e-pinions please!

Story: Need a new bass so I set my heart on a new Gibson Thunderbird. €2,085 with hard case, good gig bag and stand. Saving like a madman (no drinking til I buy it!) and I have €1250.

Problem: I just found a '74 Rickenbacker for €1500. I now don't know what to choose. What would you guys do?

Karl Hungus

I'd go for the Rickenbacker hands down, but that's just me.

Karl Hungus

Karl Hungus wrote:

I'd go for the Rickenbacker hands down, but that's just me.

Any particular reason Karl?

Yakult

Gibson have quality control probs!

And rickenbacker need no explanation!!

feylya

I'd go for the one you really want. You started saving for a Thunderbird which you obviously really want. What sort of Ric is it?

Karl Hungus

Papa Smut wrote:

Any particular reason Karl?

I just think Gibson are a shoddy company, and as RHCP has pointed out, they've quality control issues. I know a fellow who dropped serious cash on a brand new Gibson Flying V (Proper Gibson one, not Epiphone) and it had a lot of major faults, such as the nut not even being properly slotted and the high E string just slipping out of it.

I'd just be very, very wary of dropping 2 grand on an instrument who's quality may or may not be abysmal. For that kind of money, you'd want some decent quality control. If it were me buying the Thunderbird, I'd either make absolutely certain that I could play it before buying, or source a Japanese copy, which would likely be a superior instrument.

As for the Rickenbacker. Well, they kick ass, and I've never heard of any quality issues like Gibson have.

Thanks lads, for your info its a Rickenbacker 4001/FG. I know f-all about Ricky's but it sure looks purdy!

Doctor J

Forget the 4001. The 4003 is a much better bass. One thing to bear in mind with the Rics is the binding on the body, which can be quite sore on the wrist, depending how you play. That was the reason I sold my one. Definitely try one out before you spend the money.

The guy from Ginseng was trying to sell his Gibson Thunderbird a while back and not meeting with much success. The ad should still be on adverts.ie, do a search. Again, try it out before you spend the cash, the Thunderbirds have serious neck dive issues. A mate of mine has a Tokai one which is quite decent.

Morf

for that kind of money bacchus's come into play and doctor J will be here all night singing their praises . . . but its a lot of money you shouldn't compromise too much either

Doctor J

Bacchuses are very different from Tbirds and Rics, if he's not into that kind of bass there's no point in me lauding their values, much and all as I am urged from within to do so

Dord

Ah jaysus, again with the Bacchus Dr. J!

OP, just go for the bass you want the most. and post pics when you get it!!