Model of the Week Six: Rare, unusual, desirable - the 4002

[johnallg]

What I mean is...

5 screws from Badass to surround plus surface contact-->1 screw from surround to bass body plus surface contact.

Seems like you might lose some of the energy contained within the surround since there is only one joint to connect it to the body. I dunno, just musing.

Josh, the 5 screws holding the BA also go through into the body.

[johnallg]

For domestic peace reasons I can only have a few out at once. Right now it is my 4001AG, 4003S/8, and my Fakland. The rest are stowed at the moment.

Nice grouping to have out though!

[basse]

Hi guys, sorry I haven't been around for a couple of months but work is hell, some other stuff happened like the band fell apart... Basically, life happened... I know you've seen the photos in the registry but here's another one beside a '68 4001 (one of the first without the horseshoe) that I used to own.



I know I'm chiming in late but I have to echo what a lot of you have already said. The 4002 plays phenomenally and the variety of sounds and tones that I can get still suprprises me. I haven't seen anyone mention this yet but I also have to say that it's one of the most stable, un-moving necks that I've ever had, I suppose I have to put that down to the fretboard because it's so solid and dense.

Steve, dying to hear how you got yours!!!

Bryce, you gotta let me know when you're in Toronto again so I can get out to see you. Man the Silver Dollar... Played there myself on numerous occasions and it's only about 15 minutes from home. If I'd know you were there I would have been out in a second.

[jps]

...I also have to say that it's one of the most stable, un-moving necks that I've ever had, I suppose I have to put that down to the fretboard because it's so solid and dense..

I think part of it is due to the three piece construction with the Shedua strip down the middle.

[86kubicki]

Hey Dave - nice to see you around again!
You're actually to blame for my 4002 - once I played yours I knew I had to have one. And since it looked like you'd only give up your 4002 when they pried it from your cold dead hands, I had to look for other options. Olivia's had one for sale, so I offered them a 4003 DCM and cash. A deal was worked out and I'm a happy camper!

[rickaddict]

I think part of it is due to the three piece construction with the Shedua strip down the middle.

I love the skunk stripe. Long live the skunk stripe!

Hey Dave - nice to see you around again!
You're actually to blame for my 4002 - once I played yours I knew I had to have one.

I thought mine was to blame, Steve!

[leftybass]

One beautiful pair of basses there.

[basse]

One beautiful pair of basses there.

Thanks, every time I look at that photo I kick myself for selling the 4001... And for selling the '62 Precision... And the '64 Jazz... And the '77 AG... And the '72 JG (which helped fund the 4002)...

Ahh, the basses that you used to own that you wish you'd never let go...

[86kubicki]

I thought mine was to blame, Steve!

Technically Jeff, I played Dave's first. You might say that's where I "took the bait" - playing yours was "setting the hook"!

[rickfan60]

Ebony makes a very stiff (and resonant) neck. Rickenbacker fingerboards are thicker than most (about 3/8") , so ebony on a Rick can make a big difference in sound and neck stability. As Jeff Scott says, the thee piece construction is awfully stable on its own.

[aceonbass]

When I played Gary Clauson's 4002, I too found them to be the most solid feeling RIC I'd ever played. Remember also that there is no pickup route up against it in the worst possible location. When I had the fretboard off of my 4005 many years ago for replacement, it was the weakest piece of three woods laminated together I could imagine. It wasn't until the new fretboard went on that it had any strength. Even then Rotos were a big no-no. The fretboard on my "4008CS" on the other hand, is made of jarra wood and 1/16" thinner than stock (a mistake that worked out actually). Even though it was thinner, the neck feels noticeably stiffer than either of my other RICs. Jarra, which looks like rosewood, is quite dense and stiff like ebony. John Hall told me that RIC had actually experimented with this wood, but found it difficult to spray a finish on due to the woods inherent "oiliness".

[cassius987]

Not to go OT, but I wouldn't even know where to begin if I was going to choose a new fingerboard wood. What made you go with Jarra?

[aceonbass]

My luthier suggested it because of it's qualities and because it looked like roseawood. I also used it on the headstock wings of my "4008CS" and another RIC neck.

[mtnckr]

I had never heard a 4002 before I found this on youtube: It looks like a fretless 4002 doesn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5LYZXQy ... re=channel

[inhuien]

indeed it is, played by a long time member of this very site.