4003 Binding

[Discharge]

Is this normal on a Ric, I know the quality of them is very inconsistant:

 

[Kdmoo]

What year is it?

 

[Jeff Scott]

That bass has got to be well over 20 years old by now. I am surprised the MIUSA sticker is still on the bass. What you are seeing there is normal wear and tear for an instrument of such age.

 

[DigitalMan]

That bass has got to be well over 20 years old by now. I am surprised the MIUSA sticker is still on the bass. What you are seeing there is normal wear and tear for an instrument of such age.

100%. I was gonna guess 30.

 

[2F/2F]

"A Ric."

Come on...

 

[Mr.Fingers]

It’s not an issue of the binding. It’s the glass-like brittle conversion varnish that chips.

 

[Discharge]

It's a 2005, I just thought it was weird that it seemed to be flaking off by the binding and I was wondering if it was going to get worse

 

[Gervais Cote]

As long as the binding is not peeling off it’s no problem IMO.

 

[bench]

Looks good for a ric....

 

[rodak]

That bass has got to be well over 20 years old by now. I am surprised the MIUSA sticker is still on the bass. What you are seeing there is normal wear and tear for an instrument of such age.

Why do people leave those stickers on? Are they difficult to remove, or do they just like the look?

 

[Mastermold]

It's a 2005, I just thought it was weird that it seemed to be flaking off by the binding and I was wondering if it was going to get worse

My 2008 has a lot more age spots and wear than that. I gave up years ago trying to keep it pristine and just play the thing.

 

[Low End Scum]

Why do people leave those stickers on? Are they difficult to remove, or do they just like the look?

It's because half the Ric enthusiasts treat them like investment projects where changing/removing anything could affect the price of resale. Not to be derogatory about it, I own a 77 Ric 4001 with the original case, pickup cover, hang tag, and instruction sheet for neck adjustments. They are sorta like the Corvette owners who know which factory each piece of their car came from etc etc.

On the one hand? Completionism and context is fun, and I like to know. On the other hand, it leads to dreamers on Reverb who think that means they're gonna net 6k off a vintage 4001 in BurgundyGlo

 

[trothwell]

I took the sticker off of mine, and it left a kind of gummy residue. I've not yet gotten it fully cleaned off. Kind of wish I had just left the sticker. :-/

 

[Jeff Scott]

I took the sticker off of mine, and it left a kind of gummy residue. I've not yet gotten it fully cleaned off. Kind of wish I had just left the sticker. :-/

Naphtha is your friend here.

 

[mikecd1]

The dryness and fading of the MIUSA badge would indicate the binding likely subjected to the same climate and the overall condition looks appropriate for the general condition of the instrument. Normal wear and no cause for concern IMO.

 

[rodak]

It's because half the Ric enthusiasts treat them like investment projects where changing/removing anything could affect the price of resale. Not to be derogatory about it, I own a 77 Ric 4001 with the original case, pickup cover, hang tag, and instruction sheet for neck adjustments. They are sorta like the Corvette owners who know which factory each piece of their car came from etc etc.

On the one hand? Completionism and context is fun, and I like to know. On the other hand, it leads to dreamers on Reverb who think that means they're gonna net 6k off a vintage 4001 in BurgundyGlo

Hmm, never thought of that. I can completely understand wanting to retain (within reason) all the original "stuff", but to me, that sticker looks kinda like Minnie Pearl's hat, having forgotten to remove the price tag.

 

[Low End Scum]

Hmm, never thought of that. I can completely understand wanting to retain (within reason) all the original "stuff", but to me, that sticker looks kinda like Minnie Pearl's hat, having forgotten to remove the price tag.

Fair, I think it's a little tacky but also I stickered up my jazz bass right after removing the MIA sticker lol. Some folks might also just not care and leave it on because why not. Different strokes and such.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

just play the thing.

Yep.

 

[Sharko]

I took the sticker off of mine, and it left a kind of gummy residue. I've not yet gotten it fully cleaned off. Kind of wish I had just left the sticker. :-/

Did you try peeing on it?

 

[dave_p]

It’s because no one took that freaking made in USA sticker off of it.