Getting a Vintage Rickenbacker Bass restored ?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Wow....that's amazing. Im not sure how my uncle got it and I don't think there is anybody who would know, this could have been in his attic for a long long time. I have always been a rick fan, being a massive fan of Chris Squire and Geddy lee, so as soon as I could afford it bought a 4003 brand new and loved it, but never did I expect to own a bass such as this. I will get it restored, hopefully by Mr.Davis when he gets in touch. I'm not sure if I could sell it considering the circumstances in which it came into my posession. Does the fact its not a RM1999 make it less valuable? Also when I get it restored will the pickup have to be remagnified? I saw an post from John Hall saying something to that effect regarding Paul McC bass when he sent it to the factory to get the horse shoe repaired - can't wait to plug this into my SVT and hear that magical bass sound from the past coming out of the speakers......

I don't think there is much difference in value between a 1964 Rose Morris 1999 and a 1964 4001S.

Any 1964 RIC bass in playable condition is worth a pile of money.

The value though is not just the wood but also all the original parts that came with it. RIC did you a favour by not putting reissue vintage parts on it and sending it back to you - even if they had time for such a project - which they certainly don't.

Sepp - who is restoring a 1968 Burgundy 4001 is having similar issues with Horseshoe magnets - perhaps he will chime in.

[bassslug]

Thanks Brian more great info I'm glad RIC pointed me toward this forum I've found out more today then I could have hoped for!!! and you mentioned that this is the earliest example of a 64 documented to date? would that have a bearing on the value. Regarding the electrics and pickup function can Larry Davis fix any of these issues ?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

and you mentioned that this is the earliest example of a 64 documented to date? would that have a bearing on the value. Regarding the electrics and pickup function can Larry Davis fix any of these issues ?

When I say documented what i really mean is data entered and collected in the register here. (more then 7700 basses in there so far).
See this link here for a list of pre 1964 basses documented so far. http://www.rickresource.com/register/in ... strings=22

DA22 was the earliest 64 bass we knew about prior to yours

Also check out this facebook group and post these same pics. I know Larry Davis, Mark Arnquist and Paul Wilczinski (Jingle Jangle) all could handle a restoration like this one - they all post on this facebook page too.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/17866548768/

Here on this forum are a number of noted collectors of Rickenbackers - people who own these exceptionally rare early basses, Graham, Vincent G, Ron, etc, etc.. The more that you post the more likely that they will chime in to answer your questions.

Also get your hands on a copy of Paul Boyer's excellent book on RIC Basses - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Rickenbacke ... 1476886806

[Kopfjaeger]

Donald,

As others have already said, that is a very very nice bass!! Congrats! You are very lucky to have her!! If you send it to Larry, he can get the shoes re-gaussed, if they need it. Larry uses the same guy that I do and it you are a big fan of Geddy Lee, this guys builds the pups Geddy uses on his Jazz basses!! Some shoes have difficulty holding onto a charge while some others do it with ease. if you touch a small steel screw to the shoes, do you feel any pull? You don't need a lot to have them power the pick up.

In my honest opinion, I would keep this as stock as possible. I mean you have the original electronics and I'd be amazed it the pots track as they should. You may need new pots but it important that they retain the correct serial number and dated cases that are on your instrument. Once again that's my opinion. On both my 1965 and 1968 4001, a had a very talented electronics whiz swap out the guts and put new pot internals into the vintage cases. I can give his name to Larry if he feels he's not up to the electronics aspect of the job.

You may very well need a new neck constructed to make this playable, depending on the type of break and how it was originally repaired.

Larry's wait list is normally in excess of 8 months before he'll tell you to ship her, but please post fotos and keep us informed on how her transformations goes!! I love the details of a complete rebuild!!.

Sepp

[bassduke49]

What about that bridge, guys?

[jps]

I believe it has already been noted, so that'a bridge that will have to be crossed.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

What about that bridge, guys?

He will have to find another one of the correct era I would guess. Refinishing and new fretboard / headstock / scarf joint perhaps?

The real question is - does he want a player out of the wreckage or does he want a collector's grade reconstruction of the bass when it left the factory - a solid finish like Jetglo is likely if there is major surgery to be done. I would vote for Blueboy or Azureglo if it was mine!

This kind of rebuild is not gonna be cheap - if you want it done properly...

First step would be to buy a copy of your book Paul and then to examine the pictures on pages 33 to 37.

[Kopfjaeger]

Cool info Brian, thanks for sharing the info. It's cool that JH still keeps tabs here on the RRF but this is exactly the type of useful info that I wish was a bit more accessible. In this case I'm not so sure that it being an RM or a 4001s really matters too much. I think the fact that's not an RM makes it a bit more interesting in that how it made it's way overseas. This instrument is obvious real since it has a traceable past and it is 99.9% correct. While did not want to drag the John Slog *********** 4001s into this thread, the serial number info off that jack would be really useful in figuring out if that instrument was real and if it is, what it started it's life as, being so much of it has changed over 50 years.

Why all the "cloak and dagger" stuff?? Beats me, knowledge is power, I suppose.

Sepp

[bassslug]

Thanks sepp and Brian although some of that went straight over my head and out the window. I do intent to get a full and proper restoration done. I also very much want to play it so I'm hopping Larry can do all aspects of the work. I've still not heard back from him yet, I guess I'll give it a few more days and try him again. Thanks again for all the great info you've shared it's made it very easy for me to get the info on this wonderful find !

[Kopfjaeger]

Donald,

Check out this thread to see what type of work Larry is capable of. He is great at huge restoration jobs that no one else in their right mind would attempt.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=409082

Sepp

[wints]

Yup, no real difference value speaking, between the RM1999 and a domestic 4001S, or what a serial number is. It's still the overall original condition.

I'm with Sepp on the secrecy on RM imports etc. It's nice to get feedback on occasion, but at times, one would think it's classified information!

We know there weren't many basses S, or deluxe, being sold back in late '63, and there may well have been instruments lying around waiting for an order. Within 6 months there's a huge demand from Europe for the S model and every bass made is going there. What's the chances that a few very early serial numbers were also shipped during the RM period to match demand? As discussed here many years ago, the 4001S wasn't even mentioned in mid to late 60's domestic brochures here in the US.

I'm sure Larry can make this bass look brand new again with a correct shade of '64 FG. This bass may well have had the slightly lighter '67 shade that makes a return back in late '66-67 of course...

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

John Hall had no info to share on this particular bass. What he did have on his desk was the Rose Morris export file. And this bass is not in that file - hence it was produced to be sold in the US and is a 4001S.

I was PMing him regarding my recently acquired Nov 67 FG 625 and he added the post script I shared earlier in the thread. He did share that one bass was made and shipped to England in January so there is one DA serial number that actually is a Rose Morris 1999. But it is not this one.

I am sorry that he no longer posts here directly - I think it is a loss to the RRF. Direct questions can always be posted to RIC's corporate forum.

[ram]

Why did he (JH) stop posting? Did someone insult him too, or was it just becoming too much?? I always enjoyed his postings.

[vjf1968]

Check out these guys in the UK

http://www.kinkadeguitars.co.uk/index.php

They have done extensive work on a couple of Dave Gregory's (XTC, Dukes Of Stratosphear, Tin Spirits) vintage Ricks. Especially his 1964 "RM1993" 12 string which had a broken headstock and missing pieces.

[8mileshigh]

Also, talk to Gordon at Knight Guitars (UK based).....

http://www.knight-guitars.com