Fretless Rick 4001

[ivan333]

Dose anybody else have one?
Got mine brand new in '78, played the hell out of it for about 12 years-
Rotosounds reaped their havoc the on frets so I pulled 'em out-
(very tedious process) thus converting the bass.
Results were intristing!
Did the factory ever offer such a model?

Just curious.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Rickenbacker has offered a fretless bass for decades now, the current one being the 4003FL. I used to have a '04 MG 4003FL.

The very first Rickenbacker fretless bass was two versions of an EUB they made in the early to mid 1930s.

 

[mikezimmerman]

I would normally post this in the Basses section rather than the Amps section...

 

[ivan333]

Thanks Jeff,
I guess I could have looked this up for myself,
but it's nice to here from somebody who owned one.
Squier/Lee meets Jaco Kind of thing-
Turned me on to a more jazz kind of style.

 

[Jjango]

Rickenbacker has offered a fretless bass for decades now, the current one being the 4003FL.

As I understand it, fretless Ricks are currently out of production until further notice (someone please correct me if I am mistaken).

 

[snyderz]

I got into a 'vintage' kick for a while, and had a '76 Ric 4001FL, a '76 Ripper fretless, and a '77 Guild B-301 fretless. All were factory. Sold them all within a year, as I decided I liked a more modern tone. The Ric's side dots were 'on the fret' instead of 3,5,9, etc., and it drove me crazy. I did like the super thin neck. The Ripper was tough to intonate with that Gibson bridge, plus the tone didn't do it for me. The Guild was anemic to say the least, plus had a huge neck dive. My only regret is that I didn't hold onto them for investment purposes, because they all sold for about 1/3 what they are selling for now.