Multi Rick owners, which is the last bass you would let go?

[aceonbass]

Ed...What did you do with the original horseshoe pickup? From what I heard early ones had magnetic shoes and are quite rare. Are your kids musicians, 'cause if they aren't, they'll probably just sell whatever instruments you leave them.

[gellkeller]

My RM1999

[aceonbass]

I think this is one of those.."This thread is useless without pictures" threads. So...how 'bout some pics?

[gellkeller]

Agreed. Here you go.

[Colonel Sanders]

That is a nice one!

Flame maple and all!!!

[rickyfricky]

Here's one of the innards:

[Ashgray]

I don't play it that much, but my custom "4008CS" would be hard to let go.

Hi Dane

Just looking back through the thread at the pics, and I see that your 8 string is one of the two originals - not surprising you'd want to keep hold of that. I also noticed an extra, smaller knob in the control section - what's it for, out of interest?

[johna]

My RM1999

+1

[teeder]

[aceonbass]

Just looking back through the thread at the pics, and I see that your 8 string is one of the two originals - not surprising you'd want to keep hold of that. I also noticed an extra, smaller knob in the control section - what's it for, out of interest?

Ashley, the little knob is the 5th knob as used in RIC guitars. The bass was wired like a Rick guitar. I rewired it last year like a standard 4001 using a pair of NOS Ajax blue caps when I added the Squire signature guard. The one on the bass in that pic was a guard I made that was signed By Chris himself. As far as it being one of two originals, it's the first 8-string conversion I did, and not one of the first two RIC did in the early 70's, which were the inspiration for this one.

[doctorwho]

The 4080 has the fifth knob, making it atypical as far as RIC basses go.

Even though I am not a real bassist, I would have a difficult time weeding down to one last Rickenbacker bass. Off the top of my head, it would be either the 4000FL BG, the 4001S WHT, or the 4003S/5 Blackstar:

[jps]

The 4080 has the fifth knob, making it atypical as far as RIC basses go.

Except for 4005 model and it's variations, of course.

[Kopfjaeger]

Dane,

I concur! We need fotos of your favorites. Except for you guys with the RM 1999's. Your fotos are KILLING me!! I love the foto just posted turned 3/4 so we all can see how thin that neck it. Very jealous.

[gellkeller]

This one?

[GIBrat51]

Hate to say this, but the last Bass I would let go would not be a Rick. The last to go, for me, would be a toss up between the lefty Gretsch Broadkaster, or the lefty Kramer 450B, with the Gretsch ahead by a hair. Much as I love my 4001 and 4003, they are replaceable - I could do just that this afternoon, in fact, if I had to. Lefty Kramers are another matter. There is one for sale on eBay right now, but not a 450B- it's actually a "better" one, the DMZ 4001. The Gretsch, on the other hand, seems to be the only one around. No one on the Gretsch forums has ever seen a lefty Broadkaster, and I've never seen or heard of one besides mine. I've had Gretschistas tell me it's a fake, or a conversion, or a prototype. No,it's a real Gretsch, with the proper label inside, with a correct serial number, and it's not a prototype. They just evidently made so few of them, that mine is now an orphan. So, based on not being replaceable, it would have to be the Broadkaster. Last Rickenbacker? Definitely my '73 4001.