The Last Bass Outpost

An update:

Looks like Gary Hahlbeck of North Coast Music will probably not be selling books. That means that I will be selling them myself.

Hal Leonard Books just informed me that they have received a few advanced copies of the book and will be sending them to me immediately! Yahoooo!

I finally get to see the real deal after about eight years of effort!!!

OK, I've got dates and a venue for a Midwest Rickenbacker Confluence (MRC) and "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass" Launch Event (TREBLE, ironically)! This event is largely to celebrate the release of my book, "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years as Rock's Bottom" (Hal Leonard Books), and to get together with Rickenbacker enthusiasts from all around the Midwest (and folks from anywhere else, too).

WHEN: Friday, July 19 (6-10pm), Saturday, July 20 (1-9pm), Sunday, July 21 (10am-5pm).

WHERE: Waterstone Bank community room (basement), 6560 South 27th Street, Oak Creek, WI 53154. Oak Creek is an adjacent suburb (south) of Milwaukee. The bank is just a few miles from Milwaukee's airport and close to I-94 freeway and several motels and eateries. This is the same location as the 2011 event. Several BGCers attended that one (c'mon back!).

HOW MUCH: Cheap as I am , the event is free!

WHAT'S HAPPENING: I hope this event will be similar to the one we held two years ago, but hope to gather more people and more instruments. This event will not include an official jam session or gig, so there should be no sour notes on who gets to play. There will be some small amps there, and you're invited to bring one. Spontaneous jams are inevitable. Last time we had a little over 50 Ricks on display and about a dozen folks strolling through the two day event.

My book will be available for sale at the event. Gary Hahlbeck of North Coast Music will be there with a supply of the book for sale, and I will always be glad to sign your copy if you like. If you already have a copy, that's fine; bring it and I'll sign that, too.

Since I am no longer playing actively and as the book is done, I will be selling many of my Rick basses. Because shipping is a hassle, I would prefer to sell in person. I'm going to give attendees of MRC/TREBLE first crack at them; what doesn't sell then will eventually go in the for-sale forums or to eBay. So come early, buy often.

So, hope to see everyone in Milwaukee in July – hey, it's warm then!

I'm pretty sure it is not a modified Rickenbacker, but a custom-built bass that has some Rick shapes. Obviously, the neck is much longer and narrower, and none of the hardware is Rick-like.

Denis, is that a 262 or a Kika in your avatar?

 

I'm pretty sure that it is a refinish job in the same color as Blueboy and the addition of the gold back-painted pick guard and TRC. Blueboy does look a little greenish if it is faded or photographed in certain light conditions. It could also have been a special order for a special customer and made in the factory, but my money is on a refin.

The current reintroduced "Ruby" is much darker than some of the earlier version of "Ruby" (available from 1981 to '89). The original color was a clear red over metallic silver, the "candy color" method of producing the deep specular reflections you would see on custom cars. But the real clue is the pairing of the color with the trim. "Red" (which was a solid, non-metallic, fire-engine red) came standard with black trim and hardware. Ruby came standard with white trim and chrome hardware. That said, there are examples of "reverse trim" found for each of those colors: Ruby with black, and Red with white/chrome. But they are rare. RIC charged extra for doing a reverse trim on an order, so not many buyers ordered it. Anyway, these photos (to my eye, anyway) suggest the early version of Ruby – there's a slightly cool, pinkish cast – while Red had a slightly orangey cast. Could be the photos or my monitor. If anyone can examine this example, look for those deep metallic reflections. If you see 'em, say hello to "Ruby"!

Doubt it was from a later 4000. Single-pickup 4000's from mid 1972 onward were set-neck and would have the darker shedua strip down the middle of the neck (and headstock), but not in the body as it was not "neck through." Don't know the origins of this one. It would be interesting to know if this one has the thick body like the originals. They were approximately 1 5/8" (41mm) thick. Sometime in 1961 they reduced the weight by making the body thinner – to about 1 1/4" (31mm) , but that affected the balance, necessitating the increased length of the upper body horn to move the strap pin "up neck" to reduce neck dive.

I think the "Naked Tux" looks better. This one was a genuine Tuxedo (4003SPC Tuxedo) but the white had yellowed badly and unevenly. I had it stripped and refinished with a nice satin finish by Larry Davis: