Hello! Ric / Jazz Bass / Hofner--Yeah, I'm a Beatles fan

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

Hi, I'm glad to find a forum for lefty basses.

I've been playing since 1976, and I've bought my Rickenbacker 4001 in 1978--it took 6 months for the shop to get it in.

I also play a 2012 Jazz Bass and a Hofner Contemporary violin bass.

Love rock, jazz, blues, and classical music.

Mostly, I play guitar in bands, but I began as a bass player, and in the last couple of years, I've played a few gigs as a bassist.

Here's my Ric--retrofitted with the Ric vintage reissue pups (notice we put the frame on upside down. I like it and have decided to keep it that way. These pups were so much more alive than the stock 78 pups on mine. Perhaps my bass just came with a bum set.

tim · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 12:43 pm

Welcome to the board!

Nice to see a well-cared-for bass that's as old as me

tim · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 12:44 pm

Also, I couldn't help but notice that your camera's auto focus keyed in on the strat despite the gorgeous bass in the foreground. As bassists, I think we can all sympathize with your Ric.

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

tim wrote:

Also, I couldn't help but notice that your camera's auto focus keyed in on the strat despite the gorgeous bass in the foreground. As bassists, I think we can all sympathize with your Ric.

Hey, I am sorry for the focus issue. I'll take a better photo of my Ric and post it soon.

tim · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 1:30 pm

ch willie wrote:

Hey, I am sorry for the focus issue. I'll take a better photo of my Ric and post it soon.

No need to apologize! I just thought it was funny :lol:

AzWhoFan · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 10:57 am **Posts:** 2866

Very cool bass indeed! Is that a horse-shoe pickup in the bridge, or did you replace it with another toaster pickup?

superheavydeathmetal · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 2:33 pm

AzWhoFan wrote:

Very cool bass indeed! Is that a horse-shoe pickup in the bridge, or did you replace it with another toaster pickup?

That it is! I was just about to comment on that. The horsey/toaster pickup combination is a very nice touch! I love how they sound in stereo. Plus, those re-issue horseshoe pickups are not easy to find and they are not cheap!

Excellent!

paulo · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 3:19 pm

Welcome aboard!
That is indeed a beautiful bass!!

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

Thanks, folks.

I hadn't really thought about the pickup combo, but it works well. I can get Chris Squire growl and Paul McCartney thump now, and those are really the ideal Ric sounds for me and for what I write.

Here are some better photos.

superheavydeathmetal · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 6:35 pm

Rick and jazz are my two favorite bass tones.

I am curious; why did it take six months for it to come in?

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

superheavydeathmetal wrote:

AzWhoFan wrote:

Very cool bass indeed! Is that a horse-shoe pickup in the bridge, or did you replace it with another toaster pickup?

That it is! I was just about to comment on that. The horsey/toaster pickup combination is a very nice touch! I love how they sound in stereo. Plus, those re-issue horseshoe pickups are not easy to find and they are not cheap!

Excellent!

Nearly 40 years on, and I've never had the chance to use the stereo feature. I probably ought to check out some youtube vids on how to use it.

superheavydeathmetal · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 8:21 pm

ch willie wrote:

Nearly 40 years on, and I've never had the chance to use the stereo feature. I probably ought to check out some youtube vids on how to use it.

It's easy; just get you a stereo-to-mono cable, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Cus ... B0007QKR1Y

Plug the stereo end into the Rick-o-sound jack, and treat the mono ends like two regular cables by plugging them into amps or effects or pedal boards or what have you.

The neck pickup signal will be the lead with the red end (possibly labled "right" or "ring"), and the bridge pickup signal will be the gray end (possibly labeled "left" or "tip").

andrew · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 8:37 pm

Welcome to the board!

fivebass52 · **Posted:** February 23rd, 2017, 9:02 pm

ch willie wrote:

Thanks, folks.

I hadn't really thought about the pickup combo, but it works well. I can get Chris Squire growl and Paul McCartney thump now, and those are really the ideal Ric sounds for me and for what I write.

Here are some better photos.

Wow, you're a big guy! You make your Ric lool like a miniature, lol! Reminds me of this recent thread... viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7978

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

superheavydeathmetal wrote:

Rick and jazz are my two favorite bass tones.

I am curious; why did it take six months for it to come in?

The shop said the hold up was with Rickenbacker--not sure if Rickenbacker was producing them as quickly as they seem to today.

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

Ha ha. I'm about 80lbs lighter than in that photo--but the bass weighs the same!

bhunt1 · **Joined:** October 8th, 2009, 3:19 am **Posts:** 864

Welcome - nice Ric! I wanted one of those back in the 70s but couldn't find one lefty - you were wise to hang onto it.

bobjones2260 · **Posted:** February 24th, 2017, 5:08 am

Here is another lower cost Y cable, I got one of these and it works OK, I have a few normal Planet Waves cables and they are much better but if your looking for a lower cost alternative.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EHDZ3YY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

bobjones2260 wrote:

Here is another lower cost Y cable, I got one of these and it works OK, I have a few normal Planet Waves cables and they are much better but if your looking for a lower cost alternative.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EHDZ3YY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks!

ch willie · **Joined:** February 22nd, 2017, 5:58 pm **Posts:** 413

Here are some fresh pics of my basses:

LeftyBassist.com

Hello! Ric / Jazz Bass / Hofner--Yeah, I'm a Beatles fan

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