Rusty - sounds like it might be time to hunt down some Activators for your Ric!

Harry, if I put Activators in anything it would be my homemade fretless next to the Rick. I built it in woodshop in high school & put DiMarzio's in it, but I would love to have a P/J set of Activators for it! I love my Rick, but it is no match for my Alembics in the way it feels & plays, so no sense in trying to make it sound like an Alembic when I have the real thing.

I have a couple of Rics, none of them with Alembic guts - I like the way they sound stock. But I have a couple of Fenders with Activators and love them! I don't use them to make them sound like Alembics, to me it brings out the best in them and makes them much more flexible.
 
But I totally get what you are saying - with those two Alembics I can see the Ric resting quietly in its case a lot.

+1
 
I have two Rics, the modded 4001 described above and a stock V63, neither have seen any action since my conversion to Alembic. They are pretty cool looking back-ups, though.
 
And I agree with you Rusty, despite the tonal enhancements via the mods, the 4001 still can't match an Alembic.

I bought my Ric because that's what Geddy played, then shortly after I got it he switched to Wahl then Steinburger, then Jazz Bass much to my dismay! I still like pulling my Ric out for nostalgic reasons, but it is has been demoted to the practice squad!

Pardon the mess...
 
[check out the resized picture below]
 
(Message edited by adriaan on April 05, 2016)

Magnificent!  How does it sound?  

Beautiful basses Adriaan, here's a better view! :-)
 

@Rob - this is my contribution to the Alembics on the sofa thread, so I won't be going into the sound of things. (Early days, too. Getting my bearings first!)
 
@Rusty - thanks for the resize!

You're welcome!

Does a pic on a recliner chair count?!
 

Works for me! The finish on that is awesome - have we seen it here at the Club before?
 
And Rusty, I never got back to you about the Ric - I was mostly kidding, but at the same time - in my experience, Activators don't necessarily make an instrument sound like an Alembic, they unlock the potential of the instrument. Never had any in my Rics - I like the way they sound stock, though if I had a ton of money I would get extras to Alembicize! - but I have two Alembicized Fenders and love them - Alembicized Guild in the works too - hopefully that one will be my next contribution to this thread!

Thanks! Yes, sir. This bass was previously owned by fellow club member rraymond. Here's a link to the original for sale thread (along with another link which includes a full history of the bass): http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/395/208717.html?1435029814

No worries Harry! I would love to get a set of P/J Activators for my fretless I built in woodshop in high school!

Two Alembics and an old friend...