Cool Rics on eBay / Reverb / Craigslist

[Dave W]

That looks to be in remarkably good shape.

[ilan]

A reasonably priced 4003SPC Blackstar, starts at $2.5K. Seller says he will include the original BT bridge/tailpiece.

I have to admit that the black Hipshot doesn't look bad on JG.

[Dave W]

It doesn't look bad, at least on a Blackstar. I wonder how much it changes the tone.

[gearHed289]

I've used both the brass and aluminum versions. The brass weighed a ton and darkened the tone some. The aluminum sounded pretty much stock.

[ilan]

1974 transparent mocha or whatever non-burst WAL, unrealistic $3.4K BIN.

Years ago I used to see those from time to time on eBay and then they disappeared. Some said it was a non-burst application of "Walnut", others said it was faded Burgundyglo. But fading usually is not uniform, and these are. If I'm not mistaken, all non-burst WALs were 1974. Paul?

Anyway, I love those last-of-the-half-inch basses.

[Paul Boyer]

I had one for a short time, and it was (as I recall) a '75 but it must have been an early '75 as it had the ½" bass pickup position. I think the three or four "non-burst" Walnut finish basses I've seen either in person or in photos have been '74 or '75 instruments.

[Dave W]

I don't remember seeing that finish before. Very nice.

[gearHed289]

This is in a catalog I still have from the late 70s.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/gallery_image.asp?archive_id=1958&gallery_year=1970

[Dave W]

The one in the auction looks too glossy to be the same brown as in the catalog. It's not just the lighting glare.

[gearHed289]

They did glossy (Walnut) and non-glossy (AutmnGlo) versions of tobacco sunburst. Maybe the same on these? Definitely an anomaly, but they're out there. Cool and rare.

[Paul Boyer]

The story of "Autumnglo," "Walnut," and "Brown" is confusing and apparently changed at least a few times back in the '70s and '80s. Don't know that there was ever a bass in that "Brown" matte finish, but for a while "Autumnglo" was made with a semimatte clear coat while the same color with a gloss coat was considered "Walnut." The "Brown" matte overall finish appears to have been applied to a few models of guitars, but not to any basses that I've seen. The overall, glossy, non-burst Walnut ones that I've seen so far appear to be from '74 and early '75. Much more in the book.

[ilan]

1989 Lefty V63 PMC. $5,790 BIN

The PMC option was offered for lefties only - flipped headstock for the authentic Macca look (before he sprayed, stripped and reshaped his bass).

[Jeff Scott]

The HS PU surround shape is not the same as Macca's was.

[ilan]

The HS PU surround shape is not the same as Macca's was.

But not totally different.

The original surround on his '64 was the wide type with the taper, then when RIC replaced the pickup with a high-gain they also replaced the surround with the newer rounded corners rectangular type.

[ilan]

And another one - 1991 PMC in MG