Cool Rics on eBay / Reverb / Craigslist

[Paul Boyer]

RIC does allow employees to experiment with colors and features; sometimes they are for that particular individual to use, or for sale to individuals that are in some way connected to the company. Recently there were three short-scale basses done for an individual. There are some specials made that are featured in the second edition of my book. It's possible – I said possible – that one of these experiments could be turned into a limited production model or a full production model; witness the Al Cisneros signature edition. That could have been started as a one-off; don't know. I don't have any particular info on this 4005ish bass, but it certainly could have been an employee-built instrument.

[ilan]

@Paul, none of the one-offs and employee guitars that I remember had non-Ric features like T-bird(ish) pickups or a Hipshot bridge. They were always 100% Ric DNA.

[Jeff Scott]

@Paul, none of the one-offs and employee guitars that I remember had non-Ric features like T-bird(ish) pickups or a Hipshot bridge. They were always 100% Ric DNA.

This.  I couldn't imagine a Rick coming out of the factory with wnything other than Rick parts on it.  However, once past Main Street, anything goes.

[Dave W]

I agree. The specials shown in Paul's 2nd edition are still made with RIC parts.

Maybe the buyer will show up on FB or one of the forums.

[Paul Boyer]

Hmm. But maybe experimenting with "other than RIC parts" has led to the "new" tailpiece on the 4003S/5 and the developed tailpiece on the 4003AC. Development and experiments can go many different routes. But, yeah, this 4005ish bass probably came from an outside craftsman.

[Jeff Scott]

I think the influence for the new bridge/tailpiece may be from RIC's relationship with Schaller.  The new bridge looks very much like something Schaller could/would make for RIC.

[gearHed289]

I agree. The specials shown in Paul's 2nd edition are still made with RIC parts.

Maybe the buyer will show up on FB or one of the forums.

The buyer was the guy I mentioned earlier whose Facebook post I could no longer find.

[Dave W]

The buyer was the guy I mentioned earlier whose Facebook post I could no longer find.

He must not have known about the origin, unless something was posted about it between the time you saw his post and the time it disappeared.

EDIT: I found the FB post, although I can't figure out how to link it directly. It's an August 28 post by Andrew Gowans to The RickResource Forum Official Facebook Page.

It was bought by Tim Sarter. He posted about it in the FB thread.

I remember Tim from the Pit. He also once owned a Sea Green 4001v63 that he later sold to a member of RRF (this was years ago).

[ilan]

2002 S/5 FG, neither a Rath conversion nor the strange current model. $3.5K BIN

[gearHed289]

He must not have known about the origin, unless something was posted about it between the time you saw his post and the time it disappeared.

EDIT: I found the FB post, although I can't figure out how to link it directly. It's an August 28 post by Andrew Gowans to The RickResource Forum Official Facebook Page.

It was bought by Tim Sarter. He posted about it in the FB thread.

I remember Tim from the Pit. He also once owned a Sea Green 4001v63 that he later sold to a member of RRF (this was years ago).

Ah, thanks, I was looking in the "Rickenbacker Guitars and Basses" group.

[thx1955]

Interesting "surely you're joking" priced ($8,213.81)  1972 4001 on Reverb, full of anomalies:

• It has wider neck pickup spacing found after March-April 73
• Smaller triangular inlays, again post March-April 73
• Not Crushed Pearl or Full Width
• 72 Would have Fulll Width & Crushed Pearl
• The Bridge pickup surround is square cornered
• 72&73's both had rounded corners.
• It does have Chequered Binding
• It does have a Split Bridge

Anyone have any ideas on this
https://reverb.com/item/27780406-rickenbacker-4001-stereo-1972

[thx1955]

2002 S/5 FG, neither a Rath conversion nor the strange current model. $3.5K BIN

A Factory 5 ?, very nice, pricey, but nice.

I've a "Rath 4-5 Conversion" which I'll probably be putting up for sale soon, just can't wrap my head (and fingers) round 5+ string basses, 4-strings, 4-fingers, not a coincidence I think.

[ilan]

Interesting "surely you're joking" priced ($8,213.81)  1972 4001 on Reverb, full of anomalies:

• It has wider neck pickup spacing found after March-April 73
• Smaller triangular inlays, again post March-April 73
• Not Crushed Pearl or Full Width
• 72 Would have Fulll Width & Crushed Pearl
• The Bridge pickup surround is square cornered
• 72&73's both had rounded corners.
• It does have Chequered Binding
• It does have a Split Bridge

Anyone have any ideas on this
https://reverb.com/item/27780406-rickenbacker-4001-stereo-1972

Short inlays and checkerboard binding place it between May-Aug '73.

The 1" spacing started at '75 (actually 74's have wide neck pickup routs to accommodate both 1" and 1/2" spacing, but the stock guards were cut for 1/2"). So it's probably routed under the '75-'77 guard. The clear tug bar is of course new. I've seen original mid-73's with square-corner surrounds, but not with gap-tooth tailpiece. 

What about the FG? You're the expert on this Jim. To me it looks darker than a typical mid-70s FG.

[thx1955]

Hi,
I agree with your comments, and, the Fireglo is darker than on my 2 73's and my 72.
In all I've 6 Fireglo Rics,  ranging from 1972-4001 through to my 2015-4003s, this one is darker than all of mine, and, just about any other Fireglo I've seen over the years.

That said, John Hall has told me the Fireglo is by far he hardest of all the Rickenbacker colours to try to accurately capture, even for professional photographers, so, this could be just the light and circumstances that the pictures were taken in.

Even though this is darker it is nicely uniform and is well blended, not like the "Clown Glo" examples of the late 90's early 2k's.  Since each instrument is colored by hand it produces finished that are not identical which is one of the things I like about Fireglo, and the various "Burst" colours that have been produced over the years, this a testimony to the hand finishing that goes into all Rickenbackers.

[ilan]

That said, John Hall has told me the Fireglo is by far he hardest of all the Rickenbacker colours to try to accurately capture, even for professional photographers

He used to say that a lot during the clownglo years, and stopped saying it after they moved back to a nice gradual burst (which, to everyone's amazement, is easy to capture on camera).