Rickenbacker actually made a 5 string bass

[BobKos]

I'm not a Ric fan to be sure. To me this bass looks like an experimental / development platform. There are so many wonky things about it. It just strikes me that instead of shelving it, someone decided to clean it up and throw it on eBay for some ridiculous price. I can just hear the back office laughter as soon as someone ponies up the opening bid.

I agree with the other posts that this bass will be a bragging right to the next owner. I'll bet it has little practical value as a $4000 instrument.

 

[Thornton Davis]

Wish I could say that I really like it, it excites me, it intrigues me and I want to own it, but that would be a lie.

TD

 

[Spectrum]

Never mind what color screws it has, it doesn't have ROS.

That's because it's an S model, which are mono unless you mod them (which I would do should I ever get an S)

I would never pay that kind of money for this instrument, but I still love the color scheme. It should be called "MintChocolateChipIceCreamGlo"

 

[Matthew_84]

That's because it's an S model, which are mono unless you mod them (which I would do should I ever get an S)

I would never pay that kind of money for this instrument, but I still love the color scheme. It should be called "MintChocolateChipIceCreamGlo"

That's my favourite kind of Glo!

And I agree about the ROS mod to an S model... I was actually thinking of this last night. I would put in a TRS jack, and replace the bridge pickup selector switch with a two-position switch to switch between stereo or mono wiring.

 

[Rickengeezer]

Here's one I used to own ...

Rickenbacker 4003 5-String conversion

Yes, you just did that one not too long ago, and now it re-emerges to tempt me once again. However, last Sunday I decided to pull out one of my s5's to gig, and I switched back to the P after one set, I just couldn't dial in the tone I was looking for at the time. Does the SW have the "vintage/modern" tone pot? I'm curious about how that might affect things.

There is photographic evidence from the first set, however:

 

[Aceonbass]

It kinda looks like one of my 4-2-5 creations ...

Jeff....It looks EXACTLY like one of your 4-2-5 conversions. Only you convert the bridge pickup to 5 poles, and RIC (per their description in the auction) used an off the shelf 4003 bridge hi gain, which of course only has 4 poles.

 

[Aceonbass]

Rickengeezer.....You need a meme that says "I don't always play a 5 string bass, but when I do, it's a Rickenbacker".

 

[Ric5]

I wish

Ric5
How do you deal with the pups on your 4 2 5 conversions, custom 5 pole pups.?

Good to see they didn't try to use a 5 screw bridge on this one, no way that thin casting would hold without the two extra screws. Cool color, though personally id rather see it in chrome hardware, like a 50's car. Destined to be a collectors Case Queen, I suspect, and way too rich for most players blood. Its a hood ornament.

I pull the 2 middle poles for the high gain pickups and drill new holes and put in 3 poles.

 

[Ric5]

Jeff....It looks EXACTLY like one of your 4-2-5 conversions. Only you convert the bridge pickup to 5 poles, and RIC (per their description in the auction) used an off the shelf 4003 bridge hi gain, which of course only has 4 poles.

Are you sure? If they did that would be a major mistake.

 

[Ric5]

I currently have 2 Rics in my workshop that are being converted ...

 

[Ric5]

I'm not a Ric fan to be sure. To me this bass looks like an experimental / development platform. There are so many wonky things about it. It just strikes me that instead of shelving it, someone decided to clean it up and throw it on eBay for some ridiculous price. I can just hear the back office laughter as soon as someone ponies up the opening bid.

I agree with the other posts that this bass will be a bragging right to the next owner. I'll bet it has little practical value as a $4000 instrument.

Actually it is a recreation of the 4003s5 bass that they made from about 1986 to about 2001. The 4003s5 was pretty much a 4 string Rickenbacker factory converted into a 5 string bass. I owned several of them. I used to modify them to have a wider string spacing at the bridge to make them more playable.

Here are some 4003s5 basses

1989 Rickenbacker 4003s5 bass guitar
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 4003s5 mapleglo bass

 

[Aceonbass]

Are you sure? If they did that would be a major mistake.

Yep. According to the description in their auction.

 

[kcole4001]

Jeff....It looks EXACTLY like one of your 4-2-5 conversions. Only you convert the bridge pickup to 5 poles, and RIC (per their description in the auction) used an off the shelf 4003 bridge hi gain, which of course only has 4 poles.

Just wait until someone takes off the pickup cover!
Slightly crooked pickups got a lot of people bent out of shape.

However, it just goes to show that they could certainly reintroduce this model if they wanted to.
Perhaps it's Ben Hall's influence?

 

[Fat Freddy]

Interesting idea!

I hate you!!!.....

 

[kcole4001]

4003S5 basses always had very narrow necks for a 5-string.

Cool bass, but not for me.

I believe that the current neck size is noticeably wider.
Jeff and Dane will know for sure, as they both have experience with both the s5 basses and new production models.

 

[jamro217]

That's because it's an S model, which are mono unless you mod them (which I would do should I ever get an S)

I would never pay that kind of money for this instrument, but I still love the color scheme. It should be called "MintChocolateChipIceCreamGlo"

Or else "One-too-many-carnival-rides-Glo". Maybe "Air turbulence Glo".

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Mintglo. Crestglo.

 

[Aceonbass]

4003S5's actually had a wider nut than 4003's, so the spacing at the nut on this C64 conversion will be a bit tighter. The current 4003 is not any wider than it's ever been so this bass won't score any points in the easy-to-play-for-people-with-fat-fingers club. 4004's with the older,wider neck are an excellent candidate for 4-2-5 conversions.

 

[Rickengeezer]

Rickengeezer.....You need a meme that says "I don't always play a 5 string bass, but when I do, it's a Rickenbacker".

Stay clanky, my friends.

 

[bobcruz]

The sloppy hand painting of the letters on the truss rod cover to match the bass and then leaving the made in usa lettering the original white, also note the chrome jackplate yet all the hardware is black. Rickenbacker knocked it out of the park with attention to detail as always lol. Someone will say I am being to critical, but I have to say do you see the $3700 opening bid?

As I said in another thread I bet it goes for over 5k

Orange peel powder coat finish on the bridge too: