What to look for in a Ric?

[ledyard]

I think Ric gas is coming . To what extent I can do something about it is another matter.
Anyhow, I have owned two ric's previously. A 73' Jetglo 4001 (16 yrs ago paid $450) and a 1980 4001S (dead mint, 8 years ago)
I have heard many people talk about neck/truss rod issues with older 4001's. I was going to look into maybe getting a late 80's-late 90's 4003. But If I run across a great deal on a 4001 is there anything specific to look for that are issues with these basses?

 

[raymondl3]

My friend has an early 80's Rick. He says the truss was never an issue. Love that bass!

 

[KouqJ]

I've heard the same thing about the truss rod. I didn't get too much info on it, but what I heard is that, when buying them used, there were a lot of people who tried to adjust the neck with the truss rod because it was the "in thing" to do at the time, and most didn't know what they were doing.

It pretty much ended in bad news bears for a lot of the necks, which would snap MUCH easier. Hope this helped a little bit!

 

[GeneralElectric]

Most Ric necks that have a lot of damage are because people don't know how to work that asinine double truss rod system they have.

 

[Quadzilla]

pull the truss cover and make sure that the rods are parallel with the neck (not pointing up) and that the block that holds them in place is not messed up.

 

[ledyard]

dual truss rods on a 4 string neck? thats ********. I think i remember something about that now though. Didnt the 4003's switch to 1?