla

ICBM said:

They always miss out the 19th fret one .

Very nice! I'm not normally a fan of the black plastics, but it really suits that one.

I once thought of having an end-plate on the fretboard to make that last fret.

prowla

The best basses money can buy!

JCA2550

It also came with the white pickguard and (plastic) chrome pickup cover  so I might see which I prefer when I restring and set it up?

mart

JCA2550 said:

It also came with the white pickguard and (plastic) chrome pickup cover  so I might see which I prefer when I restring and set it up?

I recently swapped out the pickup cover for the pickup surround you have there, with the thumb recess. I would never swap back!

ICBM

JCA2550 said:

It also came with the white pickguard and (plastic) chrome pickup cover  so I might see which I prefer when I restring and set it up?

The cover will probably get right in your way. I took it off my 4003 for exactly that reason - but oddly, when I swapped it for my 4001, which has the neck pickup closer to the fingerboard, the cover is just in the right place to rest my hand on for punky pick-thrashing… which is mostly what I do with it .

I think the white plate will look odd with the black truss rod cover.

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

I think the white plate will look odd with the black truss rod cover.

Curses! ICBM beat me to it again!

IMO, the best place for black TRC and PG is on a black RIC. Like Jim Smith of Cardiacs.

Finally, is that a revised bridge/tailpiece assembly I see? 

stickyfiddle

I think I still want a Ric. I considered one when I went for my P but decided it was too esoteric to be my only instrument - and the one I'd properly learn on. But now I'm reasonably capable I'd be keen to have a couple of "other" basses. Ric, Jazz, something hollow & thumpy...

JCA2550

stickyfiddle said:

I think I still want a Ric. I considered one when I went for my P but decided it was too esoteric to be my only instrument - and the one I'd properly learn on. But now I'm reasonably capable I'd be keen to have a couple of "other" basses. Ric, Jazz, something hollow & thumpy...

A Decent Jazz Bass is a beatiful thing to play, so is a 5 string fretless, Dingwall etc.....

mart

Funkfingers said:.

...
Finally, is that a revised bridge/tailpiece assembly I see? 

https://www.rickysounds.co.uk/product/rickenbacker-4003v2-tailpiece/

ICBM

stickyfiddle said:

I think I still want a Ric. I considered one when I went for my P but decided it was too esoteric to be my only instrument - and the one I'd properly learn on.

You would probably be surprised - they're more normal than you might think. The 'treble' pickup is actually quite like a P, as long as it doesn't have the vintage-style bass-cut cap on it. Modern RIC wiring has a pull-switch to engage or bypass it. I've modded the tone control on mine to do so progressively, which is much more useful in my opinion - the best sounds are in the middle. The neck pickup is very deep and smooth, ideal for McCartney-like melody playing.

They also play effortlessly, and the apparently odd body shape is supremely comfortable either sitting or standing.

stickyfiddle

Yeah - thing is when they’ve been played by so many different folks (McCartney, Squire, Geddy Lee, Lenny, countless indie folks, etc) there’s no reason to believe it’s not a versatile instrument. And they’re super-cool, which never hurts

JCA2550

mart said:

Funkfingers said:.

...
Finally, is that a revised bridge/tailpiece assembly I see? 

https://www.rickysounds.co.uk/product/rickenbacker-4003v2-tailpiece/

yes indeed

TheOtherDennis

Teyeplayer said:

That’s lush!!!!

It most certainly is

Funkfingers

mart said:

JCA2550 said:

It also came with the white pickguard and (plastic) chrome pickup cover  so I might see which I prefer when I restring and set it up?

I recently swapped out the pickup cover for the pickup surround you have there, with the thumb recess. I would never swap back!

I also have the Rickysounds pickup surround with the thumb recess but in black. IMO, the recess is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle. OTOH, the surround blocks the air gap around the pickup, minimising the chances of accidentally damaging its coils.

Schnozz

Did you get a white truss rod cover too?

JCA2550

Schnozz said:

Did you get a white truss rod cover too?

That's better (?)...

ICBM

Looks great either way!

Getting a second truss rod cover is very surprising - they're worth a fortune on their own, especially the black ones which are much rarer and less commonly faked.