My new 4002... I wish!

[johnallg]

Just one????? You all lie like rugs!!!!!!!!!

Comments such as these usually refer to adding (at least) the 4005 to the "reissue" list. I've played a 4005. I prefer my 4002. I am probably in a minority that I don't care for the 4005.

Actually the 4005 is a love it\hate it bass.

[wints]

Both the 4002's I have played had the (relative) chunky U neck syndrome which was a disappointment. Neither felt instantly comfortable from a playing perspective which to me is always the primary yardstick from a Ric. I always preferred J Dog's 79 4001 which was a much easier bass to get along with.

Of course, the sound is a different topic completely.

Those old tuna boats always seem to inspire comment from the choir. As John says above, you either do or you don't. I've played a couple of 60's versions that were wonderful, but those semi acoustic basses are soooo last century!

[rickenbrother]

Just one????? You all lie like rugs!!!!!!!!!

Comments such as these usually refer to adding (at least) the 4005 to the "reissue" list. I've played a 4005. I prefer my 4002. I am probably in a minority that I don't care for the 4005.

I'm part of the same minority as you, Scott. Never really had the bug for a 4005. A 4002 is the one I missed the boat on!

[iiipopes]

Both the 4002's I have played had the (relative) chunky U neck syndrome which was a disappointment. Neither felt instantly comfortable from a playing perspective which to me is always the primary yardstick from a Ric. I always preferred J Dog's 79 4001 which was a much easier bass to get along with.

Ah, Vive la difference! That's one thing I like about mine; I like meaty necks.

[jdogric12]

Never really had the bug for a 4005. A 4002 is the one I missed the boat on!

I would think if you haven't had a 4005, you've missed the boat! Get it? Boat? 4005? Boat? Get it?

[paologregorio]

Just one????? You all lie like rugs!!!!!!!!!

Comments such as these usually refer to adding (at least) the 4005 to the "reissue" list. I've played a 4005. I prefer my 4002. I am probably in a minority that I don't care for the 4005.

I'm not a fan either. The 4002 is much cooler IMO. . . . now if there were a four string 381, or rather a 4381, or 4 string 360 WB bass-4360WB?-Joey and I would be doing somersaults on the way to the local RIC dealer to order a couple each. . . including a 4002.

[rickenbrother]

Comments such as these usually refer to adding (at least) the 4005 to the "reissue" list. I've played a 4005. I prefer my 4002. I am probably in a minority that I don't care for the 4005.

I'm not a fan either. The 4002 is much cooler IMO. . . . now if there were a four string 381, or rather a 4381, or 4 string 360 WB bass-4360WB?-Joey and I would be doing somersaults on the way to the local RIC dealer to order a couple each. . . including a 4002.

+1!
You sorta got that right, Paulie! I'd be on the phone with POTR!

[cjj]

+2! I'd be all over that as well. Of course, somersaults to my "local" Rick dealer, which is a mere 828 miles away, would be out of the question...

[rickenbrother]

+2! I'd be all over that as well. Of course, somersaults to my "local" Rick dealer, which is a mere 828 miles away, would be out of the question...

Just get on your horse...or tractor... AND GO!!

[cjj]

Oh hey! I just checked, and since I've moved, Wildwood is no longer my closest dealer. Now I can go to Reno, which is only 778 miles, or Portland OR which is only 610 miles, or Olypmia WA at 579 miles, or Seattle WA, which is 537 miles away, or even, and here's my new local dealer, Guitar Czar in Salt Lake City, UT which is a mere 449 miles away! Oh WOW! With so many dealers so close I now have CHOICES!

I'm on my way! Oh. Um... Wait... They still don't have any 4002 reissues or 4381 basses.


I guess it'll give some time to get in training for those somersaults so I don't break something...

[woodyng]

wow CJ,I thought i had it bad being 350 miles away from portland,375 from San francisco,and even 120 miles from a guitar center in Medford!
after playing my 83 4002 for 10 years,i decided i wanted a slimmer neck profile without the binding,and ended up with a cii! its funny to me that the cii feels sleeker than the 4002 neck,but my fretting hand really likes it. i do think my cii feels a bit slimmer than some of the other 4004's i've picked up. i do miss the pickup placement on the 4002. THAT would be a great option for the factory to offer on new models,you know,when things slow down.....

[iiipopes]

Speaking of miles, and purchasing sight unseen, this is how I got my 4002: I'm in southwest Missouri. When I went searching for a 4002, in pre-internet days, I did it the old-fashioned way: I purchased an issue of Bass Player magazine and called every telephone number and ad I could find in the magazine until I found it in the personal collection of who I believe was the owner of a store no longer in business: First Bass in Denver. He sheepishly admitted he had one in his personal collection, and I begged him to sell it to me. He balked. I then told him about my 360-12WB FG ckbd & my 320, of my trips to the UK and the pictures, being a Beatles fan, etc., reassuring him it would go to a true fan and aficionado who would take really good care of it and play it well. He finally said, "How about $1500?" I immediately said, "And add $20 for shipping, right?!" "Sold!" Fast forward to a week later, and I was out of the office in conference when the UPS man attempted delivery, and it had restricted signature on the delivery instructions. So I took off work, chased the UPS guy all the way back to the dispatch center in the city I lived in at the time and bugged him until he moved some other boxes aside in his truck and got it out for me just to get rid of me so he could check back in all the non-deliveries that day.

When I opened it up, it was incredible. There were stress/curing cracks in the CV, but it was apparent it had never been played, or at least very little -- frets still shiny from factory crowning, etc. The case still had Ric-O-Smell, and the entire instrument was absolutely mint, except for a set of Dean Markeley steel strings on it that immediately came off for the GHS Progressives. So not only did I get a deal, but every bit of wear and patina on it I can honestly say was put on it the old-fashioned way: by gigging the dickens out of it. I was as nervous as a father holding a newborn when I had to adjust the truss rods to accommodate the different strings, being the old-style rods. But a friend of mine who managed a small music store helped me hold the neck in proper position, and I've not had to touch it since.

One of the first gigs I had with my 4002 was as the original bass player for a party band that is still going strong in my area, the M-Dock Band. Robin Luke, who had a #1 with his song, "Suzie Darlin'" in 1958 was asked to sit in with us for a few songs. When his song was on the top of the charts, he was on Dick Clark with Buddy Holly, who personally taught Robin how to play his songs. After learning "Suzie Darlin'," we covered a couple of the Buddy Holly songs that Buddy had taught Robin. Our drummer started to speak up that he wasn't sure we were playing it correctly. I quickly hushed him with, "Jim, Buddy Holly taught Robin personally how to play it. I think we'll play it his way," to which the response was, "Oh, yeah." After rehearsal, Robin told me that not only was I the best bass player he had ever played with, but that I was the only guy he had played with who ever covered the Buddy Holly songs correctly without getting in the way.

[cjj]

Cool story! What year was it that you got your 4002?

[iiipopes]

Cool story! What year was it that you got your 4002?

AHHH! I knew you'd ask me that question. Memories fade. Blood clots don't help. It was @1992.

Another early gig with the M-Dock band was Firefall, a regional 4th of July celebration out on the airport grounds. The lay of the land is almost a natural amphitheatre, and for years the city hosted a large event, with bands and other acts all day, ending with the regional symphony and fireworks that evening. We were the first band out. I looked out, and the papers confirmed the next day, 60,000 people were there. I mean, imagine people stretching back so far you can't distinguish individuals anymore! We launched into Suite Judy Blue Eyes, (of course) and the first thing the crowd heard out of me was that signature lick after the acoustic guitar intro (the guitar player had borrowed my acoustic for the open tuning so he didn't have to retune his guitar for the rest of the set, but that's even another story). What a trip! From that point, I no longer regretted I was too young for Woodstock. Now, I'm not an egotist. I know that 59,980 of those 60,000 folks (there were about 20 of family & friends of the band there) did not come specifically to hear us play. But you know what -- when we started playing, they didn't leave, either!

[Kopfjaeger]

I had the pleasure of playing a 4002 at PotR today, while I was dropping off my 4004 Cii for some tweeking. I have to say, I fell in love!! Power, tone, and killer looks all in one sweet package. The neck on this 4002 was one of the sleekest Rickenbacker's I've had the pleasure to play. I'll bet it was as narrow as my 4004 and easily as thin. The ebony board was smooth and racecar fast!! The damn thing made me swoon, and that's no easy task!!

Joey, you played Dave Pascoe's 4002? What did you think of it??

Sepp