The Rickenbacker Club Part Eight

[Ric5]

I am fixing to put up for sale my Red 4003. I'm just trying to figure out what exact model it is.
Looking on Rick Resource they have /4, /6 then letter codes. I'm not sure what all that means.

I will soon be, no longer a member of this club.

That is a 4003. The date range is between 1980 and 1985.

 

[Paul Boyer]

A truly "Red" Rick with the split pickguard would almost certainly be a 1985 (or possibly early '86). Red was introduced in 1985 (through 1998), and the new-style rods with adjusters at the headstock were introduced in late 1985 to early 1986 from what I have gathered. But most of the "Red" Ricks I've seen had the split pick guard and the old-style rods with adjusters at the body ends. They must have made a lot of them in 1985. The red-painted fingerboard "Redneck" (4003SPC) was made in late 1987 through early 1988, and supposedly only 125 of them were made (maybe as many as a dozen of them eight-stringers). They are quite striking. The fingerboards were maple underneath the red paint, and had only "Pin Dot" position markers on the face of the boards. They were unbound as well, and all the hardware was black (well, except for the bridge insert and screws).

 

[BassGen]

Slightly off topic but my company just picked up a new customer and as I was putting their address in my computer. They are in a town called Rickenbach, Switzerland. Nothing music related but it did make me smile.

 

[Paul Boyer]

Well, the family did come from Switzerland (Adolf et al -- WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker was a cousin), so it is very likely there is some heritage.

 

[Jaymi]

I am fixing to put up for sale my Red 4003. I'm just trying to figure out what exact model it is.
Looking on Rick Resource they have /4, /6 then letter codes. I'm not sure what all that means.

I will soon be, no longer a member of this club.

Pm me with your thoughts...those are some of my faves....

 

[rkatapt]

I'd say scarce, not rare. They do pop up on ebay now and again. The painted fretboard Red neck's are rare.

Sepp

Early 4003 with the old style truss rods adjustable at the body end, which is why the pickguard is the split one. Use the RIC decoder to get the year and month of manufacture. Rare but not real rare.

That is a 4003. The date range is between 1980 and 1985.

A truly "Red" Rick with the split pickguard would almost certainly be a 1985 (or possibly early '86). Red was introduced in 1985 (through 1998), and the new-style rods with adjusters at the headstock were introduced in late 1985 to early 1986 from what I have gathered. But most of the "Red" Ricks I've seen had the split pick guard and the old-style rods with adjusters at the body ends. They must have made a lot of them in 1985. The red-painted fingerboard "Redneck" (4003SPC) was made in late 1987 through early 1988, and supposedly only 125 of them were made (maybe as many as a dozen of them eight-stringers). They are quite striking. The fingerboards were maple underneath the red paint, and had only "Pin Dot" position markers on the face of the boards. They were unbound as well, and all the hardware was black (well, except for the bridge insert and screws).

Guess, I meant not as common.

It is a 1984 model. I was trying to find the official color name. When I first got it I thought it was Blood Red, but I cannot seem to find one in that color unless it is really rare one with the maple red stained fingerboard.

Thanks for the replies...

Pm me with your thoughts...those are some of my faves....

It will be up on the block this afternoon. It will have a fair price. I swore I'd never part with this bass, but the time has come.

 

[Paul Boyer]

Hmm. If it is an '84, that would be news to me. The earliest Red Rick bass I've been able to find is '85. Sure about the date codes? 1984 date codes would have two letters at one end of the jack plate, starting with X and then another letter (A through L). 1985 codes start with Y and another letter (A through L). Could you confirm that just for my edification?

 

[Ric5]

Here's some Red Ricks I used to own ...

 

[RJHall]

Guys,
I am working with a fellow Ric player who needs some help. The bass player in my colleague's band has a true 5-string Rick circa 1990. The neck is fubared. It is severely bowed AND twisted. He bought it in Australia, so boomerang jokes apply. Trying to remedy the situation himself, he snapped the trussrod. He then ordered a new one from PotR, but the shop he took it to (Peekamoose in NYC) said the neck was beyond service. I am taking it upon myself to help him because I troll the forums more than he does, and I'm also the jerk who first pointed out just how effed up his neck is.

What can I advise, heat treatment/clamping? Or can anyone recommend a good Ric-friendly luthier in NYC? Or maybe someone on Talkbass even does this kind of repair. I'll try to get some pics... thanks!!

 

[thiocyclist]

Maybe start by just taking the strings off and truss rods out and addressing the issues with the wood/fingerboard/frets, then get it set back up proper with two new rods.

 

[Kopfjaeger]

If your buddy is in NYC, I'd highly suggest telling him to make the trip down to Chris and PotR. If it can be saved Chris will either know how to do it or someone that can.

Sepp

 

[Ric5]

Guys,
I am working with a fellow Ric player who needs some help. The bass player in my colleague's band has a true 5-string Rick circa 1990. The neck is fubared. It is severely bowed AND twisted. He bought it in Australia, so boomerang jokes apply. Trying to remedy the situation himself, he snapped the trussrod. He then ordered a new one from PotR, but the shop he took it to (Peekamoose in NYC) said the neck was beyond service. I am taking it upon myself to help him because I troll the forums more than he does, and I'm also the jerk who first pointed out just how effed up his neck is.

What can I advise, heat treatment/clamping? Or can anyone recommend a good Ric-friendly luthier in NYC? Or maybe someone on Talkbass even does this kind of repair. I'll try to get some pics... thanks!!

A new set of truss rods and light guage strings and it may work just fine.

 

[Jaymi]

A truly "Red" Rick with the split pickguard would almost certainly be a 1985 (or possibly early '86). Red was introduced in 1985 (through 1998), and the new-style rods with adjusters at the headstock were introduced in late 1985 to early 1986 from what I have gathered. But most of the "Red" Ricks I've seen had the split pick guard and the old-style rods with adjusters at the body ends. They must have made a lot of them in 1985. The red-painted fingerboard "Redneck" (4003SPC) was made in late 1987 through early 1988, and supposedly only 125 of them were made (maybe as many as a dozen of them eight-stringers). They are quite striking. The fingerboards were maple underneath the red paint, and had only "Pin Dot" position markers on the face of the boards. They were unbound as well, and all the hardware was black (well, except for the bridge insert and screws).

I had a 'XF' that was red...

 

[Paul Boyer]

I had a 'XF' that was red...

Really? Hmm. I'm keeping a file for corrections to the book, and I may have to expand the timeline for Red to 1984. Thanks, Jaymi.

 

[Ric5]

Have you ever noticed the odd things written in the control cavity and under the bridge on Ricks?

I am currently working on a 2013 4003 and it has "XUONG" written on the wood under the bridge.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Have you ever noticed the odd things written in the control cavity and under the bridge on Ricks?

I am currently working on a 2013 4003 and it has "XUONG" written on the wood under the bridge.

Could be the team member responsible for the instrument through production. Looks like a Hmong surname, pronounced Zhong.

 

[Drewbacca]

I could've sworn mine had something that looked suspiciously like "MOM" in the cavity.

 

[Korladis]

Have you ever noticed the odd things written in the control cavity and under the bridge on Ricks?

I am currently working on a 2013 4003 and it has "XUONG" written on the wood under the bridge.

Mine just has "Rosa, 4001" written in the control cavity.

 

[RJHall]

Re: jacked-up 5-string... Looks like my guy dropped off his Rick at Peekamoose to undergo heat treatment and a re-fret. I guess the fingerboard is so warped the frets are all over the place. I did recommend all the above advice, especially the bit about PotR in case Peekamoose is a dead end. I'll keep you posted if anyone is interested and try to get some pics.

 

[Tarrbot]

Re: jacked-up 5-string... Looks like my guy dropped off his Rick at Peekamoose to undergo heat treatment and a re-fret. I guess the fingerboard is so warped the frets are all over the place. I did recommend all the above advice, especially the bit about PotR in case Peekamoose is a dead end. I'll keep you posted if anyone is interested and try to get some pics.

As an S/5 owner, I'm interested. And as an owner of a hacked back to life "plays better than ever" 4003, I'm interested. Pics if you can get them too.