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

[ajish4]

Well Done Darren!

Sweet pictures & thanks for posting them!

What an excellent thread, I had to go back and read the whole thing.

It's strange, Chris Squire IS the reason I play bass & a RIC today.

Later on, my ear became attuned to "THAT SOUND" and found that most of the bands I listen to used RIC'S at one time or another...all bands from the UK!
When I was a kid, for YEARS I thought RIC's were made in the UK!

The "S" bass with two pickups IS my favorite but I'm quite happy with my 4001CS & 4001V63. I prefer the "S" bass over the Deluxe, but with the insane prices the vintage one's are bringing, my only chance of seeing one are through you guys.

I guess my only contribution in the RARE RIC BASS contender is POSSIBLY my 1971 BG 4001. I don't know how many were made or how many survived, but to date, it is the only one in the Registry. It has an AMAZING neck but will need some fret work soon. Although it doesn't come close the the "most expensive", it apparently appears rare?

I find in interesting that some RIC's STARTED out as rare ie: few in number from manufacture, but that others BECAME rare through attrition. Recent memory recalls a stripped Tuxedo, that butchered silver & black CS and countless others. Who know what happened to these basses through the years and how many were just trashed due to the Round Wound string/neck issue. I once read of Greg Lake smashing his acoustic (I don't remember the brand but it had the heart shaped sound hole) because he got so mad that it wouldn't stay in tune! I don't even want to think of how many RIC's Pete Townsend is responsible for destroying.

[teeder]

Ah Tony, how is that 'burg Lass doing these days?

You haven't started to remodel the kitchen yet, have you?

[seyesbass]

Hi Vince,
Thats great news. I am really looking forward to seeing the pictures. Just say the word and I will chip in with whatever stories and details you need.

Darren,
Thats a gorgeous bass! treasure her always.
I notice the TRC left some paint behind when you removed it.
I had the same thing happen with DH163 when I was checking the truss rod nuts. I assumed it was due to the white re-finish but I guess the paint on the back of the TRC tends to adhere to the guitar anyhow.
Better watch out if I remove the scratchplate on my CS!
Those are painted just like the TRC.
Graham,have a safe trip home and see you soon.

[ajish4]

Ah Tony, how is that 'burg Lass doing these days?

You haven't started to remodel the kitchen yet, have you?

Hey Kevin,

The "burg Lass" is doing fine and is due up again on Sunday of next week! I really enjoy it when the young fellas come up and ask "what kind of a bass is that"? Followed by "wow, how OLD is it"? LOL!

As far as the kitchen situation, SO FAR, SO GOOD....I'm still safe. I've been curbing my RIC lust by making small monthly payments on my 4004Cii Blueburst and staying under the radar. But if RIC comes out with something killer, I'm a dead man. She already has the nice new Home Depot Cabinet Catalog displayed on the breakfast bar. You think she KNOWS something I don't?

Who knows, as far as the MOST EXPENSIVE RIC BASS, it could be ANY RIC I buy.....just tack on the 30K for the kitchen and POOF! a NEW, MOST EXPENSIVE RIC BASS!

[wints]

Great photo's Dazzer...

Where the neck and fretboard meet the body on the upper bout, the finish seems very worn. Same with the neck and board at the last few frets.

What is that?

[henry5]

Niiiiiice....

Vincent, can't wait for the book, that'll be fantastic. And please say hello to John Frusciante next time you see him.....I love the RHCPs. Almost/maybe even as much as Yes....

[teeder]

Great photo's Dazzer...

Where the neck and fretboard meet the body on the upper bout, the finish seems very worn. Same with the neck and board at the last few frets.

What is that?

If what I'm seeing is what you're talking about, my guess is that's a "thumbrest" area.

[wints]

That's what I thought too Kev, but that area on the neck where the board meets made we wonder...

[rick_ovic]

The wear on the neck is almost wholly from the former owner's playing technique. You can match up the wear marks perfectly. He was a keen user of the lower notes! There are two patches of almost identical wear, around the point where you go from G to C - yeehar!

[rick_ovic]

The wear at the body end of the neck is from the player's thumb:-

[wints]

The wear at the body end of the neck is from the player's thumb:-

1964 RM 1999 Neck Wear 004.jpg

Thanks Darren. That shot, side on, shows it much more clearly, and you can tell instantly it's that "mojo'ed" worn in look.

It would appear the owner was another typical 60's type player, playing "on the toast" (and possibly just using that p/up) to achieve that bassy sound, like many of his contemporaries.

[ricosound]

Lively topic. 15 pages and 2800 views in just 2 weeks.

[ricosound]

For rarity, there are probably a bunch of one-offs out there that have not yet surfaced. Celebrity guitars are a different category - not rare per se.

The ones we know or have some vague idea about:

'67 JG 4005WB owned by Jeff Scott 1
DCM Proto 1
4005LH 2
4001/8 2
4005LS 3
4004 RCA ?
4005/5 ?
4005/6 ?
4005/8 ?
4005/S Blackstar 1?
Shadow 50-60
4004LK 60
DCM 75th 75
Tuxedo 120 (or 125)
Redneck 125 (so says the cert anyway)
Bonafide RM ?
4002 Probably less than 200
4080 Probably less than 200
4001 21fret ?
GF Model ?
Blackstar 200
4001CS 1000

Great list. Yeah you could throw in the protos and one-offs for rareity. The CS is an interesting beast. At 1000 produced I wouldn't call it either rare or unusual. But they routinly sell for $3-5K. Whereas some of the much more unusual examples listed here go for less. The more I think about it, almost every guitar on thi list would fetch big money. Does anyone know if they made all 1000 in the series? If a guy had only known 10-20 years ago

[henry5]

Wish I'd kept my first CS. Sold it for £800 (around $1600). My back problems had just started and it was heavyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. BIG mistake. Still, not my first and probably not my last...

I'd love to play an RM; I've never even seen one in the flesh. Pretty much all my favourite famous Ric bass tones come from pre 73 basses. I've only played one 60s Rick (a 69 Deluxe), and due to the setup - it had some neck issues - could only barely play it. From what I could tell it was very, very similar to my Feb '72 pre-skunk.

[JakeK]

I'd love to play an RM; I've never even seen one in the flesh.

+1

I haven't even seen a V63 in the flesh!