What's Up With This Stripe?

[Tripodls]

I have never seen a Rick like this one recently spotted on eBay. I have no association with this listing and do not know who that owner is. I didn't see it until after it sold so I didn't get to bid on it. It is listed as a 1978 Rickenbacker Fretless Bass. I am going to try to add pictures but this bass has a 1" white stripe running through the body in the lower section, partially obscured by the pick guard. It appears to be part of the body instead of a painted stripe. Has anyone see this before and whats the story on it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-RICKENBACK ... 7675.l2557

[jps]

It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

[bassduke49]

Whether it covers damage or not, it is paint.

[Tripodls]

Thanks for the input and nice picture.
I had not thought that it might be to hide a repair. It didn't look like paint to me because of how it contours with the body and seems to go under the binding

[squirebass]

It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

LPB.jpg

You really SHOULD take better care of your basses, Jeff, even if they ARE MM Stingrays!

[jps]

It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

LPB.jpg

You really SHOULD take better care of your basses, Jeff, even if they ARE MM Stingrays!

[jdogric12]

I could swear I've seen the OP guitar pictured before somewhere. Sure looks awful clean for something that may have taken such a nasty hit. While I think the repair is a super valid theory, I wouldn't be surprised if some nut just liked racing stripes either.

[chefothefuture]

Funky guard. Odd contours on the guard and it appears cracked.
I'd love to see what the control cavity looks like.
Still- A rare(ish) bird....

Auction ended so I guess somebody's questions were answered.....

[cheyenne]

I could swear I've seen the OP guitar pictured before somewhere. Sure looks awful clean for something that may have taken such a nasty hit. While I think the repair is a super valid theory, I wouldn't be surprised if some nut just liked racing stripes either.

I agree. I've seen it somewhere myself. Its been a while though.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

[jps]

Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

So, what's your assessment of the stripe on the guitar.

[libratune]

Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

So, what's your assessment of the stripe on the guitar.

I used to own that bass. The stripe was on it when I acquired it. It's a white paint stripe and is not covering any defect. The paint seemed to be professionally applied, flush with the surface, no brush marks. Racing stripe, if you will, a la Mustang. But definitely an aftermarket addition.

I decided to leave it as is. I eventually traded it to Olivia's for another instrument.

[jps]

Great, nice to get a previous owner's POV. Kind of a strange place to put a "racing stripe" on it, I think.

It brought this to mind when I first saw it.

Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2006 All rights reserved.

Sorry about the image quality, the camera was dying at the time!

[squirebass]

That looks an awful lot like the late Paul Kantner, of Jefferson Airplane, if I'm not mistaken...

[jps]

Yes, it is Paul.