Your right on the money the Stereo feature is amazing, I have several basses but when I use my Rick (1980) I use my regular bass amp for the bass pick up then my Roland KC 50 (small amp) for the Treble Pick Up.
A few times at live gigs with a sound guy they would run the bass pickup direct from the amp then Mic the treble Amp.
Here is a song a recorded a little while ago with the Ric that I really loved the sound (Ric was recorded in Stereo)
http://www.bobsbargainbasementstudio.com/Walking%20in%20the%20Sand.mp3Again, a Ric will sound like a Ric, most people get a Ric and want it to sound like a Fender, however they should work to get Ric sound.