Thinking of buying ‘73 Ric

[ELG60]

I'm not a ric guy, but I'd buy it for the aesthetics and price/collectible value alone as long as the neck is undamaged.

 

[svlilioukalani]

If you are a collector go for it. If you are buying it as a player to gig with be sure to put your hands on it first. Theses basses are like a snowflake, they are all unique. At least as far as the thickness of the neck. A Ric from that era has a more complicated truss rod. There is a very good Ric forum out there. They can be very helpful. One of our members here, Paul Boyer published an awesome book about them. I’m it is on Amazon.

I love the one I have it’s a 1992 4003. It feels perfect to me. I spent years trying to find the one that felt right to me. And that was the same feeling I got playing a 1972 4001. I love the thin neck.

 

[StereoPlayer]

If you are a collector go for it. If you are buying it as a player to gig with be sure to put your hands on it first. Theses basses are like a snowflake, they are all unique. At least as far as the thickness of the neck. A Ric from that era has a more complicated truss rod. There is a very good Ric forum out there. They can be very helpful. One of our members here, Paul Boyer published an awesome book about them. I’m it is on Amazon.

I love the one I have it’s a 1992 4003. It feels perfect to me. I spent years trying to find the one that felt right to me. And that was the same feeling I got playing a 1972 4001. I love the thin neck.

Mine is a ‘72 and it play’s great!

 

[red_rhino]

think that spot on the bridge is the reflection of the phone of whoever took the picture.

Agreed. Perhaps an iPad. (The reflection looks a bit larger than a phone.)

I had 74-75ish Fireglo back then. Wonderful bass. No toaster slot neck pickup by then; looked like the same form-factor as the bridge pickup. But everything else was there. One of the Grover tuning machines broke and it was impossible to replace at the time. Otherwise, it was rock solid. As I recall, one of the idiosyncrasies it had was that the bridge saddle on the G-string didn't have enough travel to intonate completely, and the fretboard lacquer made refretting a challenge. (I never had to do that, but a friend with a 76 Ric did. However, he also lived in a very humid and dank environment, and experienced other finish issues over time.)

I do kinda miss it.

 

[Relsom]

Hope the OP gets this. Looks like a great deal if it's in order.

 

[smtp4me]

I can only go by the pics and your description, but I've seen '73 Rics for sale at much higher than $2100. As others have suggested, look for signs of fretboard separation, bridge (tail) "lift", or other potential hazards - you may not be able to check all of those without buying it and having it in your hands, so I would also make sure you can return it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

First,I’ve been a ‘76 Stingray guy for 30 yrs. Also have a Franken Geddy that I slapped together,then had professionally set up,and it sounds and plays better than expected. I’m thinking of buying a ‘73 Ric 4001. Is $2100 out of the world price? It’s a fireglow with some paint wear on the back top,which I believe to be expected. I’m pretty sure everything on it is original. Only thing I notice missing is the bridge pickup cover,which I see is pretty common and could put another one on if I so desired. I’ve wanted a 4001 for 40 yrs since I was 13 and got turned on to 2112. Also love Chris Squire,Lemmy,etc... Would appreciate any feedback from all you pro’s/semi-pro’s out there. Hope I’m doing this right. Thanks

I had a ‘73 4001 back in ‘70s and played the snot out of it for about 3 years using Rick-O-Sound. A totally astounding bass, bass sound. Played well, and was of much better quality than what is offered today. When I stopped touring and started recording in the late 70’s, I switched to Fender PBs and pretty much, the 4001 sat in the case for the next 30 years until I sold it.

$2,100?? If it were me, I’d have to have a serious need for it’s unique voice before I paid that much money for a almost 50 year old bass.

 

[mikecd1]

My 72 had all the features mentioned and sadly I popped the fretboard with some strings that were way to heavy for the truss rods so def check for fretboard separation on the first few frets. I literally took about a year to send and get back from Rickenbacker in the mid 70s. LOL Sounds like a good deal!

 

[Axtman]

What is the date code on the jack plate?

 

[GreyBeard]

(imho) condition is everything

 

[Element Zero]

I wouldn’t do it. Their build quality is crap. Playability is truly awful. And are among the ugliest mass produced basses around....

But that tone? To die for.

 

[rickdog]

Build quality in the '70s was quite good (I have a '72). There was more variability from one instrument to the next because there was a lot more handwork back then.

Playability and beauty are personal preferences. Mine has a rather thin neck, and I find it very enjoyable to play. I wear a sweatband on my right wrist if the sharp edge of the binding is bothering me.

From the picture, it appears that the one in question has the older "transitional high gain" bridge pickup ('68 through early '73, I think). I think I can see slotted-head screws, not the button pole pieces of the newer high gains. (Those screws are not adjustable, you have been warned!)

 

[Jeff Scott]

From the picture, it appears that the one in question has the older "transitional high gain" bridge pickup ('68 through early '73, I think). I think I can see slotted-head screws, not the button pole pieces of the newer high gains. (Those screws are not adjustable, you have been warned!)

That hi-gain is a button-top one. Look more closely.

 

[BASSKADET]

When did gap tooth end 72?

 

[Fun With Dirt]

I'd see if the seller's willing to come down to a 72'. Take the 73' if not.

 

[rickdog]

That hi-gain is a button-top one. Look more closely.

Jeff, I'm looking as closely as I can with a few minutes of fiddling in Shotwell, and I'm not sure I agree. It looks to me like there are slots in screw heads oriented perpendicular to the E, D, and G strings, and one diagonally on the A string. You might have better tools for manipulating and enhancing images, though.

 

[rickdog]

When did gap tooth end 72?

Early '73, I think. My bass (LKxxxx, November '72) has the gap tooth tailpiece.

You find all sorts of crazy mixes of old and new features through '73, I think the factory was just using up old parts in stock kind of randomly....

 

[Axtman]

I think the bass in question is an Ibanez. Can we see more pictures to confirm?

 

[Jeff Scott]

When did gap tooth end 72?

Around April/May '73.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Jeff, I'm looking as closely as I can with a few minutes of fiddling in Shotwell, and I'm not sure I agree. It looks to me like there are slots in screw heads oriented perpendicular to the E, D, and G strings, and one diagonally on the A string. You might have better tools for manipulating and enhancing images, though.

View attachment 4242764

You're right; I didn't see them. So that must have been another transitional thing, or the pickup might have been replaced. Both my March and July '73 4001s had/have button-tops.