Inherited 1968 Ric and need advice
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:25 pm
Hello Everyone! I'm a new member looking for sage advice.
I inherited this bass from my father when he passed away two years ago on this very day. He was a bassist in his younger days and gigged this as his only bass for decades. Although he was a multi instrumentalist he only played bass live. Like many others, the dream slowly died and he left the music scene to raise his family by returning to school and continuing his life as a professional in education. He was a great father and unique man. My parents first met after my mother snuck into a club using a fake ID to get inside the door and the rest, as they say, is history. Very rock & roll. Three children, married once and forever and I'm the oldest son. I am a very hack bassist with none of the musical ability my father had but the instrument is very sentimental, as is the amp I also dragged home which is another story.
Anyhow. The bass is pretty worn out. I have some other fine playing instruments and I can tell this old Ric needs attention. Or does it?
The frets are worn smooth into the fretboard. The electronics seem good and it appears that this bass may have a later hi gain bridge pickup? I cannot tell if it originally had a pickup cover. It has a single output jack and appears to date to Dec 1968, which corroborates with the family history as it was purchased not long after. I'm reading now that this is sort of a transition year for Rickenbacker basses. The neck is wafer thin and I think the truss rods are working (likely maxed out) but the bass simply will not intonate. I installed some very light strings and did my best but it just isn't happening as the string clearance basically starts near zero at the 1st fret and gets progressively larger towards the body. Also, I have no love for this bridge design
I am not concerned at all with the body or finish wear. One of the tuners feels pretty bent in the action and I know the pickguard is not original, though well used. The mojo is priceless but it doesn't play very well. I would love to bring it back into spec with professional help but don't know if it's a smart path to pursue. I don't know who to trust working on such an instrument and even though I would like to have it refretted and set up by an expert (a Rickenbacker expert) but I don't really want it refinished. I don't mind keeping the bass as a totem but I also think it would serve better with some new life.
So, I'm really just looking for opinions on how to move forward with possible repair or restoration. I don't really know yet myself and need more information. I'm still trying to move forward after my father's passing and this being such a strong memory it's hard to make a decision.
Enjoy the pics! Although my hands are small, the baby hands in the picture do not belong to me!
https://imgur.com/RlE2b2E
https://imgur.com/hfXqWxP
https://imgur.com/IjaAEy6
https://imgur.com/13gHhG8
https://imgur.com/viknDhP
https://imgur.com/VpENkSQ
https://imgur.com/2EFbIQj
https://imgur.com/6NoQANm
https://imgur.com/a06QqWa
https://imgur.com/Csacxof
https://imgur.com/802sk1X
https://imgur.com/s5b5PY4
https://imgur.com/zqHmpuw
https://imgur.com/VEc1KWv
https://imgur.com/PSjthgZ
https://imgur.com/8YEDNNh
https://imgur.com/YBjaxfM
https://imgur.com/veZOUul
I inherited this bass from my father when he passed away two years ago on this very day. He was a bassist in his younger days and gigged this as his only bass for decades. Although he was a multi instrumentalist he only played bass live. Like many others, the dream slowly died and he left the music scene to raise his family by returning to school and continuing his life as a professional in education. He was a great father and unique man. My parents first met after my mother snuck into a club using a fake ID to get inside the door and the rest, as they say, is history. Very rock & roll. Three children, married once and forever and I'm the oldest son. I am a very hack bassist with none of the musical ability my father had but the instrument is very sentimental, as is the amp I also dragged home which is another story.
Anyhow. The bass is pretty worn out. I have some other fine playing instruments and I can tell this old Ric needs attention. Or does it?
The frets are worn smooth into the fretboard. The electronics seem good and it appears that this bass may have a later hi gain bridge pickup? I cannot tell if it originally had a pickup cover. It has a single output jack and appears to date to Dec 1968, which corroborates with the family history as it was purchased not long after. I'm reading now that this is sort of a transition year for Rickenbacker basses. The neck is wafer thin and I think the truss rods are working (likely maxed out) but the bass simply will not intonate. I installed some very light strings and did my best but it just isn't happening as the string clearance basically starts near zero at the 1st fret and gets progressively larger towards the body. Also, I have no love for this bridge design
I am not concerned at all with the body or finish wear. One of the tuners feels pretty bent in the action and I know the pickguard is not original, though well used. The mojo is priceless but it doesn't play very well. I would love to bring it back into spec with professional help but don't know if it's a smart path to pursue. I don't know who to trust working on such an instrument and even though I would like to have it refretted and set up by an expert (a Rickenbacker expert) but I don't really want it refinished. I don't mind keeping the bass as a totem but I also think it would serve better with some new life.
So, I'm really just looking for opinions on how to move forward with possible repair or restoration. I don't really know yet myself and need more information. I'm still trying to move forward after my father's passing and this being such a strong memory it's hard to make a decision.
Enjoy the pics! Although my hands are small, the baby hands in the picture do not belong to me!
https://imgur.com/RlE2b2E
https://imgur.com/hfXqWxP
https://imgur.com/IjaAEy6
https://imgur.com/13gHhG8
https://imgur.com/viknDhP
https://imgur.com/VpENkSQ
https://imgur.com/2EFbIQj
https://imgur.com/6NoQANm
https://imgur.com/a06QqWa
https://imgur.com/Csacxof
https://imgur.com/802sk1X
https://imgur.com/s5b5PY4
https://imgur.com/zqHmpuw
https://imgur.com/VEc1KWv
https://imgur.com/PSjthgZ
https://imgur.com/8YEDNNh
https://imgur.com/YBjaxfM
https://imgur.com/veZOUul