Trade my Ricky 4005WB?

[Basvarken]

Aaargh Ilan! Why did you have to do that?

I thought I had the GAS under control.
until...

[Bert]

The 4005 just looks good and one of a kind, but there is nothing very special about its sound. It lacks mid punch for rock, both E and G tend to be a little on the weak side and it is nowhere near the classic sound of a Ric 4001/4003.

As far as memory serves me right I never noticed the E and G drop with Chris's 4005 (in the almost half a year it spent at my house). I also never noticed it with my own 4005. My 4005 is a very welcome addition to my other Ricks. Definitely the same family soundwise. Enough difference to make it worthwile. And great to look at.

[Bert]

Get a mid-60's Gretsch 6070 or 6072 instead, and $4,000-5,000 change. They have a similar jaw-dropping effect, and like the 4005WB are also awesome-looking, full-scale, hollow body, double-cut, double-bound, vintage collectible basses - that actually sound great.

Is there much difference between old and new G6072's? (I never dared asking if this is still available.)

[Pilgrim]

Ilan, now I have more Gretsch lust in my heart....dang.

[chromium]

Bert made a neat sound comparison of the 4005 against other Rics here:

   http://www.rickresource.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=385701

The 2nd and 3rd iterations are the 4005.  I think I'd have been hard pressed to identify it among the others, but I guess in sample #2 you can appreciate the effect that the bridge pickup placement has.

Sounds like you already know the answer to your original post, Chris...  but I'm also starting to fall into that "sell it if you don't use it" camp with some of mine.

[gearHed289]

My general rule is, if I LOVE it, never sell it. If not, bye bye.

[ilan]

Is there much difference between old and new G6072's? (I never dared asking if this is still available.)

Actually I have never played a MIJ 6072 reissue so I cannot comment on this. The new necks, so I hear, are modern thin necks. The originals had enormous baseball bat necks with flat boards (not radiused). I have played uprights with thinner necks. Really.

[Bert]

Bert made a neat sound comparison of the 4005 against other Rics here:

   http://www.rickresource.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=385701

These samples are Chris his 4005 by the way. And if I remember correctly he has the electronics messed up. I like dialing in about 80 procent bridge with 100 procent neck pickup. With Chris his 4005 (electronics) You can only swith pickups on and off so this gives a little more nasal sound than I like. (If I remember correctly. )

[chromium]

if I remember correctly he has the electronics messed up

Oh see - now in this case, I know exactly what you need to do, Chris:  trade me the 4005 and I'll fix the buggy electronics!   Whatcha need?  Ampeg Scroll?  EB-2D? (sorry - nothing pointy to offer)... 

[Chris P.]

Haha, I am a Rick Danko fan so an Ampeg Scroll...

I'll play the 4005 for some times next couple of weeks. Like Uwe said, it could be better to sell it and buy something I really like than to trade it. But I think I'll keep her...

[Dave W]

If you find something else you just have to have, you can probably sell the 4005 quickly. Otherwise no need to rush into anything.

[Chris P.]

The only basses I really NEED are a Gretsch Billy Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Bass and maybe a 4001/3 and a good semisolid. I already have an beaten up Rivoli reissue, so that works if I need one. So if I want the Gretsch it's quite easy indeed to sell something.

[chromium]

Are those pickups on the 4005 surface mounted (i.e. not routed)?  If so have you ever thought about modding it with an additional toaster or higain pickup in more of the 4001 bridge spot?  I was just thinking that there might be a trick way to mount one there without drilling, and run the wire along the edge of the guard and into the bass using the hole under the existing bridge pickup...

I know its not a stellar idea doing any mods to it given the monetary worth of an unmolested one, but then again if it would help bolster the mids to the point where you would actually get some good use out of it...

[Chris P.]

This is an idea. I sometimes think about mounting a finger rest. But in a way it can be removed easily. I hear the 4005 sounds best when played around the middle position.

[ilan]

And where would the magnet slugs go?