Crazy (overpriced) Vintage Ric 4005

fu22ba55 · #1 07-03-2011, 12:28 PM

This guy's prices are all (IMHO) a bit high, so his stock is really reserved for wall-hangers & celebs, not players, but STILL. That's a crazy cool Ric. (with an equally crazy price of 13.9K)

1967 Rickenbacker 4005 Bass (#RIB0004)

Not really "my thing" (I can't get excited about a hollowbody bass), but I love how they said: "Screw the sweet spot, let's just put the pickups as far apart as possible and really start talkin' about bass and treble."

(not affiliated with seller in any way shape or form)

TelecasterBass · #2 07-03-2011, 12:37 PM

Buy a tree, build it yourself and buy a car for that price

bassplayer8953 · #3 07-03-2011, 12:39 PM

Bad (yours) and worse:

VINTAGE 1966 RICKENBACKER 4005 DOUBLE BOUND MAPLEGLO | eBay

I'd like to own one, but the prices they're asking for them these days is just nuts...

jtapp2556 · #4 07-03-2011, 12:43 PM

at that price i'd be scared to play it and if you can't play it it's useless

Ric5 · #5 07-03-2011, 12:44 PM

I have played the old 4005 basses. They are cool, but they are not as nice as the new 4003 basses.

fu22ba55 · #6 07-03-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtapp2556

at that price i'd be scared to play it and if you can't play it it's useless

That's part of the problem... there will always be players, and there will always be collectors (who don't play as much).

The market kind of dictates what's "valuable" and what's not, regardless of playability/utility. Just like any other market I guess.

RickenBoogie · #7 07-03-2011, 02:27 PM

Cool as the 4005 may be, the market price is only that high because some people are willing to pay that much. And +1, the modern 4003, (and 4004Cii) are much better basses at a fraction of the price.

bassplayer8953 · #8 07-03-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Cool as the 4005 may be, the market price is only that high because some people are willing to pay that much. And +1, the modern 4003, (and 4004Cii) are much better basses at a fraction of the price.

Like a 1957 Chevy, there's a vibe to the 4005, that will never be matched by a 4003. But I think more '57 Chevys have survived than 4005s were ever produced; it's supply & demand that lets them sell at these ridiculous prices.

**JxBass** · #9 07-03-2011, 03:22 PM

I owned a '67 4005 fireglo just like this one for a number of years. As said, not the best playing bass in the world but one of the coolest IMO and somewhat rare.

Jools4001 · #10 07-03-2011, 03:35 PM

I could've bought one of these really cheaply in the 70's, when you couldn't seem to give them away. Very few people wanted them because, frankly, they weren't that good.

Jeff Scott · #11 07-03-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools4001

frankly, they weren't that good.

How so?

schwartzbass · #12 07-03-2011, 05:29 PM

the guy i took lessons from in the early 70s had one. He claimed the neck and body were made from one piece of wood. Not sure if that's true but it was a beautiful bass.
what about the price on that 4002 on ebay right now. i saw those at a store in santa ana when they came out. wish I had bought one. I'm holding on to my 4001CSV64

Augment · #13 07-03-2011, 06:08 PM

The 4005's look cool, but I don't think I'll ever pick one up for the price. Even back in the mid 90's when you could get a good 70's/80's 4001 or 4003 for $700-$1000, the 4005's I saw were always around $4000-$6000.

Now I rarely see them for less than $6k, mostly around $8k-$9k, with some exceptions like these.

Anyone have a rough figure on what an early 4001 from the 60's with the Toaster/Horseshoe configuration runs these days? Don't see them for sale much anymore; last one was about $12k. Not sure if that was the average one goes for, or if it was jacked up. Would love to own one someday, and if that's a normal price I might as well forget about it and regret not getting one 10 years ago.

bassplayer8953 · #14 07-03-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augment

The 4005's look cool, but I don't think I'll ever pick one up for the price. Even back in the mid 90's when you could get a good 70's/80's 4001 or 4003 for $700-$1000, the 4005's I saw were always around $4000-$6000.

Now I rarely see them for less than $6k, mostly around $8k-$9k, with some exceptions like these.

I bought my '82 4001 Jetglo in 1988 for $400 (still have it). Shortly thereafter, a friend of mine and I went to Axe in Hand in Dekalb Il, a vintage guitar/bass store, & there was a pristine 4005, in fireglo, for...(wait for it)...$1500. I thought: no way that bass is worth 4 - 4001's, they're nuts. I told the salesman I'd think about it. 20-20 hindsight: wish I'd picked up that 4005, there & then.

**JxBass** · #15 07-03-2011, 07:39 PM

As I recall I bought my '67 4005 in the late 80's for about $1600-$1800. I sold it about ten years later for $4750.

I owned a few early 70's 4001s as well. They were great basses but the 4005 was something special in its coolness and beauty.

Years earlier I had a chance to pick up a pretty nice 4000 for $400 and passed. I always kicked myself over that one.

ModulusQ5-122 · #16 07-03-2011, 07:42 PM

I hate rics that is so ugly. (dont freak out guys its just my opinion)

Ric5 · #17 07-03-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools4001

I could've bought one of these really cheaply in the 70's, when you couldn't seem to give them away. Very few people wanted them because, frankly, they weren't that good.

Ya when they were available they did not sell very well, that is why they quit making them. Also the pickup locations on the 4005 is not the same as the 4001/4003 so they don't sound as good.

Stan Laurel · #18 07-03-2011, 10:22 PM

I love that 4005 but not the price. I bought my Ric 360/6 and /12 in 67. The store also had a matching 4005. But being in college and broke and wasn't playing bass at the time, I passed. Wish I had bought it. I still have the 360's.

Jeff Scott · #19 07-04-2011, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

Also the pickup locations on the 4005 is not the same as the 4001/4003 so they don't sound as good.

I think they sound just as good, just different, in some respects. When I was doing some recording projects with my 4005WB in the early '80s I got an amazing tone from the bass using either XLs or Reds (when those were around, I see D'Addario has brought them back on the market

). The neck on mine feels great with a nice thin section to it, the bass balances on a strap better than any other Rick i own or have played, you can get great, controllable feedback for that great '60s psychodelic fun on stage. 4005s are simply under rated instruments that most bassist try to evaluate on the same criteria they use for a solidbody bass. Wrong approach, guys.

Ric5 · #20 07-04-2011, 12:10 PM

I know you love your 4005 ... But I have played them and I don't like them very much. So for my money I would rather buy a 4003 and keep the extra $ in my pocket. It is like the old 60s 4001 I used to own. It was cool, but I found the newer Rics to be better.