They really aren't for everyone. Perhaps more than any other bass, a Ric is arguably the most likely to qualify as the poster child example for why you don't want to meet your idols.
That said, I've owned mine for over 40 years, gigged steadily with it for about half that time, and wouldn't trade or sell it for any amount. I still occasionally break it out for a gig, and it always garners positive commentary.
A cautionary note may be beneficial: if you elect to buy an older model, be sure to have it checked out by a qualified tech (if you don't do your own work) BEFORE you buy. There is a reason these have a reputation for faulty or inoperable truss rods. Although I personally believe the forum stories are blown way out of proportion to the number of problems that actually arise, the issues occasionally arise nonetheless. My own bass developed truss rod issues shortly after I bought it. The truss rods were replaced and the neck has been easily adjustable since. A tech will be able to tell you if an older instrument has truss rod issues before you buy it.
The bridge is also an often-discussed topic. Even though I have always used the services of a tech, the original bridge was problematic enough to cause me to replace it with the only replacement part available in the '70s. That modification is one I'd do over again in a heartbeat, regardless of the instrument's "collectability;" just remember to save the original if investment is a concern to you. (My bridge mod was done well before Rics of the era were considered "collectable" or an investment.) The undertone here is I'm one of those that think the original bridge design should have been improved upon before put into production; it looks cool, but its very fussy and often doesn't have enough adjustment range. For the doubters: look at any resale site such as Reverb or Ebay and look at closeup photos of the bridge. Virtually every 4001 you'll see has the E string saddle moved all the way to the back. The reason they are all adjusted to the extreme position is there simply isn't enough travel to get it perfect. This may not matter to most, particularly if the bass isn't to be used in a gigging situation, but it bothered me.
I also replaced the tuners about ten years ago. The tuners are not known to be problematic. In my case, after decades of use they simply wore out. It happens!
The foregoing points are specific to older Rics, and more particularly, the one I've enjoyed all these years. Mine has been a wonderful companion that simply cannot be replaced. I've owned other 4000 and 4001 Rics that had no truss rod issues. I didn't use them enough to wear out the tuners. I didn't swap out the bridge on the others, but certainly would have if I'd kept them. I have no experience with anything that came after the 4001. Best wishes in your search.
