Rare 5 String Rickenbacker for sale.

Ric5 · #1 12-10-2011, 04:17 PM

This is a discontinued model. Less than 100 were made. This is rarer than the 4002 model. This is rarer than the 4005 model. This is in the 4080 territory or the 60s 4001 territory. They are not making any more of these.

The bass is modified. The original owner put in Bartolini pickups because the factory pickups were too narrow.

I also modified the bass to get a more "Rickenbacker" tone out of it. The Bartolini pickups a re really nice pickups but they are too smooth and mellow for a Rickenbacker. So I replaced the bridge pickup with a Nordstrand big single and I added an Audere 4 band preamp and a battery box.

Now I can dial in pretty much any tone that I want on this bass. I also cleaned and sealed the fretboard to make the neck less susceptible to changes in humidity and to make it look nicer.

Ric5 · #2 12-10-2011, 04:19 PM

I am giving the people on Talkbass first shot at this collector's item.

Next stop will be ebay.

UncleFluffy · #3 12-10-2011, 04:25 PM

Price?

I have a set of spare HB1s - if I wanted to swap them back in, what issues could I expect?

Ric5 · #4 12-10-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

Price?

I have a set of spare HB1s - if I wanted to swap them back in, what issues could I expect?

The Price is $2700. I will include for no extra charge. The stock bridge, a Rickenbacker case, the stock wiring, and the extra Bartolini pickup.

The 4004cii5 came with hb2 pickups and not hb1. But both of those pickups are guitar sized pickups. The have 2 1/4" dual steel rails. The string spacing as it is now is 2 3/4" to 3". Those pickups would turn this into a 3 stringed bass. Bummer.

UncleFluffy · #5 12-10-2011, 05:16 PM

Hrm. Interesting ...

There's no mods to the body itself for the pickups or anything like that?

Ric5 · #6 12-10-2011, 05:40 PM

I installed a battery box on the back side for the preamp.

Ric5 · #7 12-10-2011, 06:18 PM

Sound bytes

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/4004cii5-2.mp3

Ric5 · #8 12-10-2011, 10:23 PM

On ebay --->>> eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Lee H · #9 12-10-2011, 11:01 PM

I love what you have done with the bass. I am not usually a fan of the color green, but this is not bad..
my lady is gonna kill me if I hit on this. I bought both a 5 string and a dodge pickup last month

eban3 · #10 12-11-2011, 07:57 AM

how much are you asking?

UncleFluffy · #11 12-11-2011, 09:00 AM

Looks like we're going to have to buy a new PC for the studio, so will have to pass on this. Free bump, good luck with the sale.

Ric5 · #12 12-11-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eban3

how much are you asking?

$2700 ... The ebay auction could go $3000 or $4000 ... I had a 4003s5 go for over $3000 a few years ago.

Ric5 · #13 12-11-2011, 09:23 AM

The 4001cs basses can go for $3000 to $4000 and they made several hundred of them. The 4080 basses go for $4000 consistantly. They 1960s 4001 basses go for $5000 and up depending on year and condition. The Lemmy 4004 basses go for $3000 or $4000 or more. So This bass could start a bidding war among serious collectors. The only down side is it is modified. But this bass unmodified becomes a wide necked 3 string bass. But with the replacement pickups it becomes a fully functional 5 string bass.

Ric5 · #14 12-12-2011, 08:24 PM

As far as I know this is the only 4004cii5 that someone addressed the narrow pickup issue by replacing the pickups with pickups that can cover a 3" spacing. I know one other 4004cii5 owner who put a narrow bridge on the bass so it would function as a 5 string bass. The solution on this bass is a better one.

AtomicPunk · #15 12-13-2011, 07:44 AM

What's between the neck pickup and the end of the neck? Is that the truss rod adjustment?

Ric5 · #16 12-13-2011, 09:38 AM

That is a small piece of plastic to hide the ends of the truss rods put there by the original owner. The truss rods adjust at the headstock.

Ric5 · #17 12-14-2011, 09:13 PM

You know ... somewhere down the road I am going to regret selling this bass. Also I really impressed myself what a good bass tech I am. When I got the bass it was OK but it didn't really sound like a Rickenbacker. But after my setup and mods it really sounds and plays awesome.

DJJazzV · #18 12-16-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

$2700 ... The ebay auction could go $3000 or $4000 ... I had a 4003s5 go for over $3000 a few years ago.

Very cool bass. I'm sure much easier to play than the 4003s5 you sold. I also had a 4003s5, and the string spacing was way too narrow for me.
The Cii 5 appears to address that issue.

Ric5 · #19 12-16-2011, 09:13 AM

Ya I adjusted it out to 3" at the bridge ... plenty of room for fat fingers.

The 4003s5 can be reworked to get another 1/4" of space at the bridge.

Ric5 · #20 12-17-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

On ebay --->>> eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

The ebay auction ends today. The reserve is $2600.