This has to be a converted fretless, right???

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:36 am

http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-4001-FRETLESS-1973_W0QQitemZ7349332689QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:47 am

Most likely, given the fret lines on the finger board and the triangle inlays; as I recall the fretless factory ones have dots not triangles for inlays.. The limited pictures tend to illustrate a well done job, at least to my untrained eye. This could be reversed with a little effort, this time with your choice of fretwire.

This looks like a VERY nice piece, I bet it goes for $1800 or so.

No split tailpiece, standard TRC (not plexi, to my eyes anyway) so it has some interesting transition features- no apparent buckle rash, maybe it is a clear refin?
Looks nice. If my truck didn;t just die on me I might consider.....

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:57 am

Factory fretless wouldn't have the dark lines across the fretboard, and as Dave said, Fretless have dots, not the shark fins.

Looks nice for Mapleglo.

skit · Post by **skit** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:20 am

Nice, Probably defretted.. still it looks like a good job.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:32 am

someone will buy it

wints · Post by **wints** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:08 am

I might...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:12 am

Why can't every bass just have checkerboard binding? It's so nice...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:57 am

yep it is converted ...

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:09 am

Andy,go for it!

1rr3l3v4n7 · Post by **1rr3l3v4n7** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:33 am

WOW! She's nice...

But... well, I know a bassist (a fender addict) who once had a Rick (late 70's 4001BG I think)wich was defretted. He said he had problems with the pitch and the sound in general; he said it was the biggest mistake of his life (to have it defretted, that is)...

I just wonder if this one will sound as well as it looks...

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:49 am

Is it a very dumb question, but can it not be REfretted?

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:00 am

Probably very easily Bob,somebody snag it,its nice!Don't let it escape to the outside,we must own them all.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:30 am

Check out how close the strings are to the toaster and the bridge P/U surround, they look as if the might be nearly touching. On my 72 they are quite close, but this one looks much worse...? Could be quite a problem to sort out.