Model of the Week Eight: The 3000 and 3001

[jaymi]

Wow!! I had forgotten how non Ric these things look.....I can't stand them....I guess this is what happens when you try to imitate a Fender....

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder....My eyes turn away....

[thinneckrick]

Ame n Brother ! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!

[kiramdear]

....I guess this is what happens when you try to imitate a Fender....

I dunno, they don't seem very Fender-like to me, actually they remind me more of the Gibsons that were current at the same time. But that's a superficial resemblance at best. The styling of the 3000 & 3001 looks very fresh to me, I like it

[loendmaestro]

Play one. That's all it'll take.

[jaymi]

Play one. That's all it'll take.

I have tried a couple and the 2030 as well....I have to pass..

[loendmaestro]

I thought this forum was supposed to be all positive! You know...rainbows & sunshine, puppy dogs & apple pie?

[jps]

The only one I have played in that mold was a GF, it sounded great but the neck was a bit large for my tastes.

[jaymi]

I thought this forum was supposed to be all positive! You know...rainbows & sunshine, puppy dogs & apple pie?

Reality sets in!!!

[johnallg]

I thought this forum was supposed to be all positive! You know...rainbows & sunshine, puppy dogs & apple pie?

Thanks, Chris, I needed that.

[jaymi]

I thought this forum was supposed to be all positive! You know...rainbows & sunshine, puppy dogs & apple pie?

Thanks, Chris, I needed that.

In a perfect world, that would be the ticket....John got a good laugh....that's most important

[aceonbass]

I've had four 3000's. All of them were way F-ed up when I got them with lifting fingerboards ans DiMarzio pickups. One I altered to look like a 620 guitar with five strings. The low B was good for a short scale. Another one I altered to look like an early 4000 and was fretless. Two more were made into my doubleneck. One neck was converted to a 26" scale guitar and the other a 30" scale bass. That instrument is undergoing some renovation/alterations as I write this. Even when I got them I could tell they were way better than other short scale basses of the 70's.

[rickaddict]

The only one I have played in that mold was a GF, it sounded great but the neck was a bit large for my tastes.

What? Larger than your 2008 4003?! I'm skeptical.

Care to measure your girth and compare?

[StoneRose]

The only 3000's that I've seen any documentation on were made in 1976. Is anyone aware whether they were all produced at that time?

I've been gassing for a 3000 but they are really hard to find. I even built a 3000-inspired shortie just for the hell of it (but I won't hijack the thread with that!).

There are 14 of the model 3000 listed on the Register, all made in 1976.

There are 19 of the model 3001 listed, with build dates from 1976 to 1979.

Great to see some of the beautiful 3000/1 pics.

My MG 3000 is one of the 14 on the register and I love it to bits. Since I got it last year it has taken the "regular bass" crown from my MG 4003! Never really been into short scales (I only got the 3000 out of curiosity because it was a. cheap. b. a Rickenbacker!) It just has something my 4003 lacks. Only one thing irritates me about it, the E string. When tuning, every other string is good as gold, the E string however, is a b*****d to tune. Anyone else had a similar problem?
Also, mine came with a black plexi TRC. Is this correct? I have seen another 3000 with a different TRC (raised letters with model 3000 under made in usa).

Oh and with regard to Arctic Monkeys, the current bass player, Nick O'Malley, uses a Walnut 3000 as his regular bass.

[godber]

I bought this bass magazine recently, from March 2000. It has an interesting article about Mani from Stone Roses/Primal Scream.

He's asked what's he playing and answers -

I've been playing a weird little 3/4 scale Rickenbacker. I think it's a 3000 or an Eldorado or something. It's as rare as rocking horse sh**. I got one with the Roses, right, and I've had that about five years but it's getting pretty tatty now - there's nothing left on the truss rod - and I've just managed to find another one. And remember my big paint-splashed 4005 Rickenbacker semi-acoustic? I've got a really sexy black one of them as well...

Bassist Mani.jpg

Mani.jpg

[rickaddict]

Only one thing irritates me about it, the E string. When tuning, every other string is good as gold, the E string however, is a b*****d to tune. Anyone else had a similar problem?

So, do you mean your E string tuner takes a lot more force to turn than the other three? A couple of my 70's Ricks have the same problem. That's one of the reasons why I prefer the new Schaller tuners on the 4003...they're smooth and consistent...and the screws don't vibrate off...and they don't turn green!

You can try removing the tuner. Take the big post screw off the back. Clean the post and gear. Try to figure out where the resistance is coming from. Sometimes it is the shaft on the worm gear...it might need a little oil between the shaft and the retaining sleeves. Also check tightness of the big post screw. An unfortunate problem with this design is that the more tight the post screw is, the more resistance you'll have on the tuner. I usually keep mine just finger tight. Put a dab of grease between the circular gear and the backing plate. Sometimes the black plastic ferrule fits too tight. Maybe switch it with another one of the tuners that spins more freely.

May The Force be with you.