Two Ricky 4005s in Germany.

[Chris P.]

http://cgi.ebay.de/1967-RICKENBACKER-4005-BASS_W0QQitemZ180036918114QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.de/Orig-Rickenbacker-Bass-Model-4005-Baujahr-1968-Case_W0QQitemZ270208982861QQihZ017QQcategoryZ87492QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[uwe]

I'm happy to have mine and won't sell it, but frankly these basses are overrated. They have little mid punch and hardly any acoustic note to them (that top is massive in its thickness). All credit to the seller for not waffling about how great that bass sounds, because it doesn't. It has a nice, not very assertive tone, but nothing you couldn't get even better at a fraction of the price.

That wreck with "the frozen truss rods" is wildly overpriced, I hate that seller, he always offers crap at vastly inflated prices, never something at least decent.

[Chris P.]

My '75 Rickenbacker 4005WB is gorgeous, but sounds bad. That's why I use it as my video clip bass;) For people who haven't seen it:

www.youtube.com/boilersuitnl

Noel Gallagher uses one on Standing On The Shoulder of Giants and on some songs on Illumination of Paul Weller. And of course Mani. It has a signature sound, but not the best bass sound ever...

[Barklessdog]

Still a great looking bass. You would have thought they would have stuck with the design and made it work better?

[ilan]

Still a great looking bass. You would have thought they would have stuck with the design and made it work better?

At RIC they used to call them "tuna boats". I don't think current management likes the design. Apparently when they were still made, not many people liked them, and years after production stopped, some NOS 4005's were gathering dust in music stores.

I wonder if the problem could be pickup placement. The treble pickup is very close to the bridge.

[Chris P.]

I wonder if the problem could be pickup placement. The treble pickup is very close to the bridge.

And the bass pick up is very close to the neck...

[Dave W]

But they look so nice in videos. Right, Chris? 

[chromium]

So I shouldn't sell every bass I own, take out a loan, and buy a 4005/8 then?   



I used to write to all the bass manufacturers when I was a kid, and the Ric catalog I got still had the 4005s listed.  I forget what year it was - had to have been at the tail end of their life.  Of course I wanted one instantly, just because of the looks (always had a thing for oddball semi-acoustic basses).  I've never had a chance to play one, though.  I think the only one I've ever actually heard on recording (that I know of) was with Stone Roses.

[Chris P.]

But they look so nice in videos. Right, Chris? 

Yep! For the guys who haven't seen it: www.youtube.com/boilersuitnl
You see a 4005, but you hear a T-bird;)

[Chris P.]

I think the only one I've ever actually heard on recording (that I know of) was with Stone Roses.

- Of course The Stone Roses
- You can hear Noel Gallagher playing one on some songs on the Oasis album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. Instantly recognizable.
- Noel also uses one on the Paul Weller album Illumination. I believe on One X One.
- Entwistle used one live once and he also performed with a Lightshow. I believe The Seeker is the only Who-recording featuring a 4005.

[Bert]

http://cgi.ebay.de/1967-RICKENBACKER-4005-BASS_W0QQitemZ180036918114QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.de/Orig-Rickenbacker-Bass-Model-4005-Baujahr-1968-Case_W0QQitemZ270208982861QQihZ017QQcategoryZ87492QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The first one has been on Ebay forever almost. Most people on another Rick forum think that buying another is less expensive than buying and restoring this one.

[Chris P.]

Welcome Bert!

This first post is a quite old post when Rickenbacker belonged to 'other bass brands' here....

[Bert]

Welcome Bert!

This first post is a quite old post when Rickenbacker belonged to 'other bass brands' here....

The mentioned 4005 is still on ebay. So posting about it still has "news" value. ;-) Someday this bass will be worth its price I think.

[uwe]

The pups are the main issue in my opinion and perhaps a thinner top, but that would sacrifice stability. A Gibson LP Sig outclasses a 4005, it is much more responsive and assertive.

Soundwise, a P split coil in the middle would probably do wonders to the scooped sound of a 4005. Ooops, I never said that ... 

I'm still not selling mine, it's beautiful!

[Dave W]

If they ever did a reissue, it wouldn't have to be a replica of the original. Just placing the bridge pickup in the same relative position as on a 4003 would be a noticeable improvement. But I just don't think a reissue is going to happen, at least anytime soon.