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Rickenbacker actually made a 5 string bass
- Thread starter Ric5
- Start date
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I just got a message from the seller ... Ric Outlet ... they said the bridge pickup is a 4 pole high gain unmodified ...
That's not the story I got (and subsequently put into my book). At the very beginning of the 4004 model run (1992), RIC got an order for a small number of special guitars and basses from RCA (not Capitol). Apparently, this twin-neck leftie was made for "Rocky Ryan" who at the time was an exec at RCA Nashville. It's a combination of a 4004C Cheyenne bass and a 650S Sierra guitar. It's featured on p. 102 in my book.
The bass in question is just one in an occasional series of instruments custom made with spare parts. This one is obviously made from leftover parts from the C64 (neck/headstock), 4003S5 blackened tailpiece, and other blackened hardware. RIC stopped offering black trim models in 2002 but obviously have some parts leftover.
The lettering on the truss-rod cover was likely hand brushed body color over maybe chromed raised lettering of the 4004L TRC. I wouldn't look as sloppy if you scale down the photo to actual size.
These instruments are creative experiments designed and produced by the factory just to see what they look like. They are not indications of future models/features/finishes. RIC puts these up on their corporate eBay store and every one of them sells. If you don't like it, OK, you don't have to inflict yourself with it. One man's trash is another man's treasure, etc.
When you consider this bass is made up of left over parts and they're asking $3699.00 for it, if they chose to open a "one off shop" where they could assemble one off instruments assembled from left over parts or current parts, they could make a fortune because they could charge what ever price they want and they'd be inundated with orders. Seems to me that there's a strong business case there, but I'm sure as long as the senior Hall's own the company there's little chance of anything like this ever happening.
TD
TD
RIC actually had a custom shop at one time, but their production schedule no longer allows for the manpower to operate it. Some of the leftover parts on this bass don't match the bass though. A chrome jackplate and 4 string bridge pickup? I'd expect better out of RIC. Otherwise, the bass is quite nice....except for the cramped arrangement of tuners on the bass side of the headstock.
Not surprised that they no longer have the five-pole treble pickup. I'm trying to remember if there were ANY black jackplates? Seems to me even the ones on the 4003SPC Blackstar was chromed. Since the letters and numbers are stamped after finishing that the stamping would cause paint/powdercoat to chip off. Anyone got photos of a black Rick jackplate?
If Jeff Rath can turn a 4 pole pickup into a 5 pole, then RIC can too. They should have put HB1's in this bass, but then RIC would have just used the same harness they use on single coils....***eye roll***
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
damn ... If I can make a proper 5 pole pickup in my basement workshop then they should be able to do that at the factory ...
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ahhh you posted that first ... great minds think alike ...
It might work with 4 poles ... my experience tells me that the A string will be quieter than the rest ...
Actually a 6 pole high gain would have worked better.
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Well I made another 5 string Rickenbacker from a 4
I still think the string spacing on these is too tight, but it still looks just as good, and probably works better than the one RIC just sold for $3600 for on EBay.
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
My next door neighbour has one, she bought it in Germany when a teenager. It's purple IIRC, in decent shape and plays well. Very close string spacing.
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ya Rickenbacker made these with a 2 1/8" string spacing. I make the 2 1/4" or 2 5/16" ... that is still tight but also playable
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I will soon have 2 4 to 5 Rickenbacker conversions for sale. One is a jetglo 2015 4003s, and one is a 2006 mapleglo 4004L. The 4004 will have a 2 1/2" spacing at the bridge. The 4003s 2 1/4" at the bridge. Pics available soon.
Jeff
Jeff
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Here's a bass I got from a wonderful talkbass member. It is a 2005 Rickenbacker 4004L. I used as many black parts as I could and made it a 5 string bass.
This one is going to be really hard to sell. I like this bass a lot.
It has a 2 1/2" string spacing at the bridge. It is a looker, a player, and a tone monster. This is a really nice Rickenbacker 5 string bass.
This one is going to be really hard to sell. I like this bass a lot.
It has a 2 1/2" string spacing at the bridge. It is a looker, a player, and a tone monster. This is a really nice Rickenbacker 5 string bass.
Here's a picture of a 1989 ric with black hardware formerly owned by me, and its chrome control plate.
Amazing what you did with that Bass!!! Enjoy! BTW, I think I know that wonderful TalkBass member you are referring to as well....
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