The Rickenbacker Club Part Eight

[Paul Boyer]

Some clarifications:

Ruby is not a "color of the year" for 2012, but a reintroduction of the metallic red color which will remain as a stock color for the foreseeable future.

The "clownglo" variation of Fireglo with its rather too-well defined burst was typical of basses and guitars from the early oughts (2000-2005 or so). But the Fireglo basses since then have a much-more pleasing burst, more gradual and rich. Something to look out for.

As far as stunning "figuring" on the maple goes, most of the really "good" figuring ends up on the 4004Cii Cheyenne II and under clear/translucent finishes. Those with unattractive or flawed grain end up getting opaque finishes (Jetglo, Midnight Blue, Ruby). It's rare to find a stock 4003 with flame, birdseye, or quilting in the grain. Realize that some guitar manufacturers use a veneer of quilting glued on top of plain-grained wood. Since beautifully figured maple demands a premium price, shaving it into veneer allows the manufacturer to get more bang for his buck. Most Rick basses are solid stock and to use up premium lumber that way gets expensive.

 

[GG7]

Thanks again Paul for your informative insights! All makes total sense, but it would still be nice to see them offer perhaps a premium option that provided a nice flame pattern in the maple top on a FireGlo or MapleGlo finish.

As I said previously... A burst finish on a featureless top just draws even more attention to the "Plain Jane" appearance.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...A burst finish on a featureless top just draws even more attention to the "Plain Jane" appearance.

That seems to have worked okay for Gibson and Fender, among other makers, for a few decades now.

 

[GG7]

That seems to have worked okay for Gibson and Fender, among other makers, for a few decades now.

I didn't say that they didn't make them, but they also offer the premium wood tops as well for those who want the look of the original classics like the '59 Les Paul standard in flame maple. Fenders were never made with those flashy tops back in the day, and in the case of the Strats and Teles, the pick guards and pickup covers would have covered up a lot of that wood anyway, so it would have been a waste.

Rickenbacker once offered this look back in the 60s on the 4001, and as you may have seen with Sepp's example, it looks damned fine! Much nicer looking than a plain jane version with the same finish.

Would be nice if RIC gave customers today that same option. I would be willing to pay a little more to have a 4003 FireGlo with a flame maple top and back! I have no doubt that I am not alone.

 

[FunkHead]

I got lucky with my 2012 Maple-Glo. It has some flame on the top and a sweet grain pattern. Maple is pretty plain for the most part but I just love Maple-Glo because you can see all of the wood minus where the scratch plate is.

 

[GG7]

I got lucky with my 2012 Maple-Glo. It has some flame on the top and a sweet grain pattern. Maple is pretty plain for the most part but I just love Maple-Glo because you can see all of the wood minus where the scratch plate is.

Congrats on that score! I know they are out there, but it is also hit and miss, and I have yet to see a post 6os early 7os FireGlo or MapleGlo that has an equally striking flame maple pattern, although yours is probably one of the nicest I have now seen. I know they generally use Rock Maple and that tree doesn't usually have wild grain patterns in it, so its more like finding a pearl in a restaurant Oyster when they happen to put out a stock production model with a real nice pattern.

My 360/12 was one of these more rare examples too. That is precisely why I picked that guitar out of the 5 examples Wildwood had at the time. Only 1 out of 5 with any real personality. You wouldn't have been able to tell the other four apart without some serious hunting for something unique in the wood grain of the body. We're talking magnifying glass level inspection here! Thats how boring the other four were body grain wise.

 

[FunkHead]

Congrats on that score! I know they are out there, but it is also hit and miss, and I have yet to see a post 6os early 7os FireGlo or MapleGlo that has an equally striking flame maple pattern, although yours is probably one of the nicest I have now seen. I know they generally use Rock Maple and that tree doesn't usually have wild grain patterns in it, so its more like finding a pearl in a restaurant Oyster when they happen to put out a stock production model with a real nice pattern.

My 360/12 was one of these more rare examples too. That is precisely why I picked that guitar out of the 5 examples Wildwood had at the time. Only 1 out of 5 with any real personality. You wouldn't have been able to tell the other four apart without some serious hunting for something unique in the wood grain of the body. We're talking magnifying glass level inspection here! Thats how boring the other four were body grain wise.

Thanks, It's pretty subtle but at least it's got a little character. I'll snap a photo of the Back. It's pretty plain though. Mine was an open Box from MF but supposedly for an issue with the case. To this day I haven't found any blemishes on Bass or case.

 

[FunkHead]

Here's a few Pics of the back. It's actually pretty sweet. Not too boring I guess. I'm kind of glad I went for MG, I almost went Jet-Glo. It was a very hard choice.

 

[Bongolation]

Ruby is not a "color of the year" for 2012, but a reintroduction of the metallic red color which will remain as a stock color for the foreseeable future.

OK. It's not for me, but it's good to know.

The "clownglo" variation of Fireglo with its rather too-well defined burst was typical of basses and guitars from the early oughts (2000-2005 or so). But the Fireglo basses since then have a much-more pleasing burst, more gradual and rich. Something to look out for.

The problem I'm seeing is that apparently old pictures, then, are still being used by retailers to represent current stock.

Two objectionable outcomes are the dread "Clownglo" and a nasty red-over-pink, both notionally stocked Fireglo finishes:

Google "4003 fireglo" and the images are all over the place in terms of what these basses may actually look like.

 

[GG7]

Here's a few Pics of the back. It's actually pretty sweet. Not too boring I guess. I'm kind of glad I went for MG, I almost went Jet-Glo. It was a very hard choice.

Not boring AT ALL! You definitely lucked out compared to the majority I have seen over the last two days of photo hunting on the web.

I never paid much attention until after I finished up the recent MF deal on the JetGlo and started considering a second one in FireGlo where the wood grain WOULD make a difference in the overall appearance.

Seeing Sepp's photos of his 60s vintage FireGlo, and now yours, I can see there is always a chance of finding one with a unique and active grain, but I will definitely have to purchase from a shop that posts photos of each and every bass they get in stock. A shop like Wildwood, but with only 2-3 of each finish every 2-3 months, it might take me a year or more before a special one comes along!

Thats ok though... A second 4003 is more of a whim than a real need, so I am in no hurry to rush in and buy the first one that shows up on a dealer website.

P.S. I bet your bass would have looked awesome in FireGlo too! That is exactly the kind of pattern you would want to help set off the burst finish!

 

[Jeff Scott]

The problem I'm seeing is that apparently old pictures, then, are still being used by retailers to represent current stock.

This is quite common, actually. Unfortunate that that is the case however, as it does not truly represent the present.

 

[unclejane]

This is quite common, actually. Unfortunate that that is the case however, as it does not truly represent the present.

Even Rickenbacker was teasing me for the longest time keeping the 4003FL link alive. They finally had the decency to put "(DISCONTINUED)" in the description, but still the whole thing is still up there:

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LS

 

[FunkHead]

Not boring AT ALL! You definitely lucked out compared to the majority I have seen over the last two days of photo hunting on the web.

I never paid much attention until after I finished up the recent MF deal on the JetGlo and started considering a second one in FireGlo where the wood grain WOULD make a difference in the overall appearance.

Seeing Sepp's photos of his 60s vintage FireGlo, and now yours, I can see there is always a chance of finding one with a unique and active grain, but I will definitely have to purchase from a shop that posts photos of each and every bass they get in stock. A shop like Wildwood, but with only 2-3 of each finish every 2-3 months, it might take me a year or more before a special one comes along!

Thats ok though... A second 4003 is more of a whim than a real need, so I am in no hurry to rush in and buy the first one that shows up on a dealer website.

P.S. I bet your bass would have looked awesome in FireGlo too! That is exactly the kind of pattern you would want to help set off the burst finish!

Thanks, It's a joy to own and play. I've said before that it's a bit harder to play than my Fenders yet somehow more rewarding.

 

[GG7]

They feel like HOME to me. Guess that is because my 72 4001 was the first real "grown up" bass I ever owned, having started my bass guitar adventure on a mid 6os Gibson EB0 short scale SG bass when I was 13. Bought the 72 in 1978 for $250.00 from a local pawn shop.

I kind of followed the same instrument route that Geddy Lee did. I later discovered the 1976 Fender Black/White/Maple Jazz Bass in 1982. Those two models have always served me well for all of my writing and recording needs.

No surprise that when I decided this year to come out of retirement and get back into writing and recording some new original material, a 70s style Jazz and a JetGlo Rickenbacker 4001 were at the top of my shopping list!

 

[Daniel L]

Hey guys, I found this Ric close to home, but I'm a bit worried about the bridge, is it after market or did they use different bridges on early 4003s? It definitely needs a service, so is it worth buying? or should I save up a bit more for a more expensive one also in my area? I guess i just have a thing for midnight blue

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[Paul Boyer]

Hey guys, I found this Ric close to home, but I'm a bit worried about the bridge, is it after market or did they use different bridges on early 4003s? It definitely needs a service, so is it worth buying? or should I save up a bit more for a more expensive one also in my area? I guess i just have a thing for midnight blue

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Well, for sure it is not a Rickenbacker bridge. It's an aftermarket with an adapter. Also, the top portion of the split pickguard is a replacement and the cutout for the bass pickup is oversize. Looks like the previous owner didn't like the way the pickup is supposed to mount to the pickguard and has installed the pickup to the body. Also, someone doesn't know how to string the G string (it's wrapped around the post in the opposite direction). It is likely an early '80s 4003 in Azureglo, not Midnight Blue. Midnight is a metallic blue that started in 1985, Azureglo is a solid non-metallic blue. I would want to see under the pick guard to ensure that it is indeed a genuine Rick (some "fakers" were damned good copies). Check the jackplate for a date code. I can help you translate it if you'd like. Also, if the jackplate says "Stereo" instead of "Rick- O-Sound" then it is probably a "Fakenbacker."

 

[254 stringer]

Hey guys, I found this Ric close to home, but I'm a bit worried about the bridge, is it after market or did they use different bridges on early 4003s? It definitely needs a service, so is it worth buying? or should I save up a bit more for a more expensive one also in my area? I guess i just have a thing for midnight blue

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I would say it is not worth buying. You can buy a new one for cheaper. Never mind just noticed where the ad is from so you probably can't get a new one for that price.

 

[Daniel L]

Thanks guys, getting a new one is not an option at the moment, I don't believe there is an official dealer in West Australia at the moment, and even if there was, I would probably not be able to get one cheaper than that, Am Std Fenders are still about 2k here. There's a vintage shop selling second hand ones in excess of 3 grand. I'm also not to fond of buying from overseas with the whole warranty issues, and buying blind

 

[FunkHead]

Thanks guys, getting a new one is not an option at the moment, I don't believe there is an official dealer in West Australia at the moment, and even if there was, I would probably not be able to get one cheaper than that, Am Std Fenders are still about 2k here. There's a vintage shop selling second hand ones in excess of 3 grand. I'm also not to fond of buying from overseas with the whole warranty issues, and buying blind

I sold an Ibanez guitar from USA to Australia through Ebays new Global shipping program. I don't know what he ended up paying for shipping but he was very happy with the whole deal. I guess you've already checked Ebay for a good deal but hopefully this new Global Shipping will help lower the costs for you. My Gut feeling says stay away from that Blue one.

 

[Daniel L]

I sold an Ibanez guitar from USA to Australia through Ebays new Global shipping program. I don't know what he ended up paying for shipping but he was very happy with the whole deal. I guess you've already checked Ebay for a good deal but hopefully this new Global Shipping will help lower the costs for you. My Gut feeling says stay away from that Blue one.

Yeah ebay is getting better, some of the prices vary so greatly though that it makes you wonder, 1.7k seems like the cheapest I can get on on ebay, I guess a lot of US sellers don't bother putting their ads up internationally so I can't see a lot of them. And I guess the other issue is I don't know if I actually want a ric since i haven't played one so I would be buying internationally because they look cool and I like the sounds I've heard on records haha.