I'm looking for some particular photos of this bass or one just like it as a model for my new project.
Whose RM1999?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Whose RM1999?
If anyone knows who the owner of this RM1999 is, please shoot me a PM or an email.
I'm looking for some particular photos of this bass or one just like it as a model for my new project.
I'm looking for some particular photos of this bass or one just like it as a model for my new project.
Re: Whose RM1999?
Wes, I don't know who owns that particular bass, but I should be able to assist as I've got a '64 RM 1999 in very tidy condition.
Let me know what photos you require.
Let me know what photos you require.
'59 425, '59 335, '60 335, '60 360, '60 335F, '60 345F, '64 RM 1999, '65 RM 1998, '65 360-12, '66 335, '67 450-12, '72 4001 '72 4001, '75 4000, '75 4000CS, '00 700S, '01 700C, '01 700S-12, '01 730S-FH, '06 660 DCM
Re: Whose RM1999?
That one is a beauty...one of the best preserved RM 1999s on the Forum. If my mind is not going away, it is a March '64 example.
Re: Whose RM1999?
The only reason I was looking for this one in particular is because it has almost exactly the same HS surround shape as the V63 I'm in the process of purchasing. It seems very likely that these early '90s V63s were modeled after this particular variation of the 1999. I'm looking for a head-on shot of the body of one of these so that I can get all the curves of the pickguard right.
Darren, if I remember right, your 1999 has the "long tail" surround, which is actually the HS surround variation that I really want to reproduce, but have no idea how to without having the original cast from the '60s.
Darren, if I remember right, your 1999 has the "long tail" surround, which is actually the HS surround variation that I really want to reproduce, but have no idea how to without having the original cast from the '60s.
Re: Whose RM1999?
I can't recall this one either....Care to refresh my memory John! 
Looks possibly like a RI surround to me, but with original shoes. Short taper on the surround up until May 64, and longer after.
Looks possibly like a RI surround to me, but with original shoes. Short taper on the surround up until May 64, and longer after.
Last edited by wints on Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Whose RM1999?
Are you saying the bass up top isn't all original? The HS surround on it has sharper corners than the reissues, I figured it was original.wints wrote:Looks possibly like a RI surround to me, but with original shoes...
Re: Whose RM1999?
Both my RM's have more rounded surrounds, as do most models with original hardware. YMMV here, but the top bass looks more RI to me...
Last edited by wints on Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Whose RM1999?
Yeah, I really have no idea. There are so few out there that I don't have much intel on them. If you check out the MG V63 above though, you can see that it does have different corner radii than the 1999. Wints, do both your RM's have the same surrounds?wints wrote:Both my RM's have more rounded surrounds, as do most models with original hardware. YMMV here, but the top bass looks RI to me...
Re: Whose RM1999?
No Wes.
One has the short taper, being a May 64, the other is August with the long taper. They are both in the registry here, but I can mail you some big pix if you want...
One has the short taper, being a May 64, the other is August with the long taper. They are both in the registry here, but I can mail you some big pix if you want...
Re: Whose RM1999?
Green & white, right? When I get the V63, I'll figure out if it's possible to cut down the RI surround to the specs of the long surround style. It's mostly a matter of if there's enough room on the top half of the surround to cut off and drill new holes, if you know what I mean. I don't really know if any of this stuff is possible, but I've gotten some reassurance that it is from a source.wints wrote:One has the short taper, being a May 64, the other is August with the long taper. They are both in the registry here, but I can mail you some big pix if you want...
The project is basically to get a V63 as close to RM1999 specs as I can within reason. Things I'm taking into consideration are: beveled body edges, pickguard shape, body shape, TRC, HS surround, pickup output, neck shape, etc. For the sake of practicality, some things will be modern-ish. I'm keeping the 5-screw bridge because it'll work better with the Pyramids I prefer, and if it gets refretted, it'll be with frets that are comfortable for my hand.
Re: Whose RM1999?
regarding the bass at the top of the thread-is the finish worn off on the bridge,or did some of them come like that? in the pictures,at least,it looks like machined aluminum (without the chrome finish or with it worn off?) .....and i like it! (but i also like the combination of chrome and nickel finishes found on old thunderbird basses.....)
Re: Whose RM1999?
They were stamped not cast. It appears that they used a variation of the surround found on the lap steels as a starting point. I have wondered if they might even have been hand trimmed to shape. That would explain the many different tail contours and why no two seem to be exactly alike.1965 wrote: Darren, if I remember right, your 1999 has the "long tail" surround, which is actually the HS surround variation that I really want to reproduce, but have no idea how to without having the original cast from the '60s.
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Re: Whose RM1999?
Because they are stamped, to replicate a long-tailed one, a strip of steel can be brazed or heli-arced to the donor surround, and then carefully ground flat and to contour. Replating would then be necessary.
Re: Whose RM1999?
Who's the guy in Japan who has and gigs a very good condition RM1999?
'73 4001 MG '88 4003S JG '89 4003S FG '91 4003S MG
Re: Whose RM1999?
Wow. That is a great looking bass.
The early tailpieces (gap tooth as some call them) are chrome plated cast aluminum and were made by Rickenbacker. The saddles are cast aluminum and have polished tops, no chrome. The bridge is cast and plated like the tailpiece.
Not that you asked for this but
the famous gap was a consequence of the casting process which was done in sand. The mold was two piece. The bottom section was pushed into the sand and a flat steel bar was pushed through the mold and deeper into the sand. The lower mold was removed leaving an impression in the sand. The upper mold was then slid down the steel bar over the impression left by the lower mold. The bar acting as a guild to align the mold halves and would later leave the signature gap in the finished tailpiece. Molten aluminum was then poured into to mold and allowed to cool. After that, a labor intensive clean-up process began. The freshly cast pieces required a fair amount grinding and polishing before they were presentable. Apparently no one in the factory liked the job of casting the parts, especially in the summer. In about '73 the part was outsourced and made of cast zinc.
woodyng wrote:regarding the bass at the top of the thread-is the finish worn off on the bridge,or did some of them come like that? in the pictures,at least,it looks like machined aluminum (without the chrome finish or with it worn off?) .....and i like it! (but i also like the combination of chrome and nickel finishes found on old thunderbird basses.....)
The early tailpieces (gap tooth as some call them) are chrome plated cast aluminum and were made by Rickenbacker. The saddles are cast aluminum and have polished tops, no chrome. The bridge is cast and plated like the tailpiece.
Not that you asked for this but
the famous gap was a consequence of the casting process which was done in sand. The mold was two piece. The bottom section was pushed into the sand and a flat steel bar was pushed through the mold and deeper into the sand. The lower mold was removed leaving an impression in the sand. The upper mold was then slid down the steel bar over the impression left by the lower mold. The bar acting as a guild to align the mold halves and would later leave the signature gap in the finished tailpiece. Molten aluminum was then poured into to mold and allowed to cool. After that, a labor intensive clean-up process began. The freshly cast pieces required a fair amount grinding and polishing before they were presentable. Apparently no one in the factory liked the job of casting the parts, especially in the summer. In about '73 the part was outsourced and made of cast zinc.