As you sleep, a momentous occasion in my life...

[rickless]

...has taken place.

One day, many years ago, the dream began. To own a Rickenbacker Bass as once yielded by my bass hero, Geddy The Great. I was young with stars in my eyes, and I was a poor college student. Therefore bearing such an amazing weapon would continue to be only ...a dream. Years went buy and so did life...college graduation, new job, going back to college, getting married, having children, buying cheaper basses that would in one way or another disappoint (Fender corporation...I'm looking in your direction). Than one day, the dream became more focused as I discovered the harmony-central bass forum. They (and maybe some of you) new me as Stands Without Ric...or maybe...yes...it was actually geddyleewannabe. On this forum I found others with a passion for the enchanting Ric bass. One individual seemed to be their leader in the Ric crusade. They called him...Banta. This...Banta, had many a desirable weapon, and he knew them well. Then IT HAPPENED!!! The great Banta posted a picture of his fabled...dare I say...legendary, all black Ric 4003. Black finish, black hardware, black binding, and Bad!To!The!Bone! I showed the picture to everyone who came to my abode. Everyone loved it and in turn they loved me for showing them such a thing of beauty and mystery. I attempted to communicate with the great Banta. I was successful. For as his weapon of choice was a symbol of excellence, so was his friendly willingness to guide me through the many questions I had about the mighty all black Ric. I expressed to him my desire to begin a quest for just such a weapon. He warned me that the road could be long, tretcherous, full of dangers, rip-offs, and disappointments. He spoke of a need for great patience in such a quest for greatness. And so, my search began. The search has been long, in fact...very long. This path I have tread has often times been sidetracked by lack of funds, and delayed by dead ends. Raising a family will challenge such a journey, but I never forgot about...the dream. And so, I pressed on. One time, I came close to possessing the Ric whose looks were only rivaled by it's sound. I viewed a beautiful bass owned by the one they call...JBlakey. Found within the annals of the celebrated thread, "Pictures of Your Rickenbacker Bass", JBlakey's all black Ric leaped off the monitor that shined before my eye's and I had to have it. But JBlakey, in his great Ric wisdom, knew that such a thing of beauty should never be forsaken, even if into the hands of another Ric lover. And so, with great sadness and tear filled eyes, I graciously accepted and understood JBlakey's refusal. For I knew, I would have done the same. With discouragement in my heart, I entertained thoughts of giving up the fight, the struggle, the journey, the dream...the search for the Ric of Rics. With great appreciation that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I mean no disrespect to the Ric's of other men, especially here, in this most distinguished of assemblies. But as my heart longed for the all black Ric bass I had seen so long ago, I entertained the idea of settling for a Ric bass that I'm sure I would have loved, but would not be what I truly wanted. I looked at many black Rics with the white binding, pickguard, TRC, and chrome hardware. Not that it wouldn't have been a great relationship. Besides, the great inspirer of "That Sound", Geddy The Great yielded just such a weapon. Then as I was at my lowest, I heard a voice out of nowhere saying Luke...Luke! ...I mean, Rickless...Rickless! It was then I realized this was no ordinary voice, but the voice of greatness. It was the voice of Banta! The voice grew stearn yet encouraging saying, "Do not forget the dream! Whatever you do, do NOT forget The Dream. Stand tall, march forward, fight the good fight, stop trying to break into my house to steal my 'Blackie', remember all that I have taught you, and FIND YOUR OWN D**N ALL BLACK RIC!!! Now get outta hear you obsessive compulsive freak!" Then the great Banta...(awed pause)...said "Rickless...You must go to the E-Bay system. It is there you will meet Yo..."...uhhh...(for the sake of seller privacy and copyright infringement, let's say his name was Yo...Yodddd...Yofa!) "It is there you will meet with Yofa, the seeker of cash. He will have what you seek..."(Banta's voice fades into the wind). Not knowing what that non-drug related psychedelic trip was all about, I surfed my way to the E-Bay system. Gasp!!! (jaw hits floor, knees quake, eyes pop out, bladder empties) BEHOOOOOOOOOOLD!!! (end of Chapter I)

(Look for Chapter II in a separate thread)

[rictified]

Hi Rickless, I assume when you were a poor college student you were a Lit major? haha! just a joke, I too want one of the hallowed black on black Rics, and I too have been frustrated in my quest for same more than once. My downfall usually has been the most daunting of all foes: LOC or Lack of cash as known in it's more pedestrian form. I ordered an all black 4003 fretless a few short years ago and was well on my way to realizing my dream until, alas, curses to the Gods of money!, I discovered that the GC wanted ALL of the cash right then and there before I placed my order.
I turned around with head down, a heavy heart, crestfallen and walked out the door knowing this was probably my last and only chance to get my dream bass, I pray to the bass Gods that it not be my last chance, I sacrifice daily at the tabernacle of Ric.Int...... ahh, more to come.. I sense a happy ending some bright day in the distant far future. I obviously was not a Lit major.

[atomic_punk]

Didn't Geddy "wield" a Ric 4001? Sorry, I had to point it out!
Welcome to the forum, Jon!