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1973 Rickenbacker or new Fender 5 string?
- Thread starter scochran314
- Start date
It wouldn't take much to put that back into shape . Missing the mute assembly , you can buy one from Rickenbacker . Hard to see the bridge pickup clearly but I suspect it's the original and the paint has simply chipped away from the bobbin . I'd say that's one heck of a deal .
What other mods and repairs are there ?
What other mods and repairs are there ?
Sochran , you should check out the Ric Resource Forum , there you will be advised by people that know their Rickenbackers . Rics are a little different than other basses . Do not adjust the truss rods until you understand how they work ... you can damage the neck if you fail to tension the neck before you adjust them .
Just bear in mind the Resource folks are a little nutty about their Rics , but you should find them to be helpful and informative . Your Ric has the early desirable features that put it in the collectable category . It would be nice to restore it .
Just bear in mind the Resource folks are a little nutty about their Rics , but you should find them to be helpful and informative . Your Ric has the early desirable features that put it in the collectable category . It would be nice to restore it .
Tom Brantley rewound a pickup on my 12-string Ric. It actually has "punch", now, and it still sounds like a Ric.
I have no excuse to have him "repair" my 4003, but I'd like to have what you have
!!
Thanks for the pics; I guess my request wasn't clear.
I needed to see if there were any dings on top of the headstock where it may have scraped a ceiling when removing the bass from a strap.
Needed pics of actual serial number.
Needed pic of bottom of bridge; between bridge and strap pin, where someone may have put those[ useless] washers as provided by Rotosound; first time changing strings.
Lastly I needed to see if there was ever a lucite tug bar; probably removed. Maybe screw holes where it was; couldn't see clearly enough in pics.
But if it's jet-glow..it ain't my baby, who was stolen from Lennox Square parking lot; Atlanta Ga in mid 80's...been looking for her ever since. This is as close as I have come to believing we can be reunited, but if she's not a burgundy-glo with dings on top of wave tips on headstock, lucite tug bar and gauges where I stupidly installed those useless washers Rotosound provided..SHE AINT MY BABY.
I was looking forward to giving a reward. Please forgive and appologies if offended; had to ask..had to try.... I will search for her forever...
I needed to see if there were any dings on top of the headstock where it may have scraped a ceiling when removing the bass from a strap.
Needed pics of actual serial number.
Needed pic of bottom of bridge; between bridge and strap pin, where someone may have put those[ useless] washers as provided by Rotosound; first time changing strings.
Lastly I needed to see if there was ever a lucite tug bar; probably removed. Maybe screw holes where it was; couldn't see clearly enough in pics.
But if it's jet-glow..it ain't my baby, who was stolen from Lennox Square parking lot; Atlanta Ga in mid 80's...been looking for her ever since. This is as close as I have come to believing we can be reunited, but if she's not a burgundy-glo with dings on top of wave tips on headstock, lucite tug bar and gauges where I stupidly installed those useless washers Rotosound provided..SHE AINT MY BABY.
I was looking forward to giving a reward. Please forgive and appologies if offended; had to ask..had to try.... I will search for her forever...
The MC of the serial indicates it was issued in March of 1973. At that point, RIC had discontinued the use of the "sparkly" crushed-pearl inlays and went with a pearloid material, but still full width. The checker binding was discontinued later in '73. The Toaster pickup was standard until late '73 when replaced by a High-gain. Your bass doesn't appear to have a stock pickup in the treble position, but that can be replaced easily. Otherwise, great find! Can't see the tuners; should be closed-back Grovers, yes?
That bridge pickup looks like what they put in Matsumoku Ric copies. Have you removed the TRC to check for double truss rods,yet? I was offered a "ric" bass in Memphis,that had the official trc And a real ric jack plate,but it was not a Ric. It looked very similar to this one,but i don't think it had FWI's. The only other thing that looks a bit suspect is the bridge looks somewhat crooked from the pics posted. Overall,looks like a great deal!
Yes it has the double truss rods, the bridge is a little crooked, the tail piece(?) is missing a couple of screws.
The serial is MC962. I registered it with the Rickenbacker Registry. They have over 17,000 Ric. I'm sure you troll that already, but if you don't check it out. I'm so sorry that this isn't your bass, if it was I would consider it an honor to hand deliver it to you, but it is Jetglo.
Bottom line, regardless of the price or the good deal part, do you like the sound and playability of a Rickenbacker?
It will never be a 5 sting P bass so if that was the bass you thought was the best fit for your style and concept of sound, the Rickenbacker will not get you there.
It will never be a 5 sting P bass so if that was the bass you thought was the best fit for your style and concept of sound, the Rickenbacker will not get you there.
Congrats on the find! Even in less than pristine shape, you got a great deal on that bass. I'm including a link to the may '73 I had up for sale to give you an idea of their potential value:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-1973-rickenbacker-4001-jetglo-877933/
BTW, I decided to keep it. Basses like these don't come around too often.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-1973-rickenbacker-4001-jetglo-877933/
BTW, I decided to keep it. Basses like these don't come around too often.
Thanks.....My mind made the pics look "burgundy-glo".
Again my apologies......
Now that you own a classic Ric; you will understand....
AND NEVER LEAVE IT IN A [LOCKED] VEHICLE UNATTENDED..NOT EVEN FOR A HARICUT, like I did..JEEEZE...
Thankfully, they left my Acoustic 370 head; too heavy I guess.
Whether strung with flats for a "Sir Paul tone" finger-style or with rounds , for prog rock, classic or contemprary rock; Rick-with-a-pick... your Rick will serve you well.
Although I can't do the technique with any bass, youtube videos offer vieos of thumb-n-snap style players. Tell Rick James that you can't play a Rick Thumb-style...LOL..
And looking forward; You will receive more compliments... just by opening the case...
I replaced my burgundy-glo with a used '78 Autmn-glo 4001..doesn't even seem like same instrument.
Good luck and enjoy...
Z...
Again my apologies......
Now that you own a classic Ric; you will understand....
AND NEVER LEAVE IT IN A [LOCKED] VEHICLE UNATTENDED..NOT EVEN FOR A HARICUT, like I did..JEEEZE...
Thankfully, they left my Acoustic 370 head; too heavy I guess.
Whether strung with flats for a "Sir Paul tone" finger-style or with rounds , for prog rock, classic or contemprary rock; Rick-with-a-pick... your Rick will serve you well.
Although I can't do the technique with any bass, youtube videos offer vieos of thumb-n-snap style players. Tell Rick James that you can't play a Rick Thumb-style...LOL..
And looking forward; You will receive more compliments... just by opening the case...
I replaced my burgundy-glo with a used '78 Autmn-glo 4001..doesn't even seem like same instrument.
Good luck and enjoy...
Z...
