I agree with Andrew's views on the history of this bass, I'd like to think I know the early history of Rickenbacker basses, but, time and time again Andrew has offered valuable and key insights into the unique history of the 60's 4000 series.
Each time he offers advice it's always a positive, so for me if "Andrew, or Ted Stabrow" says it's so, I tend to believe them. This is a unique and rare Ric, hopefully it will find a great home to a Forum member.
On another note, Elys, drop me an Email if you would, I'm thinking about taking my 4003 to Bass North West, I remember you saying you'd had a good experience with these guys.
Since moving north my 4003 is having some issues with the move to a more humid climate, despite my best and patient efforts I think I need to take her to someone with a little more experience than myself.
1964!
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Lost Coyotes
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Mike, your '73 bass's knobs should have the lettering on the shiney inserts, with a dot on the top and on the skirt of the knob. The consensus among most of us that observe this kind of thing believe that the earliest versions of the chrome-top knobs are like what you see on this '64 4001 on ebay...no lettering on the insert and a dash on the top of the knob and a dot on the skirt. Some may have had a dash on the skirt, but this isn't concrete...
Having said that, it won't be at all difficult to find the correct knobs for your bass if you wish to replace them.
Having said that, it won't be at all difficult to find the correct knobs for your bass if you wish to replace them.
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Lost Coyotes
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bob_atherton
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Vincent, I hear things about you from time to time on this forum, and a great deal about your bass collection. I just wondered if you ever get to play the basses in a band? Also if you had to keep just one bass, or maybe two, what bass would that be?
I am just a mere mortal in relation to your bass collection, and my two favorite Rics are my '72 4001 and my '73 4000. If I had to keep just one it would be the 4000 as that is the one that I gig with.
I am just a mere mortal in relation to your bass collection, and my two favorite Rics are my '72 4001 and my '73 4000. If I had to keep just one it would be the 4000 as that is the one that I gig with.
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headbanger
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Elys posted: "The use of the term "poor" is a sympathetic lament to how the past owners did not leave it stock-original for our benefit today! It is not saying that the instrument is poor in any way. Quite the opposite! Of course it could be put back right, with the right parts."
It has the correct late 64 pickup surround, there were two versions used in that year, one like that seen on Chris Squires bass and one like this.
It has the correct late 64 pickup surround, there were two versions used in that year, one like that seen on Chris Squires bass and one like this.
Ah... here's where all the action is. I was waiting for this conversation to play out on the thread in 'Ricks for sale.'
I've got to say, I disagree with the 'Dibs!' policy in bidding. That's to assume that whoever says "I want it!" first should be able to bid on said item exclusively while everyone else on the forum stands aside. What about the folks who DIDN'T see the auction first? They don't have a right to bid? Personally, what I think would be fair is if those who already have '60's era guitars in their collection stand aside and let those who don't have one yet have a chance to bid. Vincent - you said that you've already got a 1964 4001 MG's just like this in your collection, right? Elys, I know you've got an impressive number of 60's era guitars in your collection, too. I'm not saying that my stance is a moral compass that all should emulate, or that the field of commerce should be governed by strict ethical parameters. It's not WRONG for you guys to bid on this bass, but it would be cool if you exercised courtesy towards some of the guys who may express interest in this bass who don't already have one. I've already got two basses from the 60's in my collection. I won't be bidding on this one.
I've got to say, I disagree with the 'Dibs!' policy in bidding. That's to assume that whoever says "I want it!" first should be able to bid on said item exclusively while everyone else on the forum stands aside. What about the folks who DIDN'T see the auction first? They don't have a right to bid? Personally, what I think would be fair is if those who already have '60's era guitars in their collection stand aside and let those who don't have one yet have a chance to bid. Vincent - you said that you've already got a 1964 4001 MG's just like this in your collection, right? Elys, I know you've got an impressive number of 60's era guitars in your collection, too. I'm not saying that my stance is a moral compass that all should emulate, or that the field of commerce should be governed by strict ethical parameters. It's not WRONG for you guys to bid on this bass, but it would be cool if you exercised courtesy towards some of the guys who may express interest in this bass who don't already have one. I've already got two basses from the 60's in my collection. I won't be bidding on this one.
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incubus2432
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The "dibs" policy is odd. If someone who wants it has enough to outbid another then so be it. The hoarding mentality is, unfortunately, part of guitar/bass collecting and part of the reason why the bidding gets crazy. It is what it is and is why I don't even get excited about the more collectible vintage Rics.
I'd love to get a '73 like my first for sentimental reasons but it will likely never happen due to the current market.
I'd love to get a '73 like my first for sentimental reasons but it will likely never happen due to the current market.
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headbanger
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I only really love one bass. That's why I flipped the 1999 that Mark got & the 72 FL that Vince got. I got them at good prices and sold them at a profit, that to me is the name of the game, it's called free enterprise.
If I find another RM down here everybody will get the same chance to buy it but nobody's getting this one.
If I find another RM down here everybody will get the same chance to buy it but nobody's getting this one.
It does work nicely, under the right circumstances, but the real collector pieces don't fall into this realm at all.
More mundane sales revolving around a certain color on a common model, for example, which may hold more value to a particular member than another do fit in this mold.
It is nice when this occurs, and I've personally benefitted from this kind attitude once, and DO really appreciate this, but it's a free market & there are no rules, save those we impose on ourselves.
I'd readily do the same for someone else who had more interest in a particular piece than me, but then I'm not a collector, either.
Sales offered to forum members as 'first come, first served', however, should be honored as intended, since that's what is implied in those items posted for sale here before going off to ebay.
More mundane sales revolving around a certain color on a common model, for example, which may hold more value to a particular member than another do fit in this mold.
It is nice when this occurs, and I've personally benefitted from this kind attitude once, and DO really appreciate this, but it's a free market & there are no rules, save those we impose on ourselves.
I'd readily do the same for someone else who had more interest in a particular piece than me, but then I'm not a collector, either.
Sales offered to forum members as 'first come, first served', however, should be honored as intended, since that's what is implied in those items posted for sale here before going off to ebay.
Plus five minus five!
Sergio, they must have simply inserted a flat alnico or other higher-density magnet beneath the pickup, in response to a past owner's desire to get full access to the top of the strings. One of my 64s had had that done to it, and it was easy to fix (that seller, the original owner, was foresighted enough to have included the original early-64 horseshoe halves in a cloth bag inside the case when he sold it to me). The other three were, thankfully, all-original, and replacing parts was never a worry.
As I said earlier, when referring to the altered pickup assembly and the tuners: I am not saying that the instrument is poor in any way. Quite the opposite! Of course it could be put back right, with the right parts.
And that means taking out the bobbin, removing the magnet (hopefully it will have the original baseplate) and restoring a pair of replacement horseshoe pieces. And, getting rid of the incorrect tuners with the phillips screws and replacing them with good approximations of the originals. True it will never be all-original, but for some of those out there who do not have one or more 64s already, it will be good enough.
I do take Mark Walker's words to heart, by the way, and am thus still not planning to bid on this one. Why? Well, I did swear I would never again be hurt or taken advantage of on early-60s Rick basses that had been tampered with by an ignorant or dishonest former owner or seller, after that last supposedly all-original 1960 model 4000 that I bought that turned out to have had one pot changed out, and will only buy perfect all-originals from now on. And this MG 64 has been tampered with or altered. Granted, it is way better than some I have seen. I was once even offerred over the Internet a cruelly-stripped 1964 deluxe body by a delusional seller who was keeping the better ones he owned for himself, for over $10K, with cut-up wood and chipped finish, and the promise of some mismatched hardware pieces that may or may not even fit the period, and it was all I could do to be polite and Just Say No. I bet that guy still harbors a grudge because he really thought it was a good deal. But that is not the main reason.
The main reason is that I do still believe, in my best Don Juan fashion, that Forumites who do not yet have a 64 Rick bass should be given first preference when such a bass appears in the Forum For Sale threads, and that I and others who already have lots of them should back off.
I admire Mark when he states that esprit du corps should still be treasured, to the benefit of Forumites who don't have even their first one yet, and is much better than sheer selfishness on my part or anyone else's.
As I said earlier, when referring to the altered pickup assembly and the tuners: I am not saying that the instrument is poor in any way. Quite the opposite! Of course it could be put back right, with the right parts.
And that means taking out the bobbin, removing the magnet (hopefully it will have the original baseplate) and restoring a pair of replacement horseshoe pieces. And, getting rid of the incorrect tuners with the phillips screws and replacing them with good approximations of the originals. True it will never be all-original, but for some of those out there who do not have one or more 64s already, it will be good enough.
I do take Mark Walker's words to heart, by the way, and am thus still not planning to bid on this one. Why? Well, I did swear I would never again be hurt or taken advantage of on early-60s Rick basses that had been tampered with by an ignorant or dishonest former owner or seller, after that last supposedly all-original 1960 model 4000 that I bought that turned out to have had one pot changed out, and will only buy perfect all-originals from now on. And this MG 64 has been tampered with or altered. Granted, it is way better than some I have seen. I was once even offerred over the Internet a cruelly-stripped 1964 deluxe body by a delusional seller who was keeping the better ones he owned for himself, for over $10K, with cut-up wood and chipped finish, and the promise of some mismatched hardware pieces that may or may not even fit the period, and it was all I could do to be polite and Just Say No. I bet that guy still harbors a grudge because he really thought it was a good deal. But that is not the main reason.
The main reason is that I do still believe, in my best Don Juan fashion, that Forumites who do not yet have a 64 Rick bass should be given first preference when such a bass appears in the Forum For Sale threads, and that I and others who already have lots of them should back off.
I admire Mark when he states that esprit du corps should still be treasured, to the benefit of Forumites who don't have even their first one yet, and is much better than sheer selfishness on my part or anyone else's.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and sit in with the band whenever you can, to keep your chops up!
Kevin, I do agree with you that if a Forumite offers his Rick on the Forum as FCFS to other Forumites, THEN the FCFS should be strictly honored,even if a later reader offers the Forum seller more before it is shipped to the first buyer. So far, I have yet to see a case where it was not honored... (knock on body wings) 
And yes, I shamelessly have done this with FCFS Forum sellers' offers both on the 1969 AZ and the 1966 4005 WB...as well as a good number of others too
And yes, I shamelessly have done this with FCFS Forum sellers' offers both on the 1969 AZ and the 1966 4005 WB...as well as a good number of others too
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and sit in with the band whenever you can, to keep your chops up!