An E-Mail I sent to Rickenbacker

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:31 am

Wait until you see the union jack bass. It will be done next wednesday...I am holding out on pix until it is complete and I will give before and after pics...

kbhag · Post by **kbhag** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:31 pm

John, thanks for posting the reply. Of course I'm in for a Fireglo (Deluxe) 4001 (V68) WITH the finger rest. Don't forget about the 1999 Rose Morris, that's my personal request. I checked my e-mail, no problems here, do you have my address correct? ([email protected])
To everyone that sent me mail, sorry I did not tell you specific's on John's reply, I just did'nt want to release any information that Mr. Hall had not approved.
Kenny

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:18 pm

Good call Kenny - communication between two parties isn't necessarily for public consumption.
Thanks to John H. for his always insightful info. And put me down for a Mapleglo 4001V68!

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:41 pm

I'll take a Jetglo! With finger rest, please.

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:00 pm

Fireglo for me!

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:49 pm

I'm not sure what finish I'd want my 4001v68 to be...Jetglo? or Fireglo?...or maybe if RIC could recreate the original Burgundy?

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:05 pm

I'm sure Mr Hall is thinking about something in Tylenolglo/Excedringlo right about now.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:08 pm

Wasn't the V63 made for about 15 years? Apart from the upsidedown headstock and the nickel plated tuners are there any significant differences between the V63 and the C64?

relayer · Post by **relayer** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:35 pm

I'd happily save up my money for a '68 era reissue. It's probably old news to regulars here, but I've just seen Jeff Rath's photos of his, and it's quite drool inducing.

My wish list - the mid '70's 8 string w/4005 headstock that Squire & Entwistle had (IIRC, those were the only two made?).

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 12:03 am

I've just acquired a MG V63 from Shaun Elliott (thanks Shaun, a pleasure to do business with you!) and when I get a spare moment I'll put it up against my C64 and compare. Initial impression is the neck's slimmer.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 3:41 am

Man I am ALL OVER a v68 if it ever sees the light of day. I'd do whatever it took to buy one of those, I'd even buy from Ed Roman!

Well, I don't think I'd go that far...

Hey Mike Parks, I think you'll need to pre-order about 50!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 8:47 am

The C64 has a zero fret and the V63 does not.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 10:22 am

Ted: only the C64S has the zero fret. The C64 doesn't.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 3:34 pm

Hey, Jaymi, is my 'transitional' high-gain pickup to be installed on this 'Union Jack' bass?

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:36 pm

Ted- The differences that I can see between my v63 and c64s(other than the obvious ones i.e. sealer finish, sanded horns, zero fret, upside-down headstock etc.)are minimal. But I would say there are a few that make the c64 a bit more period accurate:
1)It has slotted screws on the truss cover, tuners, and big slotted screws on the back of the tuning pegs.
2)The horseshoe isn't wound as hot as the v63 and thus is more balanced with the toaster.
3)The headstock, although upside-down looks more like a real 60's headstock than the v63. To me, the v63's made after 1997/8 or so(and the new 4003's for that matter) have a headstock that looks kinda like a 60's headstock that was made out of chocolate and left out in the sun to melt for a bit. Also contributing to a more "correct" headstock appearance is the fact that...
4) The truss cover is smaller on my c64 than on my v63(6 1/4" long on the c64 versus 6 3/4" on the v63. This means that the truss cover on the v63 goes almost all the way to the end of the headstock. I haven't seen any 60's Ricks where that was the case.
5) As you mentioned, the c64 has the more period correct nickel plated tuners. They are almost identical to the tuners on my 70's Ricks except that they have a nickel skirt around the post as opposed to the black plastic one Rick used in the 70's(I don't have any 60's Ricks to compare). They are not like the bright chrome Schaller tuners used on the 4003 today, and unfortunately they also don't operate as smoothly.
6) I do notice a difference in the neck profile, but it isn't a big one. It could just be a production variation. My c64 seems to be shaped like this [ (but has more rounded edges)whereas my v63 is shaped more like this ( !

Both are great guitars and the differences as I said are minimal, but worth noting.

Sign me up for a v68 by the way Mr. Hall. I'll take a Fireglo or Burgundy. Maybe both!