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Ric 4005 Light Show?

your idol

your idol

Oct 13, 2008
3,012
101
Murfreesboro TN
#1
so i saw one many many moons ago and i was wondering if Ric ever reissued this oddball bass? Just seems like all these kids in their laffy taffy colored clothing and skinny jeans would go bananas for these thing. i have to admit it even warms a spot in my dark brooding heart when i see these basses light up as you play. so the questions:

what years were they made?
any reissue years?
any tb'er owners of these?
is the top and back plexi?
do they have that true hollowbody sound?

opinions? funny stories? encounters? share :D
 
#6
your idol said:
i dont know about the bulb but the actual mechanisim that lit the lightbulb was vastly underpowered in initial production and and they changed it by the second year. rick could make some serious cash reissuing these with leds
Click to expand...

"A toaster with pickups" is how I've heard it described (apparently, wiki has heard the same description :p ).

Just searching on the Rick forum... scroll down to the bottom of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] someone refitted a new 330 guitar with an LED light system. Looks awesome!
 
#8
I remember the guitar from ads in the early '70's but never saw a bass. Interestingly, a guitar that no longer lit up showed up on Antiques Roadshow this week. The Authority said they were made I think in 1971 and 1972, which would be around the same time they tried the slanted fret instruments, which I've also never seen since. The Authority put its value at $3500-$4000 if I remember right.
 
#9
Jim Breece said:
I remember the guitar from ads in the early '70's but never saw a bass. Interestingly, a guitar that no longer lit up showed up on Antiques Roadshow this week. The Authority said they were made I think in 1971 and 1972, which would be around the same time they tried the slanted fret instruments, which I've also never seen since. The Authority put its value at $3500-$4000 if I remember right.
Click to expand...

one was on antiques road show today that lit had it valued at 15000 to 20000 bucks in the condition it was in. that made me remember a video by i believe the Toadies or some band with a BP that rocked a ric where they played a light show bass and i started searching.

theyre way cool
 
#12
I've seen a couple of home-made light shows. (Very professional jobs and very well done.) Only guitars though. The "imitations" used XLR cables for power and outboard power sources from what little I can recall.

I had a huge interest in these about a year or two ago. I wish I remembered half of what I learned about them... :D
 
#15
your idol said:
one was on antiques road show today that lit had it valued at 15000 to 20000 bucks in the condition it was in. that made me remember a video by i believe the Toadies or some band with a BP that rocked a ric where they played a light show bass and i started searching.

theyre way cool
Click to expand...

For Squirrels was the band. "The Mighy KC" is the song.

Here's a '71 331 guitar on ebay...for only $15,000.
 
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#16
wow you snagged the video i vaguely remembered from an incorrect band in the same-ish genre from the same time frame...
gozer_mid.gif


ARE YOU A GOD?!?!?!
 
#17
Everything I read was easily found through google. I don't have any special or exclusive knowledge. :p

A few dudes at the Ric forums do conversions, so if you have the heart (or the stones) to chop up a 4005, it can be done.

From what I know the LS were '70-'75 range (in guitar form). I don't remember much except for their use of auto-tail lights dipped in translucent paint for the colors themselves and the use of a mystery box for power. That and their supposed habit of overheating / burning up.

Over on the Ric forums Jingle Jangle does LS conversions (and fine ones!)

See [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 

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