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Rick 5 String basses |
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retroleds
Grouper
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Posted: 7/30/2009 6:18:00 PM
I just joined this forum, so I'll chime in: A new 5 string Ric would be great! I'd buy one today.
Some have said they don't like a 5 string bass...I didn't either, but after a few years hiatus from playing(life stuff), I decided I would buy a cheap 5 and see how I like it. I have since become a 5 string addict and have sold off almost all of my 4 stringers, and none were dogs! Those 5 low notes are great for some genres of music - I play Christian contemporary and it is sometimes my job to emulate an organ we don't have. :) BONG! Nice for blues-ier type stuff too, as long as you don't try to live in the basement. The low D on a low B string is hard to beat for a sustained emphasis.
Posts: 2 Location: Michigan, USa Registered: 7/30/2009 6:10:00 PM
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 7/30/2009 7:21:00 PM
According to the web site here ... http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=4004Cii/5 ... Ric has discontinued making 5 string basses. Right now the bes bet someone has of getting a 5 string Ric is to buy an old one off of ebay or get a 4004 and convert it. Yiou can get a 2 1/2" spacing on a 4004 and still have the strings fit on the neck. But there is no Rickenbacker pickup that supports a 2 1/2" spacing. So you will need different pickups. But a 4004 with replacement pickup can make a nice 5 string bass.
I recently bought this one on ebay that someone else had converted. I had to replace the pickups so I could get good volume from all 5 strings. Now the guys in my band want me to play this bass all of the time. They love the tone. It has a custom made 15k ohm single coil pickup in the bridge and a modified 3001 hb-2 pickup in the neck.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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aceonbass
Shark
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Posted: 7/31/2009 1:30:00 AM
I have a 4004L that I converted to a 5 string with 2 7/16' spacing at the bridge. The string response is perfect. It was crucial that I get the bridge centered just right though. I removed the bridge pickup cover and widened the opening in it with a Dremmel then re-chromed it. This was done to make sure that the cover didn't interfere with the string response of the B and G strings. The 4004 makes a very good 5 string, but it could use maybe another 1/8 of an inch in spacing at the bridge.
Posts: 638 Location: So.Cal. Registered: 8/12/2005
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TES
Shark
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Posted: 7/31/2009 7:31:00 AM
As has been stated before – the 4004 is one of Rickenbacker’s best kept secrets. Not only a great bass in its own right but has the neck which lends itself nicely to additional strings. As aceonbass said the 4004 makes a very good 5 string and as he knows so well, it makes a great 8 string as well.
Posts: 493 Location: Winchester, VA USA Registered: 7/7/2006 4:00:00 PM
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 7/31/2009 9:47:00 AM
I would be great if Rickenbacker made a 5 string bass with a string spacing of 2 1/2" to 2 3/4" and made a pickup that could cover 2 3/4". Or they could use a top of the line drop in pickup like Nordstrand.
But Rickenbacker seems to lack interest in producing a 5 string bass ... bummer ...
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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aceonbass
Shark
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Posted: 7/31/2009 9:10:00 PM
That's SO not true Jeff. Just 'cause you can't see something, doesn't mean it isn't there.
Posts: 638 Location: So.Cal. Registered: 8/12/2005
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/1/2009 8:23:00 AM
well then it must be a really low priority. Pretty much every manufacturer of basses makes a 5 string bass. Except for Hofner ... and how would you get a 5th string on those little basses anyway.
It has been 10 years since they stopped making the 4003s5 and the 4003s8 ... they made just a few 4004cii5 basses and then stopped those as well. The possibility of seeing a 5 string bass come out of the Rickenbacker factory in the next 10 years is pretty much zero. If they were really interested in producing a 5 string bass then it would happen.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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cassius987
Shark
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Posted: 8/1/2009 12:21:00 PM
All I know is that if the 4004Cii/5 were done properly I would probably snag one. I don't think I could handle the string spacing of the 4003S/5.
I agree about Nordstrand pickups, very nice.
Posts: 1831 Location: Denver, CO, USA Registered: 3/5/2007 10:33:00 AM
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retroleds
Grouper
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Posted: 8/1/2009 1:34:00 PM
I'm thinking that the good folks at Rickenbacker may be sitting out the 5 string "flood" - since there seems to be a phenomena of about 2/3 of 4 string players not liking their new 5 stringer, the market fis airly flooded with good, inexpensive 5 strings. The Ric is such a classic bass, maybe it is better if they only put out a 5 string every few years and keep the market for them a bit tight. Plus, the economy being what it is, I can see them not wanting to invest in a produuct that is only affordable to a few thousand players world-wide. Myself, after much searching for a non-conversion Ric 5 string, am thinking I will try the BEAD tuning on my 4003 and see how I feel about it. Have a feeling I will be cursing a bit over my beloved missing notes....got one jam in particular where I pretty much use five strings, end to end. :(
Posts: 2 Location: Michigan, USa Registered: 7/30/2009 6:10:00 PM
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/1/2009 7:20:00 PM
I would say about 40% of the bass players out there are interested in 5 string basses. And that number is increasing.
I was a die hard 4 string only passive electronics only player for years. Then I got in a band that I needed the low notes. I tried the detuning thing and didn't like it. So I went to 5 string basses.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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aceonbass
Shark
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Posted: 8/1/2009 9:12:00 PM
I think the 5 string market is about 10%. Most bass players I've met can't get used to it or figure out how to transpose existing bass parts around to make use of the B string. Among professional bassists, it's a different matter as almost every bassist is playing a 5ver....even in country music! That's the difference between people who don't need to stay on top of their craft, and people who do.
Posts: 638 Location: So.Cal. Registered: 8/12/2005
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/1/2009 9:59:00 PM
40% of bass players have at least one 5 string bass according to a talk bass poll ... and probably 95% of professional bass players have a 5 string bass.
The 5 string bass numbers will continue to grow.
I have 15 basses and all have 5 strings.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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ricslinger
Shark
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Posted: 8/1/2009 10:26:00 PM
The 5-string will never replace the 4-string,but they're cool to experiment with.Actually I'd like to see the return of the Rick 8-string,very experimental but deep in sound.
Posts: 778 Location: Reno,Nevada Registered: 2/10/2007 10:08:00 PM
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bender
Shark
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Posted: 8/2/2009 9:07:00 AM
A 5er is pretty handy when playing covers and having to transpose due to the singer's range, then you have the option of playing 'down' instead of only being able to go 'up' on the fretboard.
A big low whole note really fills in the sound at certain times in songs when there's a bit of a rest, often much better than an octave above.
Used judiciously it adds to the 'palette' you have availale to you at any given time.
Posts: 694 Location: Nova Scotia Registered: 10/15/2005
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aceonbass
Shark
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Posted: 8/2/2009 5:49:00 PM
quote: The 5-string will never replace the 4-string,but they're cool to experiment with.
That's what they used to say about the 4-string bass when the instrument only had 3 strings. I doubt of many professional bassists who play 5-string think they're experimenting, but I'm sure that's the limit of many 4-string players interest.
Posts: 638 Location: So.Cal. Registered: 8/12/2005
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/2/2009 6:33:00 PM
The 5 string bass is a mainstream instrument. I don't think it will eliminate the 4 string bass but it is likely to become the standard. With a 5 you can fret the low E you can easily play in a band that plays in E flat. You can also play in a band that play in drop D or even drop C. And if you tune it ADGCF you can play in a band that plays in drop A. The 5 is great for pretty much all styles of music. It is pretty much the standard instrument for country, blues, and metal, and it is quite useful for jazz and classic rock. And if you play modern music written after 1990 you will need the low D.
The 4 string will be the standard instrument for many years to come, but eventually I think the 5 string bass will become the standard bass guitar.
Eventually Rickenbacker will need to produce a 5 string bass. But right now their main market is the retro market. That is why they sell more 4003 basses than 4004 basses.
If I played a 4 then I would tune it DGCF. That works fine until you need a low d flat.
Playing a 5 string Ric and getting that single coil growl on the low B string is just too cool.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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darthbass
Shark
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Posted: 8/2/2009 7:47:00 PM
Yeah Its a bummer Ric has no interests in a 5er--Ive been in the market for a reasonably priced 5 string. Something that wont break my bank like another ric at the moment would...Anyone got any leads/suggestions on a quality 5 stringer in the $100-to $500 price range? Used is not an issue.
Posts: 828 Location: CA Registered: 5/28/2007 6:02:00 PM
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ricslinger
Shark
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Posted: 8/2/2009 9:33:00 PM
Don't get me wrong,I'm not downplaying the 5-string.It's a viable instrument.But I think the market can support both types.
Posts: 778 Location: Reno,Nevada Registered: 2/10/2007 10:08:00 PM
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/3/2009 6:33:00 AM
quote:Don't get me wrong,I'm not downplaying the 5-string.It's a viable instrument.But I think the market can support both types.
Yes that is right ... the 4 string bass is here to stay for a long time.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 8/3/2009 6:34:00 AM
quote:Yeah Its a bummer Ric has no interests in a 5er--Ive been in the market for a reasonably priced 5 string. Something that wont break my bank like another ric at the moment would...Anyone got any leads/suggestions on a quality 5 stringer in the $100-to $500 price range? Used is not an issue.
If you have a few skills you can build a decent 5 string parts bass for $500.
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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TES
Shark
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Posted: 8/3/2009 8:13:00 AM
If you have a few skills you can build a decent 5 string parts bass for $500.
Yeah, I think my 4004L - 8 string conversion - less the cost of the bass was about $750 - parts, strings, shipping and luthier. I had a had stock converted to a potato-head look. But depending on how you do it, the five string might not need tremendous rework.
Posts: 493 Location: Winchester, VA USA Registered: 7/7/2006 4:00:00 PM
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rickfan63
Eel
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Posted: 11/3/2009 10:12:00 AM
I used to have a 5 string bass. I could not get used to it, because the string spacing was narrow. So I ditched it and went back to the 4 string. I rarely used the B anyway so getting rid of it was not that big of a deal. Some of the wider neck 5er's out now might be easier to work with though. I'm so used to the string spacing on a four, that I would need a 5 with the same wide spacing if I ever tried another one.
Posts: 224 Location: Hickory,NC Registered: 3/18/2006
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2tens&an18
Shark
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Posted: 11/3/2009 10:34:00 AM
I ditched the only 5 string bass I ever owned, ( Gibson Tbird Studio model), in favor of a BEAD tuned 4004Cii. Much happier with that, and no, I don't miss the G string when I play that bass. It's all about the "bottom", and the Cheyenne has tons of low end to start with. Greatness.
Posts: 1068 Location: dallas texas Registered: 2/16/2006
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Ric5
Bass
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Posted: 11/3/2009 11:19:00 AM
Here's my newest 5 string Ric. It was actually converted by someone else. It had a serious drop-off in low B string volume. I put in different pickups. The bridge pickup was custom make by a wonderful Ric fan from Portugal. It fits in the same hole the original pickup fits in. The neck pickup is a 3001 pickup that I re-engineered to fit in the gold cover. It is wired passive with a toggle and 2 volume and 2 tone controls. It now has good volume and response from all 5 strings, and with the 2 one of a kind pickups it has a unique tone. For the guys in my band it is their favorite bass that I play.
http://www.3dentourage.com/425/4004cii-5-mb.htm
Here are some compressed cell phone videos of me playing that bass.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&contributorid=23018535
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=63106208
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=62808281
Posts: 1302 Location: Colorado Registered: 8/11/2005
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weemac
Salmon
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Posted: 11/3/2009 2:00:00 PM
I just scored a bridge from a S/5 with uncut saddles (I'll have to mod and rechrome a tail for it)
I'm not sure if it will end up on a Rickenbacker but I just like the trad tailpiece and bridge (Ok, I'm Nuts) but apart from the asthetics of the Rick tail it's tone also has an important role the sound of a Rick.
I may custom build a bass around it with PRS 5 string bass pickups, (old NOS ones from the late 80s) which have big alnico slugs and are single coil. I will also mimic to a degree the pickup spacing of my favorite basses.
It is either going to be neck thru with chambered sides or a set solid rosewood neck with a chambered body.
The tonal idea is "clear but warm"
I'm not much of a low B fan (on stage I just cannot hear that low) so for me 5 strings means EADGC but each to their own.
Jeff was that Bruce's old bass? It looks very nice!
Eden.
Posts: 136 Location: "Stralia" Registered: 11/8/2007 10:29:00 PM
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| All times are PST. The current date and time is 11/20/2009 5:35:07 PM |
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