'73 mapleglo checkerboard binding.

[godofthunder]

  I really appreciate all the advice and I did learn a fair amount. What it boils down to for me is that I paid a pretty good chunk of money for a bass with a serious problem, one that should have be disclosed. A over site like this is unacceptable from a ebay seller with a brick and mortar music store. They should know better.

[Dave W]

Sorry it didn't work out for you. You get to have the final decision.

[dadagoboi]

...unacceptable from a ebay seller with a brick and mortar music store. They should know better.

Obviously you've never been to South Florida.

[godofthunder]

 Nope never been!

[Dr Quist]

Well if you ask me ... you  have not seen enough Rick basses.

These gouge things are and were done all the time.

Both BEFORE they went into the spray booth...and then in the assembly area.

this is no big deal .

[Dr Quist]

VERY disappointing, The truss rods are bent, pushed into the truss rod cavity. Looks like someone tried to dig under the nuts to get a wrench on them  I emailed the seller, there is supposed to be a seven day return policy.

With the mild steel used... more than HALF the pre 1985 basses have this so called PROBLEM... its not a problem. Its not a HUGE issue.

[maxschrek]

I know that if I'm shelling out $1700 for a bass it had damn well better be all there and functioning
properly. I think that is Scott's point and I don't blame him, whether the "issues" are easily rectified
or not, that's simply too much $ to pay for an instrument that is gonna have to be taken apart and
monkeyed with to make it playable. Just sayin'.

T

[godofthunder]

  Bingo

I know that if I'm shelling out $1700 for a bass it had damn well better be all there and functioning
properly. I think that is Scott's point and I don't blame him, whether the "issues" are easily rectified
or not, that's simply too much $ to pay for an instrument that is gonna have to be taken apart and
monkeyed with to make it playable. Just sayin'.

T

[patman]

My 73 had the same problem...'course it was $300.  still played fine.

[godofthunder]

 For me the action is way to high on this bass. As it came the truss rods can not be adjusted. So back it goes. No way in h*ll I am paying $,1700 for anything with the issues this bass has with out being disclosed.

[mc2NY]

A Ric is one of the only major brands of older basses that I've never owned, although I have played loaners. I've been thinking of buying a 1968-73 era one with checker binding, etc. and have found this forum string EXTREMELY informative and interesting. Thanks.

I recently did a set-up on a friend's Cheyenne that he's had for years. He's one of those guys who plays various instruments but hasn't a clue on how to set up a guitar. His strings were almost a full inch off the fingerboard, so this bass had just become something that sat on a stand in the corner and unplayable. Gesh! Fortunately, I got it playing great after about 45 minutes of tweaking. He was stoked and looked amazed, watching me work on it. I was glad I was able to get it right for him and that there wasn't anything major wrong with the thing.

[ilan]

Not a huge issue IMHO, but of course it should have been disclosed in the auction.

My '73 was a ski slope when I got it (for $1,250). The rod ends were bent and warped, of course. I cut half an inch off the rods and was able to adjust the neck to zero relief and low action with TI rounds. Since then the neck has been very stable for years. I should have had a new spacer block made, but it's stable so I'm not messing with it right now.

[Dr Quist]

There is an assumption that because  the Beatles , Byrds, Yes , Rush  Petty, Etc used this brand that they must be as easy to adjust from a mechanic point of view.

That just is NOT the case.

All pre 1985 basses need help.I have rarely seen one STOCK that did not need the bridge moved, the E  saddle modified so you COULD get the string intonated ...and the curling rods is easy to solve...THEY ALL DO THAT .

I can explain it .  Most repair shops deal with Gibson's truss rod . It does not matter what brand  that rod is in ..it is their design.
Rick has since 1986 used a variation on the Gibson design ... it too can use a little help IMHO. (I am not crazy about how the rods are anchored- a fairly easy fix )

[godofthunder]

 Within 15 minuets of the bass arriving four problems presented themselves, way to many for the kind of money I spent. I would take longer than the seven day return policy to sort through all the issues and who knows what else might pop up. So back it goes. It is my money after all. Geeze you'd think I left a baby on a door step.

[warriorbass05]

Within 15 minuets of the bass arriving four problems presented themselves, way to many for the kind of money I spent. I would take longer than the seven day return policy to sort through all the issues and who knows what else might pop up. So back it goes. It is my money after all. Geeze you'd think I left a baby on a door step.

I think you need an RD Artist!!! a black one!!!