Odd TRC

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:20 pm

Looks like a nice S model, done up as a Jetglo V63ist, but I've never seen a TRC like this one: the "Made in USA" is upside down!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-RICKENBACKER-4003s-4003-s-BASS-JETGLO-HORSESHOE_W0QQitemZ7402431784QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:33 pm

I have a real Ric trc that just says Rickenbacker and no model number and no made in usa ... and it is the old style clear piece with the decal and painted white ...

henny · Post by **henny** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 5:07 am

Where have I seen this bass?!

Driving me crazy.

As beautiful as it is, I've seen it somewhere before.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 5:23 am

Ken S had it for a week or two and then sold it. Also, I think the current seller is using Ken's photos.

henny · Post by **henny** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:59 am

Bingo!

Where has Ken disappeared to, anyway?

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:01 am

He doesn't post here anymore. I think he hangs out at the Rickenbacker website's forum instead.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:29 am

Ken and another forumite got into a pissing match on a rather negative thread. Peter (the admin) wanted to put them both in the penalty box for a cooling-off period, but Ken decided he'd rather just leave altogether. Have I got that right, Peter?

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:50 am

I wonder why Ken sold the bass so quickly?

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:21 pm

Those look like Ken's mitts in the pics as well. I wonder if the seller is using any new pics of his own? Interesting that if you check the seller's feedback, you can see that the auction where he got this from Ken is no longer available for viewing. Looks like he was waiting for the evidence of his purchase to disappear before he re-listed.

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:13 pm

If the upside-down lettering isn't bad enough, it is pretty crooked, too.

Ken offered this bass for sale on the forum, I believe, and never mentioned the upside down printing until someone here questioned it after seeing these pics. Once it was brought up he went on to say it was a factory error. I don't believe for a minute something like that would get through quality control of a company like Rickenbacker.

It is funny that this bass is switching hands again.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:42 am

Another odd thing I noticed about this bass: It claims to be an '86, but it has a split pickguard. I thought that every bass made after Sep 15, 1984 is supposed to have the modern truss rod system. As far as I know, no bass with the modern truss system adjusts at the body side.

What gives?!

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:08 am

I'm not sure about the dates, either, but the "modern" truss system defines the 4003, and the first few years of the 4003 had the nuts at the body end.

rhampshire · Post by **rhampshire** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:53 am

I almost bought this one from Ken, but I already have a Jetglo '72. I bought Chris Pappas' '88 V63MG instead...

If the TRC on this bass has raised lettering, I'd bet it's legit - too hard to fake that.

anoukane · Post by **anoukane** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:02 am

Nice looking bass. I asked for pictures. My name is Phil, I don't know why he called me Rich?

His answer:
"Hi Rich
I don't have access to a digital camera,
borrowed the one I used . I have a scanner
and could give you some great scans of
specific parts, areas of the bass if you specify
what you want to see."

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:13 am

Let me shed some light on mid-'80s 4003 basses: I own a March 1986 Mapleglo 4003 with a split pickguard, but the truss rods on it look as though they can be adjusted at either end (!) via the familiar oblong adjustment nuts also found on 4001 basses. Truss rods on a February 1981 4003 I once owned could only be adjusted at the body end of the neck via two large diameter nuts.
Said March '86 4003 is truly phenomenal in that the strings I've put on it aren't exactly light gauge, yet the thin neck doesn't yield to the added pressure.