For those Jones'in for a Desert Gold . . .

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:53 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-4003-BASS-DESERT-GOLD-RARE_W0QQitemZ110085369764QQihZ001QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:24 pm

Now that is well-worth it at the opening price. Not sure about the pain-point as it goes up. Decent shape for the axe, that case is NOT original, caveat emptor. It is a $149 new aftermarket second. I should know, I just bought a couple for guitars with no cases here. Subtract that from the price, and you are looking at a starting price of only $859 for a near-mint 2001 DesertGold. Not bad

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:34 pm

Why is that an "aftermarket" case? That looks to be a silver vintage Ric case.....it could have been bought as an upgrade when the 4003 was originally ordered. Or it could have been bought afterwards but either way is nothing to be wary of. I'd stick with the standard SKB style but the vintage Ric cases are nice pieces as well.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:49 pm

I wrote the seller.

They are not bad aftermarket cases, BTW

They are factory-seconds, according to the 3rd party case vendor.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:07 pm

If you look carefully at the pic with the case in it, you can just make out the Rickenbacker metal tag on it. Now that's a $279.00 case.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:34 pm

My $149 case has the Rickenbacker tag on it too, just like what you see.

Oops. sorry, my mistake it was $159. Here is the web link to the auction. Look especially at the third photo down:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140076839019&rd=1&rd=1

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:44 pm

OK.....but that is a Rickenbacker case....not an aftermarket. The auction you linked is simply a used authentic Rickenbacker case. Am I missing something? It's not a big deal either way....

edit.....I think maybe you are misunderstanding the description in the auction you linked. It is a reissue of Rics silver '60's case....but it is a "reissue" by Rickenbacker. Am I on target with what you were thinking....that it was a knockoff by someone else of a Rickenbacker case? Again, not a big deal....just trying to clarify.

kernkamp · Post by **kernkamp** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:55 pm

My desert Gold 4003 came with the Silver Case too when I bought it new. Shortly after I bought it is when they stopped shipping standard 4003 basses with the silver cases.

Mine also ended up in Texas after I sold it. I wonder if this is it . . . Hmmmmmmm

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:33 pm

I guess I will have no way of knowing for sure. But when I say aftermarket, I am referring to the fact that it was sold not by RIC directly and not by a RIC-auth dealer, but by a third-party who represented that they had original made-in-USA cases authorized or made by/for Rickenbacker.

It is truly indistinguishable from a $279 case at my local dealer - I took it down to my local retail dealer to see after I got one, and it is spot-on identical, down to the smell. The seller Albert further said he got them from RIC. He say he has more in stock, so write him: [email protected]

Dunno, but it looks legit and for a LOT less money. YMMV

libratune · Post by **libratune** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:58 am

If it's got a RIC nameplate on it, it's not aftermarket. It was made by the supplier who makes RIC silver tolex cases. Whether it came with the bass at the time of purchase is another matter. When that bass was being sold in 2001-02, the 'vintage silver' case was an upgrade option for it. So maybe it was upgraded at the time of purchase or later. What is the difference? The price, depending on who you purchase it from.

BTW I have always had good experiences dealing with Albert. He is the man for cases. If he does not have it, he can usually get it. And the new ones are brand, spanking new, wrapped in a big baggie in a snug-fit box - dare I say - from the factory?