The Rickenbacker Club Part Seven

[CMYKdream]

Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to the forums, and just imported my first Rickenbacker to Australia! Can I please get a number? :-)

The price differences are crazy. A new 4003 goes for over $3500 US here. I ended up paying $1900 US by importing and because the seller declared it as a used item I didn't even have to pay import tax!

[BassGen]

Originally Posted by CMYKdream

Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to the forums, and just imported my first Rickenbacker to Australia! Can I please get a number? :-)

The price differences are crazy. A new 4003 goes for over $3500 US here. I ended up paying $1900 US by importing and because the seller declared it as a used item I didn't even have to pay import tax!

Nice FireGlo, congratulation!

[Srirachaglo]

I don't want to steal CMYK's Fireglo thunder, so I'll post better pics later. However, I'll gladly take a # in the meantime Glad to finally be a part of this club. It's been a long and winding road of saving, selling, and dealing with QC issues. One year later, I finally have my dream Ric!

[Niff]

some rickenporn from a gig.. credit to Kate Syme Photography

edit: '77 4001, chrome flats, removed the cap from the bridge pup

p.s CMYK dream i had to import this sucker to New Zealand - new 4003s are shockingly overpriced at nearly $4500. i got this for about $2500NZD including shipping and GST.

[CptRevell]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

That's a fairly rare colour combo (White with white trim), and in really nice shape too (which is also rather uncommon for White 4001s).

You have a nice valuable bass there.
Take good care of it!

Thanks!

This picture doesn't show some of the finish cracking, but it is mostly in great shape. I like how it faded into a creamy white.

[Fuzzbassian]

Originally Posted by CMYKdream

Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to the forums, and just imported my first Rickenbacker to Australia! Can I please get a number? :-)

The price differences are crazy. A new 4003 goes for over $3500 US here. I ended up paying $1900 US by importing and because the seller declared it as a used item I didn't even have to pay import tax!

Strewth,I wish I could have gotten past the import tax!
I got slugged $400 for it.I played a lste 70's 4001 at a shop in Melbourne,and it was about $3,500.Managed get mine to my doorstep for $1700.Anyways,here's mine,a modded '79 4001.
May I have a number?

[Niff]

rockin' the same ric and holden combo eh? what's that little switch by your pup selector bro?

here's bloody 200 watts of holden made in christchurch, plus bonus sunn and beat-up-rickenbacker content:

[Fuzzbassian]

oh yeah,I find ric's to lack in inherent low end,but this isn't an issue with Holden/Wasp VBL 200,I can just dial it all in again.
Nice shot by the way,that's a tasty looking Rick.What's your band called Niff?
The little switch is from a previous owner.It was wired as a coil tap,which was un-wired by a different owner

[Rockin Mike]

I'm looking at a ric with about 1/8" or 1/16" (visual guesstimate) of tail lift.

I know it's considered a bad thing but what problems does it actually cause?

Tone problems?
Sustain problems?
Tuning/intonation problems?
Risk of the whole tailpiece coming off?
Resale value (obviously)?
Anything else?
Or is it just cosmetic?

How much lift is an unacceptable/abnormal amount?
This one was made in March 2007.

Can it cause the tailpiece to be bent so that it can't be secured with a couple of extra screws?

Thanks

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbassian

The little switch is from a previous owner.It was wired as a coil tap,which was un-wired by a different owner

How does one coil tap single coil pickups?

Most likely, the switch bypassed the .0047µF cap that is inline with the bridge pickup which cuts the bottom end from that pickup. This was done to help compensate for bass amps of the era ('60s) that didn't have much high end to them, the cap was a standard item from the early '60s through sometime in the early to mid '80s.

[Rickenjosh]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I'm looking at a ric with about 1/8" or 1/16" (visual guesstimate) of tail lift.

I know it's considered a bad thing but what problems does it actually cause?

Tone problems?
Sustain problems?
Tuning/intonation problems?
Risk of the whole tailpiece coming off?
Resale value (obviously)?
Anything else?
Or is it just cosmetic?

How much lift is an unacceptable/abnormal amount?
This one was made in March 2007.

Can it cause the tailpiece to be bent so that it can't be secured with a couple of extra screws?

Thanks

Tail lift isn't a problem unless it becomes high enough that it prevents the strings from "breaking" over the saddles. Which is very rare.
My 4001s has 1/8th lift, sadly it's just something that happens.
As long as you pay attention and keep your string tension under control you will be fine.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I'm looking at a ric with about 1/8" or 1/16" (visual guesstimate) of tail lift.

I know it's considered a bad thing but what problems does it actually cause?

Tone problems?
Sustain problems?
Tuning/intonation problems?
Risk of the whole tailpiece coming off?
Resale value (obviously)?
Anything else?
Or is it just cosmetic?

How much lift is an unacceptable/abnormal amount?
This one was made in March 2007.

Can it cause the tailpiece to be bent so that it can't be secured with a couple of extra screws?

Thanks

Can't you guys talk millimeters....

[Rockin Mike]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Can't you guys talk millimeters....

Yeah if it were an Ibanez

This sucker is Amurican made.

1/8 inch = 3.175 mm
1/16 inch = 1.5875 mm

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

Yeah if it were an Ibanez

This sucker is Amurican made.

1/8 inch = 3.175 mm
1/16 inch = 1.5875 mm

Yes I'm from the main world, thus Europe. We talk mm.
If my Rickenbacker had over 2.5-3mm lift I would have fixed that.

[Niff]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbassian

oh yeah,I find ric's to lack in inherent low end,but this isn't an issue with Holden/Wasp VBL 200,I can just dial it all in again.
Nice shot by the way,that's a tasty looking Rick.What's your band called Niff?
The little switch is from a previous owner.It was wired as a coil tap,which was un-wired by a different owner

Stone the Crows is the band in that shot. some crappy demos on the bandcamp if you have some good headphones (room mic recording)

what's yours? we are hoping to MAYBE do aussie shows this year or next year depending.

[artdrtr]

My guess would be one in each color -- but the jetglo in both marker options: dots and inlays -- and then some other instrument with 6 thin strings...

Originally Posted by Kenzy

Why do you have so many Rics? No complaints here, I mean, I guess my only complaint is that they aren't mine

But seriously, why so many?

[Fuzzbassian]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

How does one coil tap single coil pickups?

Most likely, the switch bypassed the .0047µF cap that is inline with the bridge pickup which cuts the bottom end from that pickup. This was done to help compensate for bass amps of the era ('60s) that didn't have much high end to them, the cap was a standard item from the early '60s through sometime in the early to mid '80s.

Ah but you see,this was a modded Rickenbacker.Whilst the bass originally had single coils in it,previous owners had installed a Bartolini humbucker in the bridge,and a toaster in the neck,which I subsequently replaced with a seymour duncan.However,I may just re-wire the switch to bypass the cap.

[Rockin Mike]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Yes I'm from the main world, thus Europe. We talk mm.
If my Rickenbacker had over 2.5-3mm lift I would have fixed that.

That's an easy do-it-yourself fix, right?
Drill a couple of countersunk holes and put in a couple of stainless steel panhead screws?

[Rockin Mike]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Yes I'm from the main world, thus Europe. We talk mm.
If my Rickenbacker had over 2.5-3mm lift I would have fixed that.

Point taken. We all over here are pretty used to dealing with both, so we should maybe use metric with a worldwide audience, just as most people use the English language instead of their native tongue with a worldwide audience.

[RhynoRock]

Now, newer Rics don't have that cap and run at full blast, right? Like mine being made in 2002 wouldn't have that, I suspect?