Don't see this every day

[bassduke49]

I've even asked for and received photos of this in case there is a second edition of the book!:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-Rickenback ... rmvSB=true

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

November 1987. K0 7308

The receipt shows it was a special order.

I put it into the register after the dealer shared images on the RIC fan Facebook group.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... p?id=46950

I wonder how it sounds?

I hope there is a second edition Paul.. Fingers crossed.

[bassduke49]

I'm gathering photos for it, but the first edition has not sold out yet, so not even talk about it yet.

[sloop_john_b]

First mention here from 2002: http://fretlessbass.com/user-submitted- ... 02-000202/

Midnight Blue example: https://reverb.com/item/283774-1987-ric ... super-rare

Lest we forget the fretless 8-string! http://www.rickresource.com/rrp/coverin ... 038fl.html

[bassduke49]

Thanks, John! (How you doin'? Long time!) The vendor also sent me photos of the MID fretless fiver that they handled.

These are perfect examples of why I did not feature the fretless as a separate "model" in the book. Though the only official fretless models to appear on the price sheets have been the 4001FL and 4003FL, we have seen fretless examples of 4000, 4001S, 3001, 4002, 4003S, and now the 4003S/5 and 4003S/8. I'm surprised that no fretless 4004 has turned up yet.

[teeder]

Only two months from special order to picking the bass up!

[bassduke49]

Only two months from special order to picking the bass up!

Yeah, those were the days, eh?

[edski]

I'm surprised that no fretless 4004 has turned up yet.

Woody Cross defretted one of his 4004's, not that that "counts" in this case. Oh, and the neck on my custom fretless was based mostly on my Laredo, so it's sorta like kinda a 4004FL (and also like a J bass and also like a MusicMan)...but still "no sale"

When did RIC start ignoring the custom order market? This bass was about 5 years before the 4004 appeared.

[bassduke49]

Not a case of "ignoring" the custom market, just a realization that they couldn't maintain it as interest and sales increase on the standard production models. Remember the two-year waiting list? That also killed off the five- and eight-string production as well as the "Color of the Year" program. Now that production capacity has increased and wait times have shrunk, we may see the occasional limited runs like the Snowglo now and then. Just my two pennies worth.

[edski]

Just my two pennies worth.

Certainly worth more than that!

Good points. I was rather unartful with my words there. Just seems that up to maybe early 90's there was an occasional surprise like a fretless 8 string. Or those RCA models (that double neck 4004 Ci and 650? is to die for! At least for me)...

[woodyng]

I'm surprised that no fretless 4004 has turned up yet.

Woody Cross defretted one of his 4004's, not that that "counts" in this case. Oh, and the neck on my custom fretless was based mostly on my Laredo, so it's sorta like kinda a 4004FL (and also like a J bass and also like a MusicMan)...but still "no sale"

When did RIC start ignoring the custom order market? This bass was about 5 years before the 4004 appeared.

I'd still like to see a fretless 4004 produced by the company,but i decided to do mine because i thought the lowered pickup positions might also be better for fretless,epecially the bridge pickup.
I do sometimes miss how great that bass sounded WITH frets,though.