The end of an era

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:47 pm

I sold my 1968 4001 ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/68-ric-2.htm

I owned it for 31 years ... it was my main bass for 20 years ... somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse ...

The buyer is a musician and movie producer ... he offered me $6500 ... so considering that I don't play it much I took the money ...

The buyer lives in the same building as Chris Squire ... he said he may be able to get Chris to respond to some of our questions sometime ...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 8:14 pm

What a beauty Jeff, maybe the new owner can get Squire to play a few chops on it...

Now you got enough to get that 4080!

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 11:45 pm

That was a cool bass Jeff - But thats a lot of $ for a bass guitar you dont play so -

If that bass was on sale here in London - you wouldnt believe what someone would pay!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:05 am

....look at it this way, now you'll no longer be tempted to do a 4-2-5 on it....

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:52 am

Maybe the next time you see YES, Chris will be playing your bass.

Wouldnt that be a hoot!

Seriously though, you got good money for her.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:43 am

Now when I stop by Jeff's workshop to have him tweak one of my basses, I wont have to plead for him to let me "borrow" it for a while...

Sorry to see it go, but you got an excellent price for it, and it sounds like it is going to a good home.

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:47 am

Sad to see her go Jeff, and she wasn't even mine! Beautiful bass as I've said before...you got good money though, so I guess it's a win/win situation.

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 8:10 am

Rat's breath Jeff, I can't imagine what is was like to sell your main bass, even for all those Rick vouchers.

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 8:15 am

Wow what a beauty! I think that is one of the nicest 4001 basses I've ever seen. It must have been hard to part with, even for the money.

I don't know though. I wouldn't have given you more than $6000 with finish missing off the back. #;^)

henny · Post by **henny** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 8:33 am

Shame to see it gone from the 'forumer's basses' collective. Was a lovely piece.

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:10 am

I,ll echo Henny,s quote there. No matter how much money you get, to move your first bass on..that,s a hard decision. Hopefully a beautiful and practical 5 string will ease the passing Jeff...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:36 am

my first bass was a 6 string guitar that had 2 strings removed ... then I got a hofner copy ... then I got a real hofner ... then I got a gibson eb0 ... then I got the '68 ric 4001 ... then about 2001 I started buying and selling all sorts of basses ...

that one is really special ... but I was offered more than I thought it was worth ... he made me an offer I can't refuse ... it will get used on stage ... the new buyer had another ric bass stolen from him so I will not give his name unless he ok's it ... but it will get used on stage ...

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:53 am

It's nice to know it's gone to a good home, and that it's going to see some more stage time too. I agree with Andrew moving your first bass is a real tough call. I'd still have mine other than it was stolen.

Jeff, interestingly enough we shared a similar path to our first Ricks, like you I had a Hofner, and a real one too (sold it hated it, wish I kept it now), then an EB3, then my 4001.

Still a tough day to pass on your original Rick though.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:57 am

hey guys ... it's not really that big of a deal ... that bass is a looker and it has mojo ... but I really dislike the sound of the original pickups on that thing ... I know everybody here drools over 60's horseshoe pickups ... yes they are very pretty ... but they sound weak when compared to high gains ... when I put a high gain on that '68 it was truely outstanding ... but a 60's bass really should be kept as much original as possible ... and I didn't like it original ...

I really like what Rickenbacker has been making the last 20 years ... the neck on the 60's bass resonates better than any other ric bass ... that's what gives it its incredible treble bite ... the modern necks have been made stronger but there is a cost ... they don't resonate as well ... but with modern amps I can get the tone that I want and need ... my favorite Ric basses are my 4003-5 conversion basses ...

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:24 pm

NIce deal man. Glad to here it has gone to a good home. Bet it was nervous seeeing all those 5 string conversions around anyway!

You made a great contact there as well dude, and thanks for mentioning the Forum to him and those he knows.