Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thanks Cheyenne! Note the Rickenbacker knobs on both control plates.
About what's hidden under the Jazz Bass pickup cover - I read somewhere that it was a Jazz bass pickup. It was on the internet, so it must be true! Makes some sense - P/J conversions were all the rage at one time.
Interesting ...

take a look at this '77 481 on eBay and see if you think it's truly glossy as it appears to me, or if it's a shined-up satin. It is clearly marked "Autumn" in the routing.

Bob, I think a lot of ebay posters don't know the difference between autumn and walnut, especially if they are not the ...

I was bowled over by Squire and Yes on the Yes Album tour.(incidentally it was Chris's Telecaster Bass that caught my eyes and ears at those gigs)

I agree - tone is mostly in the hands. But the type of bass and strings do factor in.

Like most posting here, as a teen in the '70s I was trying to ...

I used Rotosounds on my '76 4001 for decades before becoming unhappy with how quickly they lose their zing and go dead. I switched to D'Addario XLs on my 4001 - they last a long time, but I eventually didn't like their tone. I tried GHS Blue Steel on my Blackstar and was less than impressed with the ...

By coincidence I found this post today - I just replaced the XL-170s on my '76 4001 with GHS Bass Boomers. I had been using D'Addario strings on it for a few years after using Rotosounds since '76. But over these last few years, my 4001 has fallen out of favor (as has my Blackstar, but that's ...

I used Rotosound RS 66 LD on my '76 4001 for decades and on my other basses too. The frets on my 4001 have flat spots in several places - not surprising maybe given its age - but I did switch to D'Addario XL 170s on it a few years ago. They have a lot of 'zing' and stay bright for a long time ...

The recorded version of 'Opportunity' I believe was his Fender Tele Bass....also employed on 'South Side of The Sky'.


The more I listen, the more it sounds to me like many of the earlier songs were recorded with the Telecaster Bass. Perpetual Change included.
But Rickenbacker or Fender, it ...

Cheaper to buy a 4001V63 and have it refinished in cream by Paul W. Have the walnut wings stained fireglo - that's the original color of Chris' RM and I assume the wings of his bass were left red when the rest of the bass was finished in cream. I bought a 4001V63 with that exact intention but had ...

Bummer, I'd like to attend, but I'm hiking the Grand Canyon that weekend!

FYI - I emailed the factory in the off chance a black tailpiece was hanging around (it wasn't) and they referred me to Chris at Pick of the Ricks.

I know there has been massive discussion regarding the tail lift. I have personally never believed its a design or material flaw just because of lack of proof that it actually happens on a large scale. if it was such a big problem as is talked about in such a length as it is , 1- dont you think ...

Thanks guys! My tail lift is way less than your 'before' and a little more than your 'after'. Thanks for the thread, I'm not sure I'm up for bending it myself.
Sepp, can you recommend the place where you had it done? Or can anyone recommend a place in SoCal?

I have a 1989 4003 Blackstar and it is suffering from extreme tail lift. I hear the black finish tailpieces are susceptable to tail lift - more than the standard chome finish tails. I think the tail lift is affecting my ability to set the action where I want it (low).

The only tailpieces I see for ...

My '76 4001. If there was a fire at my house, I'd grab my daughter and my 4001 and call my wife from outside. Joking. Mostly.
My '76 has the best action of any bass I own and after 36 years, my fingers know where to go. It has great tone. Besides, I bought it with paper route money.

I like it a ...

Malekko makes a replica, the B:assmaster. I'd go with germanium.
http://malekkoheavyindustry.com/product/b-assmaster-g/

As pointed out, real Brassmasters are going for big bucks on e-bay. Surprisingly, Flea uses a b:assmaster these days.