The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Rickenbacker Basses => Topic started by: ilan on April 26, 2018, 08:39:47 AM

Title: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on April 26, 2018, 08:39:47 AM
https://twitter.com/RickenbackerInt/status/989527156907798528

@RickenbackerInt has just tweeted:

Custom one-off 4030's for Death From Above 1979's Jessie F. Keeler. Three of the same:
- 24 Fret
- 30.5 inch scale length
- 4002 body
- Overwound, custom pickups
- Richlite fingerboard
- Scooped heel

(https://scontent.fsdv3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31288411_1810541145696195_98404937771253760_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=0b31d1b1e316418c1f5615e52ebce0fc&oe=5B4EE5BE)(https://scontent.fsdv3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31344446_1810541455696164_560390883057336320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=36ee885e63c9a47753ac56d15cd3e7f4&oe=5B60C3F7)(https://scontent.fsdv3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31301419_1810541522362824_5485930318084964352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=be33628222e9acc1266b22901ef3e43e&oe=5B940D94)(https://scontent.fsdv3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31292743_1810541572362819_2405578545033117696_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=cf2cf48cd9ff644dc8ff03a0dd7ba6d0&oe=5B67DB9A)(https://scontent.fsdv3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31378753_1810541352362841_7704849081922748416_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=284c1773190d10fd976da4d1b85979b4&oe=5B633F5D)
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Dave W on April 26, 2018, 09:10:54 AM
Why would you put Richlite boards on obviously expensive basses? Ugh.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: ilan on April 26, 2018, 09:19:56 AM
I don't like it either - kind of in between a 4003 and 483 - but they are experimenting and that's good.

The fat horns / birdseye maple show that they still have some more surplus 4002 body wings at Santa Ana.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Granny Gremlin on April 26, 2018, 10:23:45 AM
Finally, a Ric I might really like (richlite means not laquered, right?).  Still can't afford it though (I assume).
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Dave W on April 26, 2018, 12:23:33 PM
Richlite doesn't need to be lacquered, but neither does the chechen (caribbean rosewood) they use.

Despite the hype about richlite for fretboards, it's not a wood product. It's a polymer made from chemically combined recycled paper and phenolic resin. It's a plastic. It's no more a wood product than rayon or nitro lacquer.When it starts offgassing 20 or 30 years from now, the people and companies pushing it will be singinga different tune.

In this case, I'm guessing it was specified by the artist. His choice, that's okay. I wouldn't accept it on a $300 dollar bass, much less an expensive one.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Granny Gremlin on April 26, 2018, 01:04:55 PM
That's what my Sonex is made out of (basically High density fiberboard).  1980 model; no offgassing (there are worn spots in the finish so it's not perfectly sealed).  Possibly a slightly different resin, and certainly no dark dye like Ric is obviously using. Technically it has wood (cellulose) content) ... as do rayon and nitro.  Basically a smaller particulate size but essentialluy particleboard or chipboard on a micro scale.

And yeah, I'd prefer real wood, but from my experience with my Sonex, I wouldn't be put off necessarily.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Alanko on April 26, 2018, 01:55:09 PM
No problem with richlite here. With some luck I will live long enough to see us all eating the stuff.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Dave W on April 26, 2018, 08:23:30 PM
That's what my Sonex is made out of (basically High density fiberboard).  1980 model; no offgassing (there are worn spots in the finish so it's not perfectly sealed).  Possibly a slightly different resin, and certainly no dark dye like Ric is obviously using. Technically it has wood (cellulose) content) ... as do rayon and nitro.  Basically a smaller particulate size but essentialluy particleboard or chipboard on a micro scale.

And yeah, I'd prefer real wood, but from my experience with my Sonex, I wouldn't be put off necessarily.

Resonwood was nothing like richlite. It was fiberboard in a cast form, very similar in composition to the Kalamazoo guitars and basses of the late 60s. It did offgas like all masonite type products but not enough to deteriorate as long as it was sealed and painted. This type of material has been around for about 70 years, we know what it will and won't do. Not so with richlite.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: amptech on April 26, 2018, 10:26:44 PM
If I had more money than common sense, I´d get one. I like my 4001 but have gotten too comfy with shorties.
But I might have put a horseshoe in bridge pos. :)
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Granny Gremlin on April 27, 2018, 07:17:10 AM
Resonwood was nothing like richlite. It was fiberboard in a cast form, very similar in composition to the Kalamazoo guitars and basses of the late 60s. It did offgas like all masonite type products but not enough to deteriorate as long as it was sealed and painted. This type of material has been around for about 70 years, we know what it will and won't do. Not so with richlite.

OK, but you said paper and phenolic resin; which is what the resonwood is made of too.  The Kalamazooo stuff was more of a (larger particle) chipboard, no?
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: gearHed289 on April 27, 2018, 09:22:50 AM
Pros:
body wings/checkerboard binding
short scale (cool option)
scooped heel

Cons:
bridge/tailpiece (both functionally and in this case visually)
pickguard shape

I'm assuming those are HB-1 pups, which are already pretty hot (14K). Surprised they would over-wind them. I never heard of Richlite. I've got an ebonol fingerboard on my Kramer, which I've always liked, but I understand that is basically bowling ball material. Overall, I think this is a cool, functional bass. I'd like to see an S model with an improved pickguard shape and Schaller bridge.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Dave W on April 27, 2018, 06:21:08 PM
OK, but you said paper and phenolic resin; which is what the resonwood is made of too.  The Kalamazooo stuff was more of a (larger particle) chipboard, no?

Not the same thing, but I'm not going to belabor it here.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on April 29, 2018, 12:21:52 AM
Sorry but I just had to ;-)

(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AroAAOSwFm5a5Qz2/s-l1600.jpg)

Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: the mojo hobo on April 29, 2018, 08:39:09 AM
Why would you put Richlite boards on obviously expensive basses? Ugh.

Craig Anderton says "it’s more expensive to make guitars with Richlite fretboards than ebony,"

http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Gear-Tech/en-us/Building-a-Better-Fingerboard.aspx

Rickenbacker or Jessie F. Keeler probably like it because it's made from 100% recycled material. Gibson likes it because it isn't listed with CITES.
Title: Re: 3 Short scale 4030 basses
Post by: Dave W on April 29, 2018, 07:40:09 PM
Craig Anderton says "it’s more expensive to make guitars with Richlite fretboards than ebony,"

http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Gear-Tech/en-us/Building-a-Better-Fingerboard.aspx

Rickenbacker or Jessie F. Keeler probably like it because it's made from 100% recycled material. Gibson likes it because it isn't listed with CITES.

Luthier's Mercantile charges about 60% more for a Gaboon ebony board than a richlite board.

I've read that Craig Anderton article before. IMHO it's just Gibson hype. He left Gibson suddenly last fall. Wonder if he would say the same thing now.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on May 11, 2018, 04:43:48 PM
Keeler seems happy with his new basses

https://www.facebook.com/ricguitars/videos/1829793123770997/?hc_ref=ARRt1QLmi04Hc84JZICVsdvZN5rqMtAW70f-mGWSR0kG7jCyPNCk5RXaCmNxw-zNwsI&fref=nf

Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Dave W on May 11, 2018, 08:36:25 PM
Keeler seems happy with his new basses

https://www.facebook.com/ricguitars/videos/1829793123770997/?hc_ref=ARRt1QLmi04Hc84JZICVsdvZN5rqMtAW70f-mGWSR0kG7jCyPNCk5RXaCmNxw-zNwsI&fref=nf

My ears!
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Granny Gremlin on May 12, 2018, 07:06:07 AM
Oh lord, nobody warned Dave what DfA are like?  Don't feel bad I don't like it either.

Look at that  Canuk tho (local boy no less); stereo Traynor 8x10s.  Looks like a ss era Traynor  (not sure if Monoblock or not, but similar) in the rack behind him too. 
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on May 12, 2018, 09:20:18 AM
Somehow horizontally it looks less hideous than in the vertical pics we've seen until now.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Alanko on May 18, 2018, 01:05:29 AM
I like bassists that trowel on the overdrive, but that guy's tone is rancid. Very thin, spitty and with terrible note definition. I have no idea why he uses those ancient cabinets and amps, as apparently his tone is bad live as well. For a while he was using '70s Peavey heads and Ampeg Dan Armstrong basses, and his tone was as mushy and indistinct then.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on July 12, 2018, 04:03:58 PM

4030 BBR BT on the Ric boutique (http://boutique.rickenbacker.com/4030-Blueburst-Black-Trim_p_774.html). First one available for the general public.  $3,199

Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Dave W on July 12, 2018, 04:42:31 PM
$3200 and Richlite too? No thanks. Nicely done blueburst, if you like that sort of thing.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Alanko on July 13, 2018, 01:41:08 AM
I quite like the effect of having a black fretboard. Had they stuck with Bubinga (etc) then the warm reddy tone would have clashed with the hardware and pickguard.

Having said that, and I will sound like a bitch here, the blue burst looks a bit 'Chinabacker' to me.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: gearHed289 on July 13, 2018, 08:52:41 AM
Looks better than the first three, but that bridge still looks ridiculous in that position. Pricey. Hot toasters are great.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: ilan on July 13, 2018, 01:00:22 PM
JG/BT would look better imho on this - the bridge will look less misplaced and the guard shape will look less wrong and the gloss black fretboard will fit in the general scheme.
Title: Re: Short scale 4030
Post by: Dave W on July 14, 2018, 09:34:12 AM
Bring back the 3000!