Rickenbacker 4001: A Bass Odyssey

[harperbass]

What I'm really talking about is the RoseMorris 1999 with shallow neck. I know there were very few of those made. I've yet to see a U.S. version, the infamous "4001S". Wait, come to think of it, I did see a fireglo one at Guitar Traders in Ft Lauderdale circa '92. Wish I'd bought it. John Hall once called me a "know it all" on some site years ago so I won't comment on the things RIC's calling basses, now. He said McCartney's bass didn't have a zero fret. Well, no, it didn't in '64, he had it added. As everybody knows.

Are any actually around under, say four grand in better than good shape? I've never seen a natural finish one. I recall talking on the the phone for hours w/ an employee of Rickenbacker at the approx time they became weird: he made me a plexiglas finger rest. I've owned five V63's, and none of them except the first one I got in '84 was any good. Which was stolen, natch'. All had a neck like a tree truck but the first. Francis was still alive then. But: they all sounded great! I use flatwounds. I had 2 of their 4000s w/ a very shallow set-in neck. Stolen. I commented on the RIC site and Hall said "glad you liked 'em, nobody else did". That's one of the reasons I went with Music Man and Fender.

No offense meant or implied.

Regards,

Rick Harper

[Ric5]

If you go to the Corporate web site and the RRF forum then you get the fan boys there. That is what thse sites are about. John Hall has his opinion and he sometimes expresses it on those sites.

This site has a more balanced view of Ricks. The are fan boys and there are Rick haters and there are those of us who like Rickenbackers but also realize they aren't perfect.

I have owned a lot of Ricks. The 60s Ricks have a nice neck profile but they were basses with weak necks and weak pickups that would sometimes fail.

Try one of the new Ricks. 2010 and 2011 Ricks have thin necks that are strong and strong loud pickups.

[ronaldpdbrandt]

I just picked up a 1989 4001V63 last week, and its neck is a quite thin D-shape, not "tree trunk"-like at all. That was actually the first thing I noticed about it.

[harperbass]

They've gone back to doing it right then. I've heard the horseshoes aren't real, though. If you take the cover off,, the pickup will still have full output. Only the '84s are "authentic". FC Hall told me in a phone call they were expensive to produce, high tungsten steel, or something. He called me after I saw the '84 brochure and said the knob placement was, in my opinion, not right. I sent him a xerox of Pete Quaif's bass to show him. Was surprized they didn't have the original templates, or whatever. He really seemed to want to do it right, that time. I remember picking up the first one I'd seen in a shop at Village Music in NYC, 1972. That neck was so shallow but felt so strong. Then I got one mail order from manny's and it was a new, flat front model. Tree Trunk. Was told whoever finished the neck w/ a "bladder sander" (whatever that is!) arbitrarily decided how shallow to make it. I lusted for one of those ever since I saw the picture of the Paperback Writer session. And the sound. I bought 2 extra horseshoes in '84 when I got my first V63. Bass was stolen and so was its replacement. Miami Beach. I think I've owned 5 of those, I'd get it and try to trade up to one with a shallower neck. Gave up and used insurance money for something else, a Stingray.

Was also told the guy who designed the thing (Rosemeisl?) often finished the necks on the 60's ones. Then he retired.

Please, if I'm incorrect on a couple things, don't flame me. I've got the books, too.

No offense is implied or meant.

Regards,

RH