Lemmy's original bass

delberthot · Post by **delberthot** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:04 pm

Okay, at the risk of being unpopular, no one seems to have discussed Lemmy's original Rick in any great detail.

Bought off a guy whom he reckons stole it, maple fretboard - I would like to know if it really is a genuine Rick as I have never ever seen a maple fretboard on a Rick ever.

Obviously the stars where the fret markers should be have been added but I cannnot get past the maple fretboard.

Please put me out of my misery, this has been driving me nuts for a while now.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:54 pm

He stated that he got it in the late sixties, so that would be prior to the first Rickenbacker copy basses appearing, so I guess it must be a genuine Rick. Maybe the person who owned prior to Lemmy had it refurbished by a luthier and had the maple fingerboard added.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:24 pm

Didn't leave the factory with a maple fretboard, that's for sure.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:35 pm

What? Rick doesn't make maple fretboards??? Oh my god, is it a Rickenfaker?!?!

Nyuk, nyuk!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:53 pm

Well, they didn't when Lemmy got his first one! Although there was that prototype 615 in the Smith book...

My 4004cii is coming very soon, John! So excited.

pekka · Post by **pekka** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:03 pm

I thought this was Lemmy's first Rickenbacker:
http://www.starfarer.net/galleryo/nch74_lemmy2.jpg

http://www.huwlloyd-langton.co.uk/hawkw ... 8mhead.jpg

Looks like a 4001 S (or RM 1999) w/ a Thunderbird pickup at the neck position.

The maplefretboarded one has the "Out to lynch" slogan? I've never seen a pic of it from the early years-

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:27 am

Neither looks maple to me. I did notice a capo on the neck at the second fret position in the second pic.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:34 am

Looks like the same bass in both pix to me. No HS PU in it.

pekka · Post by **pekka** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:52 am

Yeah, it is the same bass in both pix and in my opinion Lemmy's first Ric. I didn't mean it was the one with the maple fretboard. The Rickenbacker discussed in the first post might be this:
http://www.motorhead.ru/pics/1/profil.jpg

pekka · Post by **pekka** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:10 am

Here's a bootleg cover which shows both basses:
http://www.motorhead.ru/singles/lemmymania.jpg

Later pics show both basses modified with mirror scratchplate (or pickguard).

Maybe the mapleboard one is a custom made copy?

pekka · Post by **pekka** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:12 am

Here's Lemster with an early 4003MG:
http://www.motorhead.ru/singles/ovation.jpg

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:28 am

There be 21 frets on that there 'board!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:03 pm

Yeah, but that's not a 21 fretter proper. Someone (Lemmy hisself?) added the 21st fret to that 4003 somewhere along the line.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:07 pm

Looks like a custom fingerboard for sure, it hangs out over the pickguard a bit.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:08 pm

I seem to remember another one with German style military crosses for fretmarkers. I think is was on an episode of The Young Ones.