The Rickenbacker Club Part Twelve

[sunbeast]

V1 saddles, mute screws, oven knobs. That's all that's on my wish list so far.

Since the v1 bridges are discontinued its hard to say if they'll continue producing parts for those so you might want to grab stock while you can (it looks like the $4 total shipping for the order stays regardless of how many you buy): Rickenbacker Bass Bridge Saddle for Rickenbacker 4003 Series Bass | eBay

Mute screws look to be a tough one right now, but you might ask Gelb Music (the shop from the above link) as they have sold them previously. Chicago Music Exchange appears to have oven knobs in stock with free shipping

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Price gouging via ridiculous P&H is a real pet peeve of mine, I remember when I used to bid on Ebay stuff, you always had to sort by Price Plus Shipping to weed out the jokers selling something for $10 plus $100 P&H to get to the top of a price comparison. Stewmac plays the same game on Amazon, by cranking the price $10 over catalog price (which includes $10 standard P&H), and claiming it's "free shipping" (which it isn't).

Anybody got a current source for 4003 hi-gains for same $75 price and some sane P&H? I just realized Haight Ashbury Music has gone out of business, which might explain what they haven't responded to my e-mails. I need three hi-gains for this project in the works, prices on Ebay all over the map, but averaging around $150 each, too rich for my blood. I managed to wheedle and cajole my brother into carving this for me, I'm making the neck while I wait. Gonna be a medium 32" scale version with walnut neck stringers, body, and headstock wings, flame maple neck beam. I can't afford a real Lemmy, so I might as well make a Hossenefeffer.

I can't remember if I asked this here before, but has anybody tried the Retrovibe UK knockoffs of the Hi-Gains? They are a bit cheaper, but require a more shallow pickup route, and better lead dress, which is a benefit in my mind. But if if they sound like crap, not much point. These might be outrageous P&H from the UK too, in which case it wouldn't be worth it.
Retrovibe Replacement Rickenbacker® HiGain® Style Neck Pickup 8.2K or 12K | Retrovibe

 

[sunbeast]

Price gouging via ridiculous P&H is a real pet peeve of mine, I remember when I used to bid on Ebay stuff, you always had to sort by Price Plus Shipping to weed out the jokers selling something for $10 plus $100 P&H to get to the top of a price comparison. Stewmac plays the same game on Amazon, by cranking the price $10 over catalog price (which includes $10 standard P&H), and claiming it's "free shipping" (which it isn't).

Anybody got a current source for 4003 hi-gains for same $75 price and some sane P&H? I just realized Haight Ashbury Music has gone out of business, which might explain what they haven't responded to my e-mails. I need three hi-gains for this project in the works, prices on Ebay all over the map, but averaging around $150 each, too rich for my blood. I managed to wheedle and cajole my brother into carving this for me, I'm making the neck while I wait. Gonna be a medium 32" scale version with walnut neck stringers, body, and headstock wings, flame maple neck beam. I can't afford a real Lemmy, so I might as well make a Hossenefeffer.

I can't remember if I asked this here before, but has anybody tried the Retrovibe UK knockoffs of the Hi-Gains? They are a bit cheaper, but require a more shallow pickup route, and better lead dress, which is a benefit in my mind. But if if they sound like crap, not much point. These might be outrageous P&H from the UK too, in which case it wouldn't be worth it.
Retrovibe Replacement Rickenbacker® HiGain® Style Neck Pickup 8.2K or 12K | Retrovibe

You are right that stock of most Rick parts seems to be hard to find these days, which seems consistent with most things!

I've never tried the Retrovibes- I'm curious if they might be a bit more like a P-90 with thinner ceramic mag sandwiched internally. The bassist of The Damned uses them in at least one of his Ricks and made a video I've seen before (he used the 12K ones, I'd be more inclined to use the lighter-wound one except maybe in the bridge position of your bass):

 

[Anachronism]

Price gouging via ridiculous P&H is a real pet peeve of mine, I remember when I used to bid on Ebay stuff, you always had to sort by Price Plus Shipping to weed out the jokers selling something for $10 plus $100 P&H to get to the top of a price comparison. Stewmac plays the same game on Amazon, by cranking the price $10 over catalog price (which includes $10 standard P&H), and claiming it's "free shipping" (which it isn't).

Anybody got a current source for 4003 hi-gains for same $75 price and some sane P&H? I just realized Haight Ashbury Music has gone out of business, which might explain what they haven't responded to my e-mails. I need three hi-gains for this project in the works, prices on Ebay all over the map, but averaging around $150 each, too rich for my blood. I managed to wheedle and cajole my brother into carving this for me, I'm making the neck while I wait. Gonna be a medium 32" scale version with walnut neck stringers, body, and headstock wings, flame maple neck beam. I can't afford a real Lemmy, so I might as well make a Hossenefeffer.

I can't remember if I asked this here before, but has anybody tried the Retrovibe UK knockoffs of the Hi-Gains? They are a bit cheaper, but require a more shallow pickup route, and better lead dress, which is a benefit in my mind. But if if they sound like crap, not much point. These might be outrageous P&H from the UK too, in which case it wouldn't be worth it.
Retrovibe Replacement Rickenbacker® HiGain® Style Neck Pickup 8.2K or 12K | Retrovibe

Cool project. If you're ok with used, I'll sell you the old neck pup from the 4003 (swapped in a toaster) for a non-gouging price.

 

[Paul Boyer]

Damn, you certainly seem to know a lot of Ric history.
You should write a book!

OK! Give me a minute . . . There you go!

 

[mk is watoo]

Paul Gray is a fantastic bass player.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Cool project. If you're ok with used, I'll sell you the old neck pup from the 4003 (swapped in a toaster) for a non-gouging price.

PM'd you....

 

[sunbeast]

Paul Gray is a fantastic bass player.

Agreed!

 

[Spectrum]

Paul Gray is a fantastic bass player.

Wow, that tooooaaaannnnn.... That's the main reason I love Rics.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Price gouging via ridiculous P&H is a real pet peeve of mine, I remember when I used to bid on Ebay stuff, you always had to sort by Price Plus Shipping to weed out the jokers selling something for $10 plus $100 P&H to get to the top of a price comparison. Stewmac plays the same game on Amazon, by cranking the price $10 over catalog price (which includes $10 standard P&H), and claiming it's "free shipping" (which it isn't).

Anybody got a current source for 4003 hi-gains for same $75 price and some sane P&H? I just realized Haight Ashbury Music has gone out of business, which might explain what they haven't responded to my e-mails. I need three hi-gains for this project in the works, prices on Ebay all over the map, but averaging around $150 each, too rich for my blood. I managed to wheedle and cajole my brother into carving this for me, I'm making the neck while I wait. Gonna be a medium 32" scale version with walnut neck stringers, body, and headstock wings, flame maple neck beam. I can't afford a real Lemmy, so I might as well make a Hossenefeffer.

I can't remember if I asked this here before, but has anybody tried the Retrovibe UK knockoffs of the Hi-Gains? They are a bit cheaper, but require a more shallow pickup route, and better lead dress, which is a benefit in my mind. But if if they sound like crap, not much point. These might be outrageous P&H from the UK too, in which case it wouldn't be worth it.
Retrovibe Replacement Rickenbacker® HiGain® Style Neck Pickup 8.2K or 12K | Retrovibe

I honestly CANNOT wait to see the finished result here; been stoked since you mentioned its existence!

Does it need to be actual RIC stock? I can confirm based on how much I'm digging the toaster he built for me that Jamie over at The Creamery does some amazing work. Shipping was not extortionate, even for the single p'up. I'd give his stuff a gander, if you haven't checked it out.

 

[Aceonbass]

John has proved himself a genuinely decent human being over decades, which cant be faked long term. That makes what seemed like a pretty callous dismissal from Yes when he got sick all the more perplexing, particularly Chris Squire going along with it. That really turned me off to the band in general, and left me disappointed in Chris in particular. I'd rather see John covering his own tunes with kids than the sad faux version of Yes that Howe is still flogging.

Jon was never actually dismissed from YES back then. He was ill, and couldn't go on a scheduled tour with them, so the band auditioned B.D. after seeing him fronting his YES tribute. He was referred to as "Jon's understudy" until Jon could resume touring with the band. As soon as Jon found out, he penned an open poison letter on his website to YES about the situation that he pulled within a few days. He quit YES over this, he was not fired.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Jon tells the story differently, so choose who you believe. The fact remains, after decades of great music, they hired a Faux John and took it on the road. Squire went along with it, which was a disappointment to many, including me. It does not lessen my admiration for his playing one iota.

 

[Aceonbass]

Jon tells the story differently, so choose who you believe. The fact remains, after decades of great music, they hired a Faux John and took it on the road. Squire went along with it, which was a disappointment to many, including me. It does not lessen my admiration for his playing one iota.

I had tickets to the "Closer to the Edge" tour that got cancelled when this happened, and remember very well the exchanges between YES, Jon, and the public at the time. I wish I'd screenshotted Jon's "Letter" before he took it down. He did NOT think they should tour without him. Jon's my favorite space cadet/hippie/child of the stars, but he's still human. He's been described as a "little Napoleon" by various band members, and as everyone knows, would NEVER perform anything from Drama while he was with the band. I loved seeing YES perform Drama with B.D. and Oliver Wakeman, and that never would have happened with Jon in the band. I do think YES is on pretty shakey ground right now, and I'd much rather see Jon, Trevor, and Rick's version. Unfortunately Steve could never be part of that because he hates working with other guitarists, and I personally think his playing on ANY version of Owner of a Lonely Heart sucks. Okay..rant over.

 

[Spectrum]

I might go watch a band with Yes members in it play some Yes songs, but as far as I'm concerned, there is no Yes since Chris has passed. He was the main reason for me to ever start listening to them in the first place.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Of the various Post-Squire Yes iterations, the only one I thought did him any justice was ARW with Jon and Lee Pomeroy on bass. He's obviously a Squire fan, and plays a RIC for god sakes. All things must pass, I guess, but this solo reminds me a bit of Chris in his prime.

 

[steve_ss]

To me, YES is and always will be Anderson, Howe, Wakeman/Patrick Moraz, Squire, and Bill Bruford/Alan White on drums. All of the other musicians are very good, but to me it's not the same.

By the way, I just learned that Alan White passed away May 26, 2022. I'm sad now.

 

[Steve Cooke]

Of the various Post-Squire Yes iterations, the only one I thought did him any justice was ARW with Jon and Lee Pomeroy on bass. He's obviously a Squire fan, and plays a RIC for god sakes. All things must pass, I guess, but this solo reminds me a bit of Chris in his prime.

Awesome vid - thanks! Is it my imagination or does he have his lefty strung like a righty? It always fascinates me that someone can learn to play like that.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Paul Gray is a fantastic bass player.

Especially considering The Damned were a "punk" band which usually did not involve a high level of musicianship. The Black album is a masterpiece to my ears.

Another favorite album of mine that Paul plays on is Eddie and The Hot Rods Life on the Line. The song Do Anything you Wanna Do - killer bass. Now I gotta go listen to it.

 

[Paul Boyer]

Awesome vid - thanks! Is it my imagination or does he have his lefty strung like a righty? It always fascinates me that someone can learn to play like that.

Not your imagination. Yes, he does. Ron Roberts of the Eggmen plays that way, too, and I've seen guitarists play chords "upside down" as well. I think Paul McCartney can do that on occasion.

 

[gearHed289]

Jimmy Haslip, formerly of the Yellowjackets, plays lefty tuned righty as well.