A while back I put an ad in the classifieds as I'm looking for what I consider to be my Rickenbacker Holy Trinity (all mapleglo 360/12, 330/6 and 4003 bass).
Well this week I managed to turn this:
Into this (yes, that's the bass and the amp, plus I still had change!)
The amp is new and the bass is in immaculate condition.
Had a couple of hours play on it this afternoon and it's nice and easy to get on with - certainly much easier that the Harley Benton jazz bass I've got (which is a much heavier and cumbersome beast in comparison).
The only thing I've found it it's difficult to mute the strings with the pickup cover in place - I can see why people fit after market covers.
One down only the Father (360/12) and Son (330/6) to go!
Comments
I've found that you get used to left-hand muting fairly quickly - I took the cover off on the previous Rick I had, but when I got my old 4001 it just didn't *look* right without it, and you know how much that matters ... so I decided to persist for a while and see if I could live with it, and found I could - in fact, for the pick-style playing I do mostly on a fretted bass I think I prefer it.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I prefer the plastic pickup cover off. I do not play directly over the exposed pickup so this is probably just force of habit from other basses. Instead, I paid a silly amount of money for a combined pickup surround and thumb rest. (Gotta be cheaper than repairs to a broken pickup.)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Just down to the 340mg and 360jg now, poor me.
Up until today I only had the 1998-PT, the 381/12 was a beautiful guitar, but a weighty guitar - “The Beast” I used at call it! I exchanged it for a Gretsch G6120 New Nashville and a wedge of cash.
I’ve since realised my heart lies with Rickenbackers - thankfully I kept the PT.
It sounds terribly wrong in 2019 but I always thought the 620 was a "ladies guitar"
Gretsch are my 2nd love too, after I got my 6122-12 I knew I'd never need a Rick 12 again.! Its just phenomenal.
I'd love a 381 MG/6 one day.
I’m surprised you want all three in mapleglo. Notwithstandig that variety is nice - it’s my least favourite Ric colour
Have you seen the mapleglo 330 6 at Rickysounds? It’s not cheap but is a 2005 NOS. There’s also a few maple 330s & 360s on eBay at the moment.
i used to love jetglo (I had a 330/6 and 620/12) but these days I don’t find it that appealing - it’s funny how tastes change!
Thanks for the heads up on the Rickysounds 330, I hadn’t spotted that, but It is rather pricy as you say!
The funny thing is that I never used to like Fireglo, but having got one I've grown to love it. Mine is almost the same as the second from the left ('73?) although it has the smaller neck inlays. It's also interesting to see how much the headstock size has varied, which is another reason why that one is my favourite there.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Mine also has the Grover wafflebacks - I know they're notoriously fragile, but they're still my favourites for feel. I'm normally one to put reliability above all else... but they're just so nice! I don't have any spares, but I should probably get some.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The 4001 is from November 1974, whilst the 330/6 is from 1990 and the 330/12 is an '89.
I've largely moved on to Jazzmasters these days, but there's no bass I'd rather play than a 4001.
I said maybe.....