what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?

[johnallg]

It still seems to me from RIC's (Radio-Tel, thanks John S.) point of view, they were 4001S basses, as even Vince states all his documented RMs have 4001S in the cavity. And since McCartney's bass never passed through Rose Morris, it would remain a 4001S.

[headbanger]

Some great stuff on this thread.
Would you guys agree of the 4001S then ....

So, 4001S's started showing up in the states after 1967?

Yes, after McCartney's bass became better known especially but not many. Check the Smith book there's a couple.

When were they cataloged?

Went into a catalogue in 76ish.

My 4000 has "4000-C" in the control cavity. What would that stand for?

4000. batch C or D or E. Nothing special. Just a factory organizational thing... correct Dale? Paul?
Kevin, yours is the first ever 69 4000 I can remember seeing (anyone else seen another?) and seems to indicate to me they were routing 4000's by then for the extra pickup which lends credence to the 4001S being being available special order by then. What the others say of this?

anyone who has an RM 1999) has stampings like this...

Don't think so somehow... Not on either of the basses I've held. More like the which guitar? thing. 266 might be Feb 66 receipt. It's a June 65. I'm still intrigued by this little known feature...need more data.

the design or order made in '63, but most production in '64?

The most likely scenario.

Autodidacts... 16th century Welsh poetry..."catechresis"...

Me too 10th grade. ..********/******** yes.

[leftybass]

My own take on these cool basses.....

Take away one pickup and two knobs, what do you have...

A 4000.

They were never IMO a 'dressed-down' 4001, but an added-on 4000.

No new design, either.

Simply, a 4000...+ 1 pickup.

[teeder]

, yours is the first ever 69 4000 I can remember seeing (anyone else seen another?)

I think I saw someone on here with a JG '69 4000 (maybe it was a '68)?
Mac Len (Top Gun) had a picture of his FG '68 4000 on here too.
Not many though.

I bought it because I thought it would be as close to a RM 1999 as I'll ever get.

[wints]

I agree, a great debating thread this...

Gerry puts the points into context well. Most dot inlay basses from 64-67 were probably intended solely for export. A couple of domestic orders may have been filled, but we'll probably never know. My 67 has 4001g in the cavity, and this bass was meant to have come from Canada, but who knows before that...

The funny thing is, I've never seen a 68/69/70/71/72 two pick up dot inlay bass. Anyone?
4000, yes, and some very nice examples, but 4001, no...

[teeder]

It is a great thread!

The funny thing is, I've never seen a 68/69/70/71/72 two pick up dot inlay bass. Anyone?
4000, yes, and some very nice examples, but 4001, no...

That's odd. The routes were there already. I would think there would be more orders for two pu basses than one pu.

Well my artificial 1969 4001S will be ready in a couple weeks!

[leftybass]

The funny thing is, I've never seen a 68/69/70/71/72 two pick up dot inlay bass. Anyone?
4000, yes, and some very nice examples, but 4001, no...

Andy:

Yes. I can't access them at the moment, but I have pics of a 1969 4001-S, in Fireglo. They are on my laptop, and I'm nowhere near it at the moment. I haven't looked a them in a long while, so I'll re-acquaint myself with them later tonight and get back here.

[teeder]

It will be interesting to see what features are on it.

[wints]

It will be interesting to see what features are on it.

Yes....and the shade of FG too.

[rick_ovic]

A 1965 4000 FG was for sale at Gary's Classic Guitars about two years ago:-

[leftybass]

I had a chance to get that '65 before Gary had it a while back,it was in California. It's a good honest original bass with some pitted hardware but all there. Dunno where it is now...

[weemac]

Simply, a 4000...+ 1 pickup.

And a Cap!


And as we all know a Rm1999 sounds soooooo different to a 60s 4001s

emac.

[leftybass]

Okay here are a couple of pics...This is a Feb. '69 bass, with a bunch of replaced parts. A well-used bass.

At any rate, focus on the routs---did it leave the factory with two pickups...? Discuss.

[wints]

Thanks John,

That's certainly looks like a 67 FG, very distinctive, and nothing like my Dec 68 deluxe. I had a feeling it might be...

It has the two channels, like Ken.S's old 67 "S" IIRC, which resides with Vincent now. That rout looks original, but someone may have scored it a little deeper to fit a later, longer pole toaster.

You could possibly think this was a fairly complete bass from 67, (although it appears to be wearing post 68 Grovers) and hanging around. Finally, in 68 someone ordered one, and this is the end product.

Possibly...

[jingle_jangle]

More Dremel butchery. Those poor routs. Give me a Forstner anyday, in a drill press, it's the poor man's vertical mill or overarm router...