Price paid: $ 1599
Purchased from: Ebay
Features: This particular model was purchased used from Ebay about 2 months ago. It was made in 1976 in the US, and was originally a white color, but it has faded to a rather creamy-white. Like any other Rickenbacker bass, it has 20 frets and a nice thin and fast neck. What can I say, it looks and sounds like a Rickenbacker, a dang good one at that. It came with the original hardcase which wasn't much for looks but it does it's job well. // 9
Sound: As far as sound goes, I have gotten pretty much any sort of tone I could want. The overall sound is a really punchy-kinda trebley sound, I really have to turn the bass up to get some low end, but the Rick handles this with no problems. One band I was auditioning for (a modern rock sounding band, think Staind/Creed) was tuned down to C#, and this bass was not really too good that low. In Drop-D and standard however, this bass is tops. Absolutely sweet sound, with very minimal hum for the age of the pickups. The pickup Switch is only somewhat useful with the mono-jack, and can be used to create some of the later Beatles sounds well. Overall a really good jack-of-all trades, except for perhaps really low tuning music as it currently is set up. I have a 1973 Ampeg B25B, and can get great Vintage tones out of it. I'm currently looking for a Ric-O-Sound, so if anyone knows where I can get one, it would be appreciated. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: When I first got it, the strings were set really high, but this is on the previous owner and the bass itself. Other than that, the playing was good. The finish is the only downgrade here, with some pretty heavy paint chipping, especially near the jacks. There are some other minor dents and cracking, but otherwise in great shape for being 33 years old. The pickup switch sometimes gets stuck as well, but a good cleaning would fix this up nicely. // 7
Reliability & Durability: This guitar withstands Live playing well, and looks like it has seen some playing in it's time. I play in a big church band in the county, and have played this bass every Sunday since the week I got it, and the bass performs great each and every Sunday. Once I figured out a good EQ, it's just plug and play now. The bass has survived, like I said before, for over 30 years, and the hardware has no rust or other blemishes, just some scratching, and still performs great. The finish is cracking, as stated before, but this is just a cosmetic issue. // 9
Impression: Overall, I love this bass. I tend to play more bluesy and classic rock sounding bass, with the occasional slapping, and it performs well at all of this. I have been playing for around 7 years now, and this is the best bass I have played/owned (I also have a Fender Jazz MIM and a Gibson Victory). The cosmetic issues are not a big deal to me, since the bass plays great, and I think it adds some character to the bass. My favorite on this is a tie between the neck (thin and fast) and the tone (punchy and clean). For the trite question on stealing, I would get another Rick to replace it, assuming I could afford another (which is unlikely). // 10
