No rest for modded 4004's

[ilan]

That stealth JG Laredo converted to 5-string is on eBay again. Not the first time. It looks great but seems like no one wants to keep it. Reminds me of another JG Laredo modded with Darkstar pickups, that also looked amazing but changed hands every few months. Why is it?

[Dave W]

No idea on this one. There shouldn't be anything wrong or different about the tone. OTOH the one with Darkstars probably didn't stay in one place long because no doubt it sounded nothing like a Rick. There was such a frenzy with everyone and his brother jumping on the Darkstar bandwagon, people were putting them in everything. There was a group of Pit guys who kept selling that one to each other at a ridiculously high price, they probably ran out of people who would pay that kind of money for it.

[gearHed289]

A lot of people don't like 5 strings squeezed onto a 4 string neck. Probably a lot of Ric fans thinking they want to try a 5 string, only to realize that they either don't need the low B, or don't like the string spacing, or both. 

[Paul Boyer]

Until recently, the necks on the 4004 series basses were a tad wider with more taper than the 4003 series basses. RIC's 4003S/5 feels rather tight for many five-string players, but a conversion of older 4004s is more comfortable. The rare 4004Cii/5 are much wider, and some of the few who have one feel it is too wide. Jeff Rath, famous for his five-string conversions, prefers the older 4004 basses for his Rick conversions.

Of course, an alternative is stringing the bass BEAD. You'll lose the high five steps you'd have with the G string, but gain the five below E. You'll have to enlarge the nut slots and probably the saddle grooves on the bridge (4001/4003).

[bobyoung]

Until recently, the necks on the 4004 series basses were a tad wider with more taper than the 4003 series basses. RIC's 4003S/5 feels rather tight for many five-string players, but a conversion of older 4004s is more comfortable. The rare 4004Cii/5 are much wider, and some of the few who have one feel it is too wide. Jeff Rath, famous for his five-string conversions, prefers the older 4004 basses for his Rick conversions.

Of course, an alternative is stringing the bass BEAD. You'll lose the high five steps you'd have with the G string, but gain the five below E. You'll have to enlarge the nut slots and probably the saddle grooves on the bridge (4001/4003).

Yes Jeff is famous for butchering many nice Rick basses, his basses will give collectors fits in years to come.

[Dave W]

Yes Jeff is famous for butchering many nice Rick basses, his basses will give collectors fits in years to come.

I wouldn't call it butchering, and he's certainly not trying to deceive anyone into thinking that his modded basses are factory originals. Hasn't he always been open about what he's doing? Besides, Ricks are well enough documented and discussed that it would be hard for anyone else to get away with deception.

[Paul Boyer]

I wouldn't call it butchering, and he's certainly not trying to deceive anyone into thinking that his modded basses are factory originals. Hasn't he always been open about what he's doing? Besides, Ricks are well enough documented and discussed that it would be hard for anyone else to get away with deception.

Yes, and Jeff has said that he will not do unreversible mods on true vintage or otherwise collectible Ricks (at least of the ones he owned).

[the mojo hobo]

But the 5 String mod is not reversible and 4004s are potentially collectable, especially Cheyennes with nice wood. There was a nice blue one on ebay quite some time ago that I would have loved to own as a 4 string, but it had that extra hole in the head.

[bobyoung]

I wouldn't call it butchering, and he's certainly not trying to deceive anyone into thinking that his modded basses are factory originals. Hasn't he always been open about what he's doing? Besides, Ricks are well enough documented and discussed that it would be hard for anyone else to get away with deception.

Yes you're right Dave, I should have said hacked, haha! Seriously though you are right he doesn't represent them at all but he still is hacking up a lot of 4 string basses and maybe they are run of the mill Ricks (later models) but still they are irreversible mods.

[ilan]

He's trying again. Poor bass.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-Jetglo-4004L-Laredo-5-String-Bass-/371065616173?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item56653bf72d

[Dave W]

He's still asking the same as last year, and IIRC even before that, so he can't be that anxious to dump it.

[Jeff Scott]

The seller of this JR converted bass is a very well know collector and is highly knowledgeable and respected (to most, anyway  ) in the Rickenbacker community.    Yes, the selling price is possibly a bit optimistic, but we don't know what he paid for it or what the market may ultimately be in the UK.  Right now, the market is pretty slumped but this looks to be a nice bass and will probably eventually sell.

Good luck with the sale, my friend.