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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:00 am
by fran4001
Wow! That thing is gorgeous, RIC or not! Real nice work on the rear at the neck joint too.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:03 pm
by heinpete
I'm not quite sure about the make of it. It really looks like some decent luthier (are there any in China or Korea???) made it very thoroughly, even all cavities are painted with carbon shield. The thing is totally noiseless as expected. The Toasters are two-blade-humbuckers with 8.0k at the neck and 8.3k the other. The tailpiece is solid, but I would prefer the original ABM from Ric co. as you can alter the string spacing. The finish is excellent with a light "butterscotch" taste. The flame of the top is amazing and even some flame of the back. The cream binding is smooth and well fitted, however there are some minor flares between binding and top, but you hardly notice (maybe only because I looked extra critical). The bass is very light (7.5lbs) and probably as it is full maple the sound rings and grows excellent (very close to the '75 4001Autumnglo I once had). The best was the price: This thing went for 350,-$!!! If there were more of it... tough times ahead for the Ric co.!?
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:03 am
by bassduke49
Peter, I noticed you carefully avoided showing the front of the headstock. Is there a truss-rod cover that we should not see? Are there one or two truss rods?
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:38 am
by heinpete
...yes, of course I do not want to get caught by the Ric-Police. It does have a full Ric image TRC. The truss rod is only one, sufficiently as the neck is very slim (about 1.5" at the nut). The headstock has a "backwards"-position which enhances the preassure of the strings on the nut quite drastically, so that you cannot pull out a string in tune, which is well possible with the original 4004.
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:58 am
by geddeeee
That's a lovely looking bass. Looks like it was made with love. Just like a Rick!
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:45 am
by aceonbass
"Looks like it was made with love"...ya, love of someone elses design. If I were J.H., knowing that that this has a counterfeit RIC truss rod cover on it would totally **** me off. Just about everything about that instrument is HIS intellectual property.
Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 5:57 am
by heinpete
I work in ww pharmaceutical business. For any drug there is a "market exclusivity" granted by the authorities(FDA, EMEA, MHLW) only for 10 years and any patent is expired latest after 20 years. That is real competition. I just don't think that some US companies alone sets the standards for competition... however for bass guitar, that is for sure!