They call me master of the obvious...

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

loendmaestro
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1495
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:53 pm
Contact:

They call me master of the obvious...

Post by loendmaestro »

...because I just found out how good my 1974 4001 really sounds. I've owned this guitar for 19 years, & it had a pretty rough existence before I bought it at the tender young age of 16. I used to gig with it back in the day, but slowly as I acquired more basses it was put at the bottom of the pecking order. It had some issues & seemingly suffered from neglect. I later got a 3001 & a 4003 & the ol' 74 sorta became wall art.

Well....all that has changed.

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I had just got it back from my luthier for it's 400,000 mile checkup & overhaul. The bridge pickup was dead so he had it rewound by none other than Lindy Fralin. I also had the .0047 cap removed.

Last night was the first time I've played that bass in a band setting in over 5 years.

Wow.

Obviously the "stock" nature of the bass has changed with the cap removal & especially the rewind on the p/u, but good god did that bass scream last night. Way more boom that I remember (uh, for obvious reasons). And the high notes had an inordinate amount of balls! The neck also seems SO THIN compared to my other Ricks. It was one of those nights where you're just tearing it up the whole time. I think the bass was rewarding me for picking her up again.

I sort of feel like an idiot because (of my own apathy) I have been living without the benefits of a 70s Rick even though there has been one in my possession the whole time.

I have a distinct feeling that (at least for a little while) my other basses are gonna be really jealous.


Forgive me for going on so long, but I had to share this amazing revelation with somebody - and you people here are the only ones who would care!

Image
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

I like my Azureglo 78 a lot for the same reasons.
User avatar
thx1955
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2824
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 6:00 am
Contact:

Post by thx1955 »

It's always nice to reunite with an old friend, well done Chris !!
"It's Red Jim, but not as we know it...."
titanic_tony
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2002 5:30 am
Contact:

Post by titanic_tony »

Chris,
I had the same experience with my Jetglo '79 after doing the cap bypass. Love the low end and the nice thin neck. Now my '73 Jazz is jealous.
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

When I first bypassed the cap in my 79 I was amazed, it was like having a brand new bass.
User avatar
wints
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 6481
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2001 11:21 am

Post by wints »

I am amazed at the difference between a 72 that I have that is bypassed and the rest of the early basses that are not...
That tone is really what a Ric bass should sound like. Off to bypass the 73 FL this week...
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

Is Sérgio next?
loendmaestro
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1495
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:53 pm
Contact:

Post by loendmaestro »

Words really can't describe the difference...
rickcrazy
RRF Consultant
Posts: 3578
Joined: Thu May 30, 2002 4:11 am

Post by rickcrazy »

No way, haha.
A Rickenbacker bass is much like the Jaguar E car - perennially ultra-fashionable.
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

haha! I was waiting for that one. I think he may have a few choice words for the difference.
User avatar
pflash4001
Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:52 am
Contact:

Post by pflash4001 »

So what does one have to do to remove the cap? I don't want to screw things up, but am interested in trying this on my '79 4001. Thanks for your help!
Never ask "how much worse could it possibly get?"
shinynewtoy
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1347
Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 7:46 pm

Post by shinynewtoy »

Javier...

Go here. Pictures, descriptions, and accounts of the whole shebang.

http://www.vintagebass.com/thedudepit/showthread.php?p=15916#post15916
What do you mean the Bass is too loud???
User avatar
pflash4001
Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:52 am
Contact:

Post by pflash4001 »

Thanks for the help. I tried to post some pics of the bass, but had trouble last time. Let me try it again.

Image

Image
Never ask "how much worse could it possibly get?"
User avatar
pflash4001
Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:52 am
Contact:

Post by pflash4001 »

Finally worked! Thanks for the info!
Never ask "how much worse could it possibly get?"
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37512
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Post by jps »

A Rickenbacker in a country band, now that is something you don't see every day! Image
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”