Commemoration - Your Guitar's Manufacture Anniversary

[ben_brown]

This one was turned 29 last month...

[ben_brown]

And this one turned 18 last month...

[johnallg]

Gaaaa! Stop it Steve!

Tom, that is my first Rick; just a standard 2004 bigger neck 4003 that I love. The neck is so straight and playable. I hadn't played bass in 33 years and decided after years of all kinds of kid sports and league boards, it was time for me. So I took a drive north to my nearest Rick dealer who I knew had 2 basses. I got there, saw a "pinkie" FG, played it but the color was not for me. I was told there was a 12 month wait, so I started to leave but asked if they still had the other bass from when I called. The owner looked over at the wall, told the young guy waiting on me to look in the back for another RIC case, and as he's going I think "Watch, it will be an MG!" He came out, laid the case on the counter, flipped it open, and there it was - an MG! I played it for about a minute, laid it down, asked it they had a buyer's remorse policy (they did - 2 weeks - remember it had been 33 years!), and I thought "a Rick in the hand is worth 12 months in the bush" and pulled out the CC.

First change was Dunlop Straploks, then a reissue toaster, then getting the 1/2" spacing pickguard form John Biscutti grattis (a huge thanks to John), then a very nervous episode removing maple to move the neck pup, then having a very honest and forthright fellow bassist in Pittsburg offer me his RIHS. After I got the HS on, a day later the Rick/Maxima flats went on, and I am a very happy camper.

More than you wanted to hear, I'll bet!

[gray]

Steve, you're knockin' us out! I dig the white one a lot! Well, actually, I like 'em all.

[gray]

Robert, Steve & John - sweet looking basses. And I am really digging the new picture capabilities of the Forum. Are there any special tales that go with the basses?

Thank you. There is on mine. My first Rick, an 04 4003 JG (sold to a friend now) had a neck issue, and I felt that it couldn't wait so, even though I had a gig the next day, and the JG was my only bass, I took it up to Wade's in Milwaukee (the guitar ninjas that they are). On the way back, I started plotting about whose bass I would borrow for the gig. I had a few options, but none were close to my Rick. Acting on an impulse, I stopped at a small music store that specialized in used gear. They were only open for another half an hour. I found a Schecter that seemed like a very nice backup bass, and played it for a while. I finally decided to go with it. When I got to the counter to pay for it, there hanging behind the counter was the 4001 FG in my pic. To make a long story medium length, I only had checks, and it was the last day they were taking checks. To boot, there was someone calling about it the next day, and it was priced at $850. I couldn't have had better timing; it was meant to be! It came to me at just the right time at just the price I could afford, and at a time I could afford to spend the money, just when I needed it.

[ben_brown]

I can't wait til next month. A very intereseting story will go with that one!

[johnallg]

Robert, great story! Kismet!

[gray]

Robert, great story! Kismet!

Thanks! It's silly, but I love the opportunity to retell it again and again.

Now I'm interested in Steve's story!

[walker]

December is around the corner - any more November anniversaries out there?

[walker]

Alright. December it is. Got a guitar birthday to celebrate? Bring it on!

Ben - I believe you had something on deck:

I can't wait til next month. A very intereseting story will go with that one!

[johnallg]

Well, since my 4001 has no number on it, but the appointments point to late 1975, and December is late in the year, I'll just go ahead and get the month started!

[johnallg]

On accounta 3 was the limit:

[walker]

Nice looking bass, John. I noticed you changed knobs for the third pic - way to mix it up!

So is this your first Rick? Did you get this new?

[ram]

Just a smidg of lift ... sweet looking bass John! What strings do you run on it?

Ben(Steve) your story is????

[ben_brown]

Ok guys....I bought my first RIC bass in May of 2006. It was a brand new '05 Fireglo 4003. I absolutely loved the looks of it and it sounded great! It came with a Scatterwound toaster at the neck and came in a vintage case. There was one thing wrong with it however. I couldn't stand the huge neck it had! I played it for a couple months but it had to go. I stuck it on Ebay and sold it soon after. Anyway....it was about that time that I had played a beat up '74 at Action Music in Alexandria, VA. I fell in love with the older necks. It was the difference in night and day! So what I did was place this foolish ad in my local online classified. It sort of went like this....

Anyone have any old Rickenbacker basses they don't want? I'd be glad to take it off your hands for you. How about that one under the bed... It's just taking up space. What about that old bass in the corner of the garage? You don't play it any more. Why not sell it to me. I'll pay top dollar for any old Rickenbacker bass you have lying around.

What the hell.... It doesn't hurt to ask huh? I didn't think anyone would ever contact me but someone did within a week's time. I came home from work one day and checked my email. Some guy about 40 miles away said "I have an old Rick bass you might want" I emailed him back and he gave me his phone number so I called him. He said: it's black and kinda beat up. Looks like it has the original case. I asked him what the serial number was and had to explain to him where to look for it and he told me it was ML6323. I tryed to keep my composure as best I could. He gave me directions to his house and I went there as soon as I could. When I arrived he brought the old case out and opened it up and there she was... There were two E strings on it and the low profile pup cover was on installed on top of the surround. Right then I knew this guy didn't know what he had. I picked it up and fooled with it a bit. I quickly noticed that the fret board was separated from the neck a bit and the nut was trashed. I pointed these items out to him. The case was in decent shape too for being 34 years old. He waned to show me all his other stuff and wanted to show me his house and all that so I complied. Well after about a half hour later when he was done giving me the grand tour he asked, Well what do you think about the bass?" While I grabbed my chin and acted like it was going to take some work to get it back in working order I told him "Will you take $300 for it? It has seen better days ya know." He quickly replied SOLD!" I couldn't get the cash out fast enough! I paid him, took the bass and shook his hand and off I went! I was smiling all the way home! Dale Fortune has it now and is currently doing the neck repair, new nut, new frets, full width sparkle inlays, new neck binding, CB binding on the body, fill all holes that shouldn't be there, Wavy Grovers, a '73 neck toaster and a complete refinish.....and it won't be black either! This is what it looked like before I sent it to Dale.