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The Rickenbacker Club! Part trees!

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#541
GregC said:
I have a question for you knowledgeable Ric folks. I suspect I'm going to indulge my GAS for a 4003 sometime this year, and I really like the Mid Blue finish more than the other three current colors. I understand there was a color-bleed issue with that finish (I think I'm stating that correctly, though I could be wrong) at some point during the past decade, so naturally I'd like to avoid that if I end up buying used. Could someone kindly tell me what year(s) that occurred? Thanks in advance.:)
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Am I all wrong about this? Should I be searching somewhere for the answer? Please let me know.:)
 
#542
Fellow Ricks,

I'd like to join, 1978 4001.

Thank You.
 

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#544
I can't stop playing my '77 Ric! I never thought I would say that. It's one of the easiest basses to play I've ever had! Slim neck, super low action, and every note is very defined. Plays silky smooth. I have an '06 Ric (for my daughter when she gets older) and it's nowhere near as fun to play.
The best part is my wife said she hates it. She said it is an ugly color, it looks worn, and has dings on it. That makes me like it even more! ;)
I'm still having trouble getting used to the amplified tone. I'm so used to a "Jazz bass" tone. I'll work on that.
 
#548
Hello Rickenbacker fans ! Can you count me in ?



years ago I did the terrible mistake of selling a 79' 4001 ... then I got the opportunity to come across this wonderful midnight blue 4003 model, and I'm in love with it !
 
#549
GregC said:
Am I all wrong about this? Should I be searching somewhere for the answer? Please let me know.:)
Click to expand...

That was a problem from a few years back, and I haven't heard of it happening since.
I heard from one unofficial source that it was an issue with too little paint drying time before applying the clearcoats combined with a reaction to the binding glue, and possibly the paint itself.
They are now using different paint for the MID finishes, and hopefully learned not to try to cut the drying time too short.

The official line never admitted any of that, and said it was other causes, but it hasn't been an issue since whatever the cause was.

I'm looking forward to getting a new 4003 MID soon myself.
It's a really cool colour.
 
#550
DJJazzV said:
I can't stop playing my '77 Ric! I never thought I would say that. It's one of the easiest basses to play I've ever had! Slim neck, super low action, and every note is very defined. Plays silky smooth. I have an '06 Ric (for my daughter when she gets older) and it's nowhere near as fun to play.
The best part is my wife said she hates it. She said it is an ugly color, it looks worn, and has dings on it. That makes me like it even more! ;)
I'm still having trouble getting used to the amplified tone. I'm so used to a "Jazz bass" tone. I'll work on that.
Click to expand...
I love the sound of the 70s higain pickups. Here's a hint - if you think the bridge pup sounds a little thin or trebly, there is a small .0047uF cap in series with the pickup coil going from the switch to the Treble volume pot. Just solder a wire to both ends of the cap shorting it out and you will get more deeper tones from the pickup. May be to your liking more if you have trouble warming to the plugged in tone. If you just want to try it, just wrap the wire around the cap wires and don't solder it yet until you're sure. You can even change out the Treble tone pot to one with a switch on it and wire it to remove the cap whenever you want, like RIC is doing now on the current 4003 basses.

Link Removed
 
#551
My good friend has recently been reacquainted with the 4001 he owned when he was young. He sold it to a friend he was in a band with back in the 70s I believe with the caveat that he would give it back someday if anything happened. Sadly this guy passed away a few weeks ago. He gave the 4001 back to my friend while on his deathbed as he promised he would. :(

I told him I would help try to date it and fix it up. He thinks it's a late 60s or early 70s. I don't have a lot to go on other than it has closed back grover tuners and checkerboard binding. Do those two details help date this bass?
 
#552
kcole4001 said:
That was a problem from a few years back, and I haven't heard of it happening since.
I heard from one unofficial source that it was an issue with too little paint drying time before applying the clearcoats combined with a reaction to the binding glue, and possibly the paint itself.
They are now using different paint for the MID finishes, and hopefully learned not to try to cut the drying time too short.

The official line never admitted any of that, and said it was other causes, but it hasn't been an issue since whatever the cause was.

I'm looking forward to getting a new 4003 MID soon myself.
It's a really cool colour.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, that's very helpful! I agree, it's a great finish. I tend to like blue finishes a lot, but I don't have a blue bass yet.:confused:
 
#553
metron said:
My good friend has recently been reacquainted with the 4001 he owned when he was young. He sold it to a friend he was in a band with back in the 70s I believe with the caveat that he would give it back someday if anything happened. Sadly this guy passed away a few weeks ago. He gave the 4001 back to my friend while on his deathbed as he promised he would. :(

I told him I would help try to date it and fix it up. He thinks it's a late 60s or early 70s. I don't have a lot to go on other than it has closed back grover tuners and checkerboard binding. Do those two details help date this bass?
Click to expand...
I believe the checkerboard binding was stopped in mid-'72.

If you can get the serial number, we can date it down to the month. The serial number is found on the jackplate. That age will have two letters on one side of the plate and numbers on the other side. The letters tell the year/month of manufacture. The numbers aren't as important other than identifying a specific instrument.

Find out if there is one or two pickups and if it has binding on it (the white/black trim lines along the sides of the body) .
 
#554
metron said:
My good friend has recently been reacquainted with the 4001 he owned when he was young. He sold it to a friend he was in a band with back in the 70s I believe with the caveat that he would give it back someday if anything happened. Sadly this guy passed away a few weeks ago. He gave the 4001 back to my friend while on his deathbed as he promised he would. :(

I told him I would help try to date it and fix it up. He thinks it's a late 60s or early 70s. I don't have a lot to go on other than it has closed back grover tuners and checkerboard binding. Do those two details help date this bass?
Click to expand...

Look at the plate the inputjack is on.
The serial number should be written in the plate :)
 
#555
2nd Wind said:
I love the sound of the 70s higain pickups. Here's a hint - if you think the bridge pup sounds a little thin or trebly, there is a small .0047uF cap in series with the pickup coil going from the switch to the Treble volume pot. Just solder a wire to both ends of the cap shorting it out and you will get more deeper tones from the pickup. May be to your liking more if you have trouble warming to the plugged in tone. If you just want to try it, just wrap the wire around the cap wires and don't solder it yet until you're sure. You can even change out the Treble tone pot to one with a switch on it and wire it to remove the cap whenever you want, like RIC is doing now on the current 4003 basses.

Link Removed
Click to expand...

I did that exact mod on my 4003 today and WOW..!
It really took the sound to another level!

Love it!
 
#557
GregC said:
Thanks man, that's very helpful! I agree, it's a great finish. I tend to like blue finishes a lot, but I don't have a blue bass yet.:confused:
Click to expand...

Glad to help!
Midnite Blue (MID) is one of those finishes (I'm told) that look really good until you see it in person, then it looks great!
It used to be a three stage metallic, not sure if they still do it that way.
The first coat over the sealer was a silver metallic, then the blue was added, then clear.
The old Ruby finish was the same process apparently.
I saw a V series reissue bass in MID once, and it looked incredible! Usually I don't like a solid colour on a V bass, but that thing was beautiful!

I'm really stoked about getting my first new Rick, hopefully things don't unravel financially before March.
 
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