What would it take to part with your Rics...

[basse]

The reason I ask is that I've got a potential line on a '59 Fender Precision. I'm even playing around with the thought of letting my 4002 and one of my Wals go for this... What do you think? Good or bad decision? I know that the 4002 is far more rare than the Fender... But man... A '59 Precision!!!

Besides that... What would it take for you?

[johnallg]

I'd keep the 4002. What would it take for me? Someone in my immediate family having health issues with money being a problem or loosing my house. Other than that, they stay.

[sloop_john_b]

David, that's pretty tempting - but you'd better be sure that it's all original, or else it wouldn't be worth it IMO.

If we're not talking about the need for money to pay bills or something like that, I'm not sure that there would be much that would make me part with my Ricks. The only vintage Fenders I'm interested in are Jazzmasters (and perhaps a Bass VI).

I suppose it would be "trading up" - selling my newer Ricks to get older ones, as long as they're players of course.

[kiramdear]

First you'd have to pry my rigor-mortis fingers from around their necks

[paologregorio]

I'd part with this one for 2K:

I've put the "R" tailpiece back on the guitar, as well as the original, silver-topped knobs back on since the bottom photo was taken

I probably wouldn't part with the rest, at least while I'm still breathing.

[sloop_john_b]

I probably wouldn't part with the rest, at least while I'm still breathing.

That's great, but how much for the Azureglo?

[jakeox]

For me it's about how difficult it is to replace. I'd sell my CS if I needed money or there was something else I wanted more (I'm considering moving it given the difficulty I'm having moving my '73 MG, but there are extenuating circumstances around the CS right now). While you don't see a ton of CSs come up, they're out there. Same with all the '73s and '72s I've owned -- they're uncommon, but replaceable. I'd be a little harder pressed to sell my Shadow, just because it'd be a lot harder to replace.

But in the end, they're just things that happen to be exchangeable for money (thankfully, usually at least as much as we paid for them!). If you want other things more, then go ahead and do it.

I do think it'd be harder to replace a 4002 than find another '59 p-bass. But if you do decide to move that 4002 I'm sure there are plenty of people here who'd move some of their stuff to be able to acquire it!

[jlessick]

I suppose it would be "trading up" - selling my newer Ricks to get older ones, as long as they're players of course.

I sold my '81 4003S to buy an '87 4001V63, and it is here for keeps. There is no bass I'd rather have.

[paologregorio]

I probably wouldn't part with the rest, at least while I'm still breathing.

That's great, but how much for the Azureglo?

That's one of the guitars that I wouldn't sell; it was my first Rickenbacker guitar. I special ordered it and the guitar was built just for me.

[VRICKY63]

The Rickenbackers are "things" . I sold a classic motorcycle and used the money to buy my dream bass FG4001V63 . I removed the horseshoe and installed a Hipshot tail then thought this V63 does not work for me . Put it back together and sent it on its way . That bass is beautiful and I enjoyed owning it for awhile but I cant see getting so attached to "things" . Buy them,enjoy them,keep them or send them to the next owner . There are much more important things in life . I would get the 59 P and enjoy that .....until I did'nt.

[wints]

It's hard to put a value on subjective material things.

Guitars, cars, the list goes on....

What makes something special? That's a question that only the individual could answer.

I was over at JDog's on Sunday. Played a 4002, and a Shadow. Liked the tone from the 4002 ebony board, and the Shadow was comfortable too, and while both were cool, his 79 4001 was the bass that instantly felt right for me. You'd take the first two as the collector/investment choice, but I'd take the 79 for playing any day.

Like all vintage basses, there are good ones and not so good ones. That goes for Fender as well as Rickenbacker.
For me, I'd never give up a bass I love to play for one that I didn't...

[86kubicki]

Dave - if you decide to part with the 4002, give me a shout. I may have to sell a kidney, but it'd be worth it!

[JakeK]

I only have my 660/12, but it would take a lot for me to part with it. If I got a semi-hollow Ric 12 string (370/12RM, 1993/12 RI, 360/12V64, 360/12C63, 360/12CW), then I'd probably retire the 660/12, due to the small body size (seeing as I can't do Townshend windmills that well with the small body) and the fact that the black paint is starting to discolor where my body comes in contact with it, but I'd never sell it. It was a gift from my dad, and it means a lot when a parent GIFTS things to you. Not to mention, I did an extordinary job for him last year (June), and he knew he had to do something nice for me. (He said as soon as finances are good next month, and I've helped him as much as I did last year [which I am] I better find me a Ric within his budget!)

Now, if/when I got my dream Ric, a 1998 PT, you would have to offer me a helluva lotta money before I sold it, and even then, I still wouldn't sell it. Though I've never played a 1997 RI, 1997SPC, 1998 PT or even a 330 or 340, let alone seen one in the flesh, my thinking is the dream will come true when I finally get the PT, and if I don't like it...well, I won't even go there!

[johnallg]

I was over at JDog's on Sunday. Played a 4002, and a Shadow. Liked the tone from the 4002 ebony board, and the Shadow was comfortable too, and while both were cool, his 79 4001 was the bass that instantly felt right for me. You'd take the first two as the collector/investment choice, but I'd take the 79 for playing any day.

Thank you for that Andy. I just love the later 70s 4001 basses, for just the reason you say. And the tone.

[johnallg]

Though I've never played a 1997 RI, 1997SPC, 1998 PT or even a 330 or 340, let alone seen one in the flesh....

Jake, one (or maybe two) word(s) - SERF (and MARF).