Was there ever a 4004Cii 8 string

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:51 am

Welcome aboard, Simon!

It's been my "routine activity" for a couple of years to look at your very impressive collection at Bjorn's site every once in a while. You're the king when it comes to collecting RIC basses! I bow in humbleness, your highness!

I look forward to seeing your 4004 C/8 refinished. The standard 400X headstock looks orgasmic with 8 big/small tuners...way better than the elongated S/8 ones, IMHO. By the way, what brand/model of bridge is on her?

simonmole · Post by **simonmole** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:01 am

Hi Paul - thanks for the nice comments! As I say, though, there's me thinking I'm a collector when folks here run rings around my actual inside knowledge of the things!! The bridge is a gold Schaller 8 string model on the 4004 - I suspect its maybe not meant for 4 octave pairs, since the spacing seems potentially wide, but I read an interview with John Paul Jones of Led Zep and he said he often played the string and paired octave independantly on his recent stuff, so I thought I'd benifit from a slightly wider (than a regular Rick

spacing near the bridge to try that technique... I'm no John Paul Jones, though!!!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:13 am

Cool! Thanks.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:47 am

Hail to the RIC Chief!

crazypink · Post by **crazypink** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:48 am

Hi everyone, been a member for a little while but never posted before, as at this moment in time I have no Ricky basses. I havent played for about 7 years and have been saving up for a 4004 and/or 2060/20 bass. Since joining and reading all the great articles here, it has fuelled my appetite! I love your 4004 C/8 Simon, 4004's are really hard to come by in the UK, Ive been looking off and on over the years and havent found one yet. Ive found a lovely 4004FG and 2020TUR in Holland so am hoping it/they might wait for me! But knowing my luck, it probably wont!

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:52 am

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:05 am

Simon, I also like late 70's 4001's and have a 78 Azureglo along with a 79 mapleglo along with other Rics. I like the necks and sound of the late 70's Rics. My 78 is one of the nicest sounding and playing Rics I've ever owned.
I also especially like early to mid 90's 4003's.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:58 am

Bob--You and I are on the same page. I like those late '70's 4001s and the late 1980's/early 90's 4003's. Also, I broke down and followed your lead: On Monday I picked up a new Ampeg SVT classic and 410HLF cab. Thanks for the tip. Best sounding amp I've ever played through.

Welcome Simon! I knew of your collection before I knew of this forum. You're the man! It was probably photos of your collection that began my Rick addiction and justified my twisted ways(I'm up to 10 now). But don't worry...I won't tell my girl that you're to blame!

rickengeezer · Post by **rickengeezer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:01 am

Simon, did you go to Sotheby's in person for the Entwistle auction? I bid on his 4008 via a proxy, and I must have come in second on it as the winning price was just above my highest bid; I've always wondered who beat me!

Anyhow, welcome aboard!

simonmole · Post by **simonmole** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:48 am

Hi Les - yes I went in person, but it was his '67 4005 I bought! For me the nice thing was, as a young bunch of Who fans we sat and watched an early video tape of "the kids are alright" (all round at the first house in town to get a video machine!!), and although then I knew of and wanted a Rick bass, 20 minutes in came a clip of "tommy can you hear me?" mimed by John on, well, I knew it was a Rickenbacker (that fantastic laminate headstock!) but it was unlike any I'd seen! When John was tragically lost and I heard rumour of his collection having to be sold off, that bass made such an impression that I set my heart on it - I just had enough after selling a years worth of stuff on ebay and in the local free ads paper (if it wasn't nailed down or a Rickenbacker - it sold!!). alas I don't know who got his white Rick 8 string... I had a great time at the preview day, though - played all his basses (and I mean all! Took hours - just wish they'd had an amp there!) and met Jimmy Page, who had a great chat and when he heard what I was after he wrote "good luck getting that bass!" on my underground map!

rickengeezer · Post by **rickengeezer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:27 am

That sounds great, Simon, I'm glad you got that 4005 and that you got to play 'em all! He had two 4005s up for auction, and I did put in token bids on both of them but I had my heart set on the 4008. My wife actually supported my outrageously high bid, but it wasn't quite good enough. However, as I remember the two 4005s went for quite a bit more than the 4008, so you are a bit more broke than I would have been!

As a consolation prize, I had to buy myself a Jetglo 4003s/8. Not quite the same, but I've made do.

simonmole · Post by **simonmole** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:35 am

My way of getting the OK from my wife was reminding her the 67 4005 is exactly her age! (this means of course I should be allowed the 1965 Rickenbacker of my choice when I find it for MY birthday...!!)

crazypink · Post by **crazypink** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 12:38 pm

Simon that sounds like the perfect compromise in a marriage, as long she doesnt claim it as her's for being the same age as her! So where in the UK are you, Im in Plymouth, and have been a big fan of John's as well as, Bruce Foxton, Ronnie Lane and Andy Fraser since I was 11. So were you a Mod when you were younger?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:34 pm

Simon ... I think you have a bigger budget than most of us ... I have to get by with 12 basses and 2 guitars ... I have a friend who wants to own one guitar for each year he has lived ...

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:39 pm

Simon, I had to laugh when I read your post about acquiring the RIC of your (and your wife's) age.

My most recent RIC purchase was a brand new Midnight Blue 4003 in 2003... the same summer as the birth of my first daughter. I am playing it regularly as my #1 bass right now, but it will be hers some day....