Questions about some used Rics

[thelemonsmasher]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Rickenback ... 23346b052c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-RICKENBACK ... 51b753e42e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-El ... 4ace29ee0a

How much are each of these basses worth? How much would they sell for at, for example, Sam Ash? Thanks.

[cjj]

Hard to say, really, but most '70s 4001 basses probably go for somewhere around $1000-$2000, of course, condition and what finish color can make a huge difference. Earlier models usually go for more.

You can always check out the RRF Rickenbacker price list:
http://www.rickresource.com/register/pr ... ?type=bass

Now, this is by no means gospel, it's just info that comes from ebay sales and such, but it'll give you some idea of what things are selling for...

[rickenbrother]

If you found a 70's 4001 at most music stores, they would probably put a ridiculously high price tag on it, whether they actually sell it at that price is another thing.
The used instrument market is still soft. It's hard to predict what the Ricks in those auctions will sell for. Sometimes surprisingly low, sometimes surprisingly high.
I love 70's 4001's, but they way RIC makes the 4003 and 4004 lately and I wanted another Rick, I'll spend my hard earned money on what are arguably the best bass guitars they've ever made, with a warranty.

[rickenbottom]

If you found a 70's 4001 at most music stores, they would probably put a ridiculously high price tag on it, whether they actually sell it at that price is another thing.
The used instrument market is still soft. It's hard to predict what the Ricks in those auctions will sell for. Sometimes surprisingly low, sometimes surprisingly high.
I love 70's 4001's, but they way RIC makes the 4003 and 4004 lately and I wanted another Rick, I'll spend my hard earned money on what are arguably the best bass guitars they've ever made, with a warranty.

+1 I couldn't agree with you more my new 4004 is absolutely fantastic. and so are my 4003's of course

[cjj]

Definitely, the new stuff from RIC is top notch. There's a certain panache about the older ones, and in some cases, yeah, there are some absolutely exceptional instruments. But if you want consistently great guitars, RIC's modern production methods are far better than "vintage" instruments...

[Baker69]

I agree, the latest 4003's are of a superb build quality, but to my ears they don't quite encapsulate the tone of the 70's 4001's, even with the vintage tone switch, which I understand is primarily down to the lower windings on their pickups.

I love my 2012 4003 but I do miss the sound of the 1978 4001 I had and also its ultra slinky neck! I also miss it being totally free of dead spots, unlike my 4003 on which I still have dead spots on three frets on the 'D' string which I have still yet to eradicate.

[cjj]

All the vintage tone switch does is add in the in-line 0.0047uF capacitor to the bridge pickup. Older Rickenbacker basses had this cap which cuts some of the low frequencies from the pickup...

[jps]

But, since the new hi-gain pickup's electrical values are different wouldn't the effect of the cap be affecting a different range of frequencies and maybe to a different extent?

[cjj]

Yes, by a small amount. The frequencies will be affected by the overall circuit, the impedance of the pickup, the value of the caps (in-line & tone), the value of the pots (tone & volume), and even the cable and amplifier input impedance. In other words, the total system has to be taken into account...

[ram]

What CJ said... I think you seem more difference in sound with the way you play (pick and fingering of the strings), than you would from the frequency delta here.

[FretlessOnly]

All the vintage tone switch does is add in the in-line 0.0047uF capacitor to the bridge pickup. Older Rickenbacker basses had this cap which cuts some of the low frequencies from the pickup...

While this may be the primary audible difference, I do believe that the 0.0047 cap does more to the sound of the blended PUs than simply removing some low frequencies.

[cjj]

Yes, it will introduce a phase shift of the signal which will affect the comb filtering effects of adding the 2 pickup signals. I was mostly responding to the statement about "lower windings" and didn't intend to go into a full technical explanation...

[johnallg]

Having both 70s 4001s and a modern 4003, even with that one having the 250k/500k pots and .0047uF cap, there is still a big difference in the sound (tone/timbre) of the two basses. There is more to the 70s sound than the cap. Wood, skunk stripe in the neck, the maple, the pickup coil construction, the bobbins, for just a start.

[cjj]

Oh, yeah. I'm certain that even the particular tree the wood came from, and even what specific part of the tree can make a difference. Some instruments just sound better, even if they were made on the same day.

And yes, I've got '70s 4001s and 4003s from early to fairly recent (2010). I love the sound of my '70s 4001s, I love the 4003s too, but even with the "vintage tone" switch, they do not sound the same...

[antipodean]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Rickenback ... 23346b052c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-RICKENBACK ... 51b753e42e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-El ... 4ace29ee0a

How much are each of these basses worth? How much would they sell for at, for example, Sam Ash? Thanks.

Alas, the 96(ish) 4003 has been sold at $1250.

On the '74 MG and '79 WHT/BT: worth $1400 to $1700 IMHO - assuming the photos don't lie and both are in excellent structural and cosmetic condition. The Grovers on the '74 and the desirable finish on the '79 are worth a little extra in my book (if the '79 were JG or MG and the '74 had Kluson's I'd adjust the price down about $150). The BIN on the '74 is ludicrously high, but someone might just be loopy enough to bite...

Mark-up at a retailer would be around 30% to 40%. A quick scan of Gbase shows dealer prices to be around $2000+, with some very weird high-side outliers.