How fragile are old rics?

[gibsonlp]

I'll split this question into 2 parts:

1. Will both my 366/12 (67) and my 4001 (72) outlive me? can I play them on a regular basis (rehearsals, home, etc...) or should I "keep" them for special occasions (recordings)?
2. Would you feel comfortable using a gigbag with your vintage ric? I have a pretty solid bass warwick rockbag with lots of cusioning, I wonder if it is sane putting my '72 4001 inside it or am I being too lazy and I should carry my hardcase at all times (the gigbag is used to transport the guitar from my house to my car and from my car to the rehearsal room and for rehearsals only).
I have the "premium line plus" gigbag (http://www.rockbag.de/deutsch/pages/08_ ... e_plus.htm) or something very very similar.

[heinpete]

Hi Gil,

considering the many neck/headstock breaks on 4001, I know of, I would prefer OHC. For the 4003 I did not hear of any such breaks.
I never used a gig bag for a Ric bass. But if you have a safe way to and from your car it will do the job. However I also drop my Ric case once a while, so I'm happy that it is no gig bag.

[elysrand]

I'll split this question into 2 parts:

1. Will both my 366/12 (67) and my 4001 (72) outlive me? can I play them on a regular basis (rehearsals, home, etc...) or should I "keep" them for special occasions (recordings)?

Yes, cared for properly they will both outlive either you or me, Gil! The amount of wear and chipping, etc, will vary (of course) roughly in proportion to the amount of use and how carefully you handle them. Just look at the amount of time that my friend Chris Squire has toured with his 1965-era Rick bass, at least 1500 major concert road appearances in forty years, and his has had a remarkably-small amount of damage over the years and still plays wonderfully today.

2. Would you feel comfortable using a gigbag with your vintage ric? I have a pretty solid bass warwick rockbag with lots of cusioning, I wonder if it is sane putting my '72 4001 inside it or am I being too lazy and I should carry my hardcase at all times (the gigbag is used to transport the guitar from my house to my car and from my car to the rehearsal room and for rehearsals only).
I have the "premium line plus" gigbag (http://www.rockbag.de/deutsch/pages/08_ ... e_plus.htm) or something very very similar.

Absolutely not! Never EVER use a gig bag for a Rick, ever Always ALWAYS use an original Rick hard-shell case at the very least, and if you travel with it in less-optimal fashion over bumpy roads, consider getting a rugged Anvil-style ATA case, made perfectly form-fitting, for maximum protection. I never ever go anywhere with my Ricks without a hardshell case.

[tennis_nick]

I never go anywhere with ANY guitar without a hardshell case.

It just makes sense.

[heptagram]

I ONLY use OHSC with my RIC 4003 and the '74 4001 I had

[jps]

Depending on where I am going, I will use either a hardshell case or one of my gig bags. As long as you are careful, there should be no problems.

With care most musical instruments should outlive us, easily.

[jwr2]

for me the 1986 and later basses are a better way to go than the old 4001 basses because I convert them 4-2-5 ...

My old 1968 4001 was a wonderful instrument ... the neck was weaker than a 4003 but it was strong enough for 4 strings and strong enough to gig with ... it became too valueable to use for a bar gig ... the neck never did completely flatten out and I could bend the neck with a little pressure from my left hand ... but the neck was stable and playable ... it had its last truss rod adjustment in 1973 ...

My problem with the 1968 4001 was the weak pickups ... when I started playing 70s 4001 basses (with the cap removed) the 70s basses had more volume and more balls, then I got a 1989 4003s5 and it blew all of my old basses out of the water ...

I have also grown to like the 4004 basses with the fat hb-1 pickups ...

[gray]

I would think that a well-looked after Rick would well outlive a person. And a hard shell case is a MUST!

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Both your Ricks will outlive you...that is, provided you DON'T use that gig bag...

[bob_atherton]

Don't use the gig bag...

[leftyguitars]

I never go anywhere with ANY guitar without a hardshell case.

Ditto!

[wints]

They'll last and last....just take care of them, and, most importantly, don't use a gig bag!

An ATA case should be mandatory if you travel with your Ric.

[gibsonlp]

Ok, I am convienced, no more gigbag.

As for the ATA case - I don't travel with them, but when I brought my last 2 ricks from abroad they went into the cabin with me.

[rickenbrother]

My 4001 basses from the '70's get used quite often. I don't feel that they are anymore fragile than any other high quality guitar. I use hard shell cases for all my basses, new and old.

[marc61]

Interesting aside - There's a vintage guitar shop in NYC called Chelsea guitars. They have in storage TONS of HSC's. Why? Because with living space at such a premium in New York, many of their customers come in with a gig bag, and walk out with a guitar, leaving the case behind.