what's the story on fretless rick basses?

[jacolyte]

i've read in various places that fretless rick basses have been discontinued, but with varying information as to exactly *when* that happened. some ads i've seen have claimed that they were last made in 2005/2006/2007, but pick of the ricks in new jersey has two in stock, apparently both made in 2008, and rickenbacker's website shows several shops having "recently" received them. so what's the deal, exactly? are fretless ricks *really* discontinued? if so, when was the last one made/shipped?

also, do any of you experienced hands (i've never even *seen* a fretless rick in person yet) have any advice as to what to look for with these? i'm considering a couple second-hand pieces as well as new ones. any pointers or tips?

thanks for reading,

jacolyte

[sloop_john_b]

They've only stopped taking orders for them (last December maybe?). Outstanding orders are still being filled, hence the recent shipments.

[doctorwho]

What JB says.

[beatlefreak]

From what I understand, the fretless basses are only temporarily discontinued until the backlog situation improves.

[rickenbrother]

That was my understanding of the 4003FL hiatus also.

[hieronymous]

My understanding is that you need to be sure what kind of side dots you get. The old ones had a dot where each fret would be, but there was a period ('90s? 2000s?) when they went to just putting the dots for the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, etc. position markers would be. They have apparently gone back to dot/fret, but wait for someone else to confirm that.

[rickenbrother]

RIC now puts the side dots markers where the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, etc frets would have been .

[berth]

RIC now puts the side dots markers where the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, etc frets would have been .

My Warwick has this too and it takes some getting used to, but this is very posible (unless your ears are not very good, but then playing fretless is not advisable i.m.h.o.). What I do find anoying is the 12 fret side dot markers on my '89 4003 FL. Too wide apart to know where to put your fingers exactly. My '79 4001 FL has them every fret in a convenient way.

[jps]

RIC now puts the side dots markers where the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, etc frets would have been .

I wish that were so for this one, I would not have sold it if that were the case!

[jacolyte]

I wish that were so for this one, I would not have sold it if that were the case!

<gasp> i think that's the coolest thing i've ever seen. looks astounding, especially with the two toasters. thanks for the pic!

- jacolyte

[jacolyte]

thanks to all for your responses; great stuff. if i end up actually scoring one of these, i'll be sure to post here.

cheers!

- jacolyte

[headbanger]

I had a beauty. It was one of the sweetest Ric basses you'll ever see. It was a 72FG with all the original appointments and had the dots at each position, as well as an extra 21st position. Maybe a one of a kind bass as all the others so far seen on the net have been 20 position. A penny black if ever there was one.
It now resides in the impressive collection of VG.

[cassius987]

It was a 72FG with all the original appointments and had the dots at each position, as well as an extra 21st position. Maybe a one of a kind bass as all the others so far seen on the net have been 20 position.

I believe all Rick FLs have "21 positions" as you say. Mine, made in July 2008, certainly does. That resolves one of my biggest gripes with my fretted 4003: I hate stopping at the 20th fret. Just one more and you get the next octave of E!

I can't imagine that other FL's wouldn't also have the 21st position. The wood is there for it, unless mine is just a little longer than it should be, which I doubt.

As for how it plays, it is a dream come true. I have tried a lot of fretless Jazz Basses and Warwicks but bought the 4003FL in the end... and boy was I rewarded. This thing is a beast, and it has replaced my 4003 fretted as my favorite bass. I am even thinking about converting full-time to fretless.

[rictified]

I believe Gerry was talking about his having 21 dots which would have made it a very rare FL, my 72 jetglo 4001FL has twenty dots as does every 4001 and 4003FL that I've ever seen except for the very new ones made within the past few years, Gerry's may have been made when they were making the 21 fret necks as the 21st dot would have been at the very end of the neck on mine and every one I've ever seen. They started using side dots like a fretted bass during the past few years I believe, very counterintuitive. I had a Blue Boy which I sold because of that dot scheme. All they did was use the same strip for both fretted and fretless basses. I'm sure you can figure out why. I also like the Fender style the best, 3rd, 5th, 7th etc. I have heard nothing about this from Rickenbacker and would welcome either that or their old way of a dot where every fret would be which is the way they did it until very recently.
It's too bad they changed to using the same strip for both fretted and fretless basses as I believe they were ready to take off. I know I couldn't believe it when my Blue boy arrived with RW strings and fretted side markers and I had waited several years for it. My 72 has never seen RW's and the neck surface is in perfect shape. In a thread here a few years ago JH had said they were going to go back to dots for every note as they had been doing for 30 years and then next thing they are on hiatus.
I think fretless Rics are among the best sounding fretless basses and wish they would get their act together.

[rictified]

RIC now puts the side dots markers where the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, etc frets would have been .

I wish that were so for this one, I would not have sold it if that were the case!

Yup.