Author Topic: 1987 4003 Tuxedo  (Read 2381 times)

Thornton Davis

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1987 4003 Tuxedo
« on: February 15, 2020, 07:38:56 AM »
The Twelfth Fret in Toronto have a 1987 4003 Tuxedo available if anyone's interested.

https://www.12fret.com/instruments/rickenbacker-4003-tuxedo-white-star-bass-1987/

Price is shown in Cdn dollars which converts to approximately $2,950.00 US.

TD

« Last Edit: March 12, 2020, 08:25:29 AM by ilan »
Please keep your eyes open for my stolen 1973 Burgundyglo Rickenbacker 4001 Serial # MD1582. It was stolen in November of 2006. Reward for its return. Thx!

Dave W

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2020, 03:45:57 PM »
Nicely yellowed.

ilan

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2020, 09:24:11 AM »
10 years ago collectors would kill for one. Now, not so much.

If I had a yellowed Tux I'd have it restored in non-yellowing bright white. That's the only all-original collector guitar I'd consider refinishing.

Here is a Paul Wilczynski refin

« Last Edit: February 16, 2020, 09:33:19 AM by ilan »
The guy who bought the same bass twice — first in 1977 and again in 2023

Jeff Scott

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2020, 06:20:17 PM »
Still not a fan of the fat horns.

uwe

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2020, 05:41:12 PM »
Nicely yellowed.

I only see white ... (ducking ...)
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

clankenstein

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2020, 05:49:26 PM »
You probably just need to view it on your T.V....
Louder bass!.

Happy Face

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2020, 03:42:03 PM »
I wonder if the W-ski refin was fine from some years ago. In my experience with THREE of these,  no refin artist likes to deal with any white refin. They all whine how difficult it is because you must be so careful not to let a sneaky hair or bit of dust find it's way to the body after any coat. It ties up the negative pressure work station. They all told me they would never do one again.

Even Joel who did my last one, a true work of art in every way.

https://kennebecinstrument.com/bringing-life-back-to-a-rickenbacker-tuxedo-bass/ 

 

Alanko

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Re: 1987 4003 Tuxedo
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2020, 10:03:34 AM »
I wonder if the W-ski refin was fine from some years ago. In my experience with THREE of these,  no refin artist likes to deal with any white refin. They all whine how difficult it is because you must be so careful not to let a sneaky hair or bit of dust find it's way to the body after any coat. It ties up the negative pressure work station. They all told me they would never do one again.

Even Joel who did my last one, a true work of art in every way.

https://kennebecinstrument.com/bringing-life-back-to-a-rickenbacker-tuxedo-bass/ 

 

That was quite a wild ride! I'm surprised that the fretboard was possibly a replacement, as the small black dot inlays are accurate for a Tuxedo. I'm not sure how RIC applied a solid white finish over these inlays, then worked to reveal them through the white lacquer.

I quite liked the naked Tux look, but the wayward fretwork geometry would bother me.


As for the bass in the OP, I can't believe that a previous owner decided to stick a Fender-style thumb rest over the neck pickup.