Model of the Week Four: The 4005 family

[bassduke49]

Kinda going in chronological, rather than numerical order, let's post pix and discuss the hollow-body 4005 bass family. This includes the standard 4005, the double-bound versions, the unusual 4005/6 six-string variant, the mentioned-but-never-seen (by me) five-string 4005, the rare eight-string version, the "export" RM 3261, and the (reportedly) five-off 4005LS (light show) bass. This'll be fun!

[weemac]

It's going to be a short week.
The 4005: loved by many and owned by few...
Eden.

[sloop_john_b]

'74 4005WB Burgundyglo

She was (and I assume still is!) a great gigging bass!

Not to mention probably the best recording bass I ever owned.

Sheesh, why did I sell it again? I think I should give Graham a phonecall in the morning...

[jps]

It's going to be a short week.
The 4005: loved by many and owned by few...
Eden.

Fortunately for me, mine is the very first Rickenbacker I ever bought.

[johnallg]

John, that bass practically played itself. Very nice bass.

Here is a picture I took at MOMM during the RIC 75th celebration of a 4005 8 string.

[rickinroma]

Nov 1967 Rickenbacker 4005 - Mapleglo

[sloop_john_b]

A few odd ones:

4005 WHT:

60's 4005 w/ bound F-hole!

[sloop_john_b]

Jeez! Okay, I had this one for a short amount of time. Before and after photos:

Before

After (left)

[jps]

All of these are mine.

[berth]

All of these are mine.

The headstock of the black one looks a bit odd. I would change it if I where you. All your others look great!

[berth]

This is a worthless posting. I hit the quote button instead of edit when I wanted to change one word in the previous posting. Unfortunately the delete button is not available on RRF.

[johnallg]

This is a worthless posting. I hit the quote button instead of edit when I wanted to change one word in the previous posting. Unfortunately the delete button is not available on RRF.

It used to be until the last mini-update.....

[deaconblues]

That f-hole 4005 is so incredibly cool looking...

[bassduke49]

Can we assume that F-hole 4005s would be RM 3261? Were all F-holes bound? Hmm.

I'm finding in my research for the book, that the words "always," "never," "all," "none," "only," "must," and other absolutes will not likely be in print. The only absolute about Rickenbacker basses is that there are no absolutes. Even though RIC has no "custom shop" as such, there are enough examples of factory tweaks in timelines, colors, and equipment for special customers to preclude any definitive statements.

Oh, here's Gary Clauson's 1967 RM 3261 taken at the 75th Anniversary celebration:

[woodyng]

wow john-that white one is super cool-i don't think i've ever seen one in that color-love it! (but i do love white guitars in general)