Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm afraid that I'm solidly in the "NOOOOO.. leave it a 4000" camp. Yes, it does need some work to put it back "stock" (which most people would want, I imagine), but cutting it up to "make it a 4001" won't really work, IMO. It won't ever be a 4001; at best, you'd just h...

Originally from Roswell Army Air Field in Roswell, New Mexico (yes, that Roswell). Been living in Las Vegas, Nevada for about 32 years now. Trying to get several bass/guitar projects done this year; have put them off for too long (especially the '87 330 Rick).

Yeah, it's not very pretty; but it can always be painted (and then you'd never know). Question is, how's it sound?? Just might be pretty nice. And anyway, I've got 2 very good sounding basses that are made out of plywood and Masonite - can you say "Danelectro"?

EXCELLENT news, William! (Welcome, by the way). Nice to hear that Rickenbacker hasn't forgotten us leftys again, after all. I'm a little envious; there's no way I can play a 12-string. With my big stubby fingers, the best I've ever managed was fretting only .4 strings at a time; and that was on an ...

Yes, it's extra work (and expense) to revarnish the fretboard. I'm not sure you could pull the frets without messing the varnish up badly; especially if it was an older guitar, like my 330 is. The finish comes off the thing if you look cross-eyed at it. I just had the neck stripped when I had it ref...

Gee, hate to be a contrarian (sort of) but the necks on my '01 4003 and '73 4001 are practically clones. Both a very flattened D in cross-section, and as thin and fast as any bass I've ever played. I have an Epi EA-260 from the early '70s that's pretty much the same - maybe a hair thinner, but not q...

Absolutely - as long as the bubbles stay in the glass.

I think they're both pretty much the same thing. As others have said, a Hollowbody guitar is just that; hollow inside, with maybe some kind of kerfing or bracing in there. My Epiphone EA-250 guitar is like that, as is my Gretsch Broadkaster bass. A semi-hollow body is a hollowbody with a "tone ...

I have the factory 45-95s on my 4003. They are lighter than the strings I usually use (50-105) on most of my basses, but they do feel and sound very nice.
Plus, they're a good contrast to the strings on my 4001 (RS 77s). Not much difference between them, otherwise (to me, anyway).

My cure for tail lift?
1. Make sure all the tailpiece screws are good and tight.
2. Don't use bridge cables for strings.
Both my '73 4001 and '01 4003 have exactly the same amount of tail lift; just barely the thickness of a credit card. No problem.

That looks nice. Mine, unfortunately, was broken/lost/stolen in one of my family's endless transfers to another base, or else, just given away; don't remember which, any more (oh, the many joys of being a GI brat!). I do remember that it was a pretty simple AM radio, with one knob and a round tuner ...

I guess it depends; exactly how small do you want? How much power? On the rare occasions when I do play a guitar, I use either a Gretsch Electromatic, or an old Rickenbacker TR-7. the Gretsch is a pretty small thing; 5Watt tube amp with a 6' speaker. It's a decent practice amp (also used as a record...

Congratulations! Hope you enjoy it a lot !. As for a fellow lefty having a dream come true, I'll just say "maybe". But (and don't tell anybody) it isn't a Rick. I have a bad Jones for vintage stuff, and I may have scored a lefty repro ( very accurate repro) of a '60s Ampeg AEB-1 bass. Eage...

I'm old enough to remember when Bakelite was still fairly common (thank you very much for reminding me!); I had a nice little tabletop radio with a Bakelite body when I was a kid. And thanks John, for the bit of info about the asbestos; I always wondered what that fuzzy stuff was when you broke it. ...

Well, I looked at PotR's website yesterday, and just got off the phone with Chris Clayton a minute or two ago. Yes, he has 2 Right-handed 4004's; he has no leftys, and RIC is not accepting orders for them. So, I was right (neener, neener); Slim left town. Actually, I don't think I want to buy anythi...