John Hall, what kind of Rick bass did I see?

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:53 pm

Just to clarify things: This was designed by Forrest White in the 60's, built at the Electro String Factory, owned by the Rickenbacker Company, stolen from the showroom sometime in the 70's. In 1979, Eddie Espinosa came to my shop in Tustin with this Bass wanting to sell it for his brother. I took it to be a Rickenbacker creation right away and bought it. The Peghead was broken slightly(which I repaired) I also put a Gold truss rod cover on it, the neck is just like a Fender with the adjustment nut at the heel, yes it has a bolt on neck, and I made a Gold pickguard for it. The original one was made from Formica (countertop material) I still have it somewhere in my shop, just need to look and find it so I can return it someday. In 1981 the Bass was stolen again, it turned up at a Music Store in the L.A. Hollywood area, John retrieved the instrument, being it's rightful owner and has had it in the Showroom ever since.

gray · Post by **gray** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:36 pm

Thank you for clarifying that, Dale.
That is a truly interesting bass, a real part of history!
Now then: so, that's the famous Dumpster bass up there. I am out of the loop, though, so I must again ask, what is it?

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:04 pm

I believe it's referred to as the Dumpster bass because it should have been cut up and put in the recycle wood dumpster.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:01 pm

Wow, that is an amazing piece of history. So the MusicMan bass prototype was a Rickenbacker... Maybe I should post a link to this thread in a MusicMan forum.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:54 am

Wow,

Hey Joey & Jeff,

Those are the BEST pictures I've seen of the Dumpster bass! Thanks!

That damn thing is EROTIC. Yes, I know, I need help, but HUBBA-HUBBA.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:17 am

Jeffrey, Joey, that IS the one I saw the 3+1 headstock is the dead give away.

Another Stingray prototype I saw had a Fender Mustang bass pickup and a Fender P-bass neck and there were prototypes with P-bass split pickups but which already had the 3+1 headstock and the egg shaped pickguard.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:29 am

Tony, you haven't seen these photos?

Courtesy John Hall.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:30 am

Great stories, but I'm confused...is this business about a "Music Man" prototype being that Rick with the 3+1 headstock, merely speculation, or is this a recognized provenance/lineage? There's a huge difference between an "official" connection having been made and mere speculation leading to an undeserved and hyperbolic name that sticks.

And how does the "dumpster bass" rate such reverence? What is special about it aside from its looks and back story? Does it have any unique features that make it sound different or play better?

(Because I, for one, think it's pretty odd-looking...the grain is tortured; the light-colored grain filler, which looks fine on a fretboard, is over the top on such a huge area; the laminate pickguard fights with the grain of the body. Why not install the electronics from the back like a 4004 if you're going to try to make the guard "invisible"--it would look scads better with a white or black guard in the traditional 4001 shape. Lastly, the checkerboard binding with everything else that goes on, makes it look like a candy box...)

I do like the idea of the so-called "German" carve and could imagine it and the checkerboard on a "normal" 4003-ish bass in a solid color, or tasteful burst, though.

And I can also see why something like this would never make it into production...cost to produce would be astronomical.

So, what is it, guys--is it just that it's a one-off?

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:58 am

It's a one off. It almost wound up in the dumpster. The wood has a beautiful flame to it, but after it was routed a knot was seen on the side, which would not be good for sale. Instead of destroying it and throwing it in the dumpster, a worker at RIC had the idea to put a walnut top on the bass. If you look at the maple on the side of the bass (opposite side of Jeff's pic) you can see the knot.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:03 am

If my memory serves me correctly they had a bass that when milled in the cnc it exposed a flaw in the wood ... this bass was headed towards the dumpster ... but they shaved the body and they laminated walnut or bubinga onto the top and created the "dumpster" bass ... I believe the pickguard is wood ...

Ric got some queries as to wether they could build some more of these basses ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:06 am

I'm pretty sure the pickguard is wood.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:17 am

Well before calling in the CIA to clear up all this confusion, remember: Forrest worked for Fender, Electro String, Music Man, and G&L. He was a part of their design team and had an influence on various instruments being built. While this Bass was in my possession I showed it to several friends who worked at Fender, no one knew much about it until John English and Mark Mortensen who worked for Forrest at Music Man, confirmed that it was one of his simplistic spin offs from Fender designs. The peg head has a slight angle, about 7 degrees to it, it never had any active electronics in it, just simple passive controls. When I made the pickguard I did not unsolder any of the controls, but I never checked the original date codes on them, so this could be done and put a date to the instrument.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:26 am

Control, would you believe?...

gray · Post by **gray** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:35 am

I think it's really neat. I'd buy one. I agree that the pickgaurd/TRC thing throws one off a little, but I love the concept, and the German carve goes really well, IMO.
Glad I finally know what it is and the story behind it.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:37 am

Joey, you are so quick and witty. Maybe we'd better bring in Agent 99...