a ricky newbie.

[jazzmanmike]

hi guys & gals i've finally purchased my first ricky and i'm dying to gig with it but would like to find out more info on it if possible.its a 2nd hand bass 4 string fireglo with toaster pick ups(2)dot inlays,the scratch plate is in 3 bits and it has only one jack socket.reg number I4 5520.i'm trying to find out any info about it at all ie.fake,stolen,year make etc.the person who had it before really butchered and tried to turn it into a (gulp)5 string and drilled several holes in the fret board & filled them up with wood hardener.also he tried to schamfer (know bad spelling)the top of it where your right arm rests similar to a strat.the bass needs ALOT of tlc which i'm prepared to do.i just hope its not fake or stolen.any help would be very appreciated.mike

[fran4001]

Welcome! And applause for taking on a sick Ric and hopefully bringing her back to former glories. Pics please!

[bassduke49]

Welcome Michael!

With a serial beginning with I 4, that would indicate it is a September 1991 bass. Dot position markers would indicate that it is likely a 4003S, the "S" indicating the down-trim model with no binding and no shark-fin position markers. But it should have a single-piece "scratchboard." It's also possible that you might have a 2030 Hamburg or a 2050 El Dorado. These are more like "budget" models and not shaped the same as the 400x series basses, but they don't have "scratchboards" at all. Yes, if you could post photos, that would help.

[ken_j]

Welcome Michael.

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the forum, Michael.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Pictures would be great!

Sounds like a V63 because of its colour and the toaster pick ups.

A quick check of the Serial Number reveals that it was made the same time as a batch of Chris Squire limited editions... It could be an extremely trashed and refined CS LE then as well...

Still congrats on your first Rickenbacker!

[iamthebassman]

Pics.

[harrek]

Welcome to Rick bass land! And if you're like many of us, it won't be your last Rick....

[jazzmanmike]

thanks guys for the reception and your replies,i'm going to post pics as soon as i get chance.i put the ricky through my ashdown yesterday phew.........what a beast & i've also been playing with the pick ups and tone controls and i love the sound.once i've identified the model and shown you the pics i'll make up my mind whether to leave it alone or get it re-painted.its still giggable just cosmetically in poor shape.either way i'm going to use it.mike

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D7

Pics are the the register... (Thanks for adding it)

It is not a Chris Squire LE - although it was made the same week as a batch!

[RickyBubba]

No shame in that bass!

[bassduke49]

OK, it is definitely a 4003S with mods. If you can, you might want to amend the Register to reflect the proper model designator. The three-piece pickguard is not standard and I wonder why that was done. Even by then, the two-piece pickguard had gone away. Hmm.

[jazzmanmike]

thanks everybody you all helped me a lot & i appreciate it.i'm probably going to sand it all down as the drilled holes have ruined the finish,glue a block of wood to the schamfered bit, sand that down and re paint the whole thing black.as well as replace the scratch plate with a one piece.as for the neck i'm not sure but i'll seek advice from a luthier friend of mine and see what he says.

[sloop_john_b]

Aw man. Sure ya just can't live with the holes? That sure is a pretty Fireglo.

[johnallg]

Aw man. Sure ya just can't live with the holes? That sure is a pretty Fireglo.

+1

And Welcome.