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new old bass day!

E

el_crawfordo

Dec 24, 2010
49
46
#1
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Scored a super cool 70s suntech fakenbacker from its original owner about an hour ago! Nice neck tru model with “stereo-sound” and standard outputs, and some fancy checkerboard binding! Super cool bass for less than 1/2 the cost of a real rick....going to get it together with my buddy’s jetglow 4002 this weekend and see how they stack up! From what i remember about his rick i think i like this one’s neck shape better...
 
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#2
So cool! I love the jetglo. Always have! I hope the wiring is solid and the pickups are powerful. Some of the copies are really good sounding depending on what the guts are inside. I have a copy too that I'm getting worked on. You should record something for everyone here when you get it dialed in. :)
 
#3
Surprisingly the pots and jacks and switch all seem to function beautifully! The pickups are slightly microphonic, and its got some tree trunk sized flats on it (guy was primarly an upright player) but the neck is straight as an arrow. Im going to run to one of the many local shops here tomorrow (the one with the best string selection) and decide what i want to put on it. The flats arent bad exactly, but the d string has had the silk end cut so short that there isnt enough downforce over the nut, and that just isnt cool ;) while ive got the strings off ill give the frets a good ole shine job, and may take a look at the pickups and see if i can pot em. They sound really good as is though! But the tonehammer 500 rig with 2 single 12 inch aguilar gs series cabs probably doesnt hurt things any!
 
#5
I was actually thinking of going roto-sound! Ive never used them, and that seems to be a really classic setup on this style of bass. Plus most of my other basses have labella or TI flats....so having something a little different would be fun! Im guessing that you can use regular long scale round wounds on one of these, or am i mistaken? It measures aprox 33 1/2 from nut to harmonic line.
 
#8
Long scale fits perfectly. Extra long and you're cutting a lot of extra away. Lol I've done it. But anyway I'd buy a set of rotos and a set of Flatwoods like you're used to in case you don't like the feel or sound. They are going to be a bit louder and more aggressive when you turn up the tone knob than your flats. Also after a couple days the tone will fatten up overall and not be as thin as when you first put them on. However you're still getting a lot of bright growl that I personally love. I'd listen to Chris Squire and you'll kinda be getting a simular tone. The rotos definitely bring out everything that make rics a great bass.
 
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#10
JIO, I like that its an odd ball brand too. If it had a rick plate or a fake one on there i dont think it would be nearly as cool.

Just looked in my string box and realized that i do have a set of medium light daddario pro steels just sitting around, might have to throw those puppies on there! Might be similarish to rotosounds.
 
#12
The prosteels are going to be cool. They are very close to the same construction as rotosounds. If you like the sound it has you'll dig the rotos for sure. And my bass was built for the guy I bought it from. He likes thunderbird basses and got that to see if he would like a ric. He didn't like it as much as he was hoping. He had 3 pickups in it like Lemmy Kilmister had in his cus to ric. I like the pearl inlays and I think the walnut look is cool too. If it was all black with white binding I'd love it too. Ric made a special all black 4003 that just looks so cool to me.
 
#14
I really want to see too. I don't have anyone nearby that has a real one to compare. I think that it'll be different due to the maple fretboard and extra pickup in the middle though. Rosewood has been the standard for rickenbacker. That includes the black one the he got today.
 
#15
Wow! Totally different beast with the rounds on it! It almost growls/grinds like a fretless! Adjusted the truss rod, cleaned up the frets, and adjusted the bridge....i think the previous owner had flipped the bridge around backwards when he last changed the strings....cant wait to get it next to my buddy’s 4002! Looking on the net id be willing to bet that “suntech” was perhaps built by the same folks as greco...
 
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#17
Very nice Lawsuit Era faker! It has the Deluxe features like CB and the “sparkle” crushed inlays, really rare on a faker. They look almost pink in the photos. Can you get a closeup of them? I just did some sparkle inlays in my Clone 4004 build, curious how the Japanese did it. Many of the Lawsuit basses were built as well or better than contemporary 4001 basses, so it should be a good player. Check under the TRC, sometimes the trussrod(s) get abused, that’s a common damage on these. I like how Roto 66 sound, but it doesn’t last, they go dead quick. I compromised with D’addario Nickel Rounds, a little easier on the frets and fingers, and the “zing” lasts a while.
 

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