Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

myfretless wrote:If you're going with "most expensive" RIC bass, then that would have to be Paul's 4001 that he sanded off the edge on the horn and used from about 1967 to 1988. That baby is priceless but if sold would easily fetch above $100,000.

That's a modest assessment IMHO but I agree, this is the holy grail of Ric basses.

this is the holy grail of Ric basses.

I agree 100%!

jingle_jangle wrote:Well, it's very recent, but I think it could qualify as "rare", since it's a prototype and the first 75th Anniversary instrument ever produced. It's my 75th 4003 (the one with the see-through DCM paint and the single-color TRC):

75proto.jpg

I suppose, as with anything Rickenbacker, time will tell...

Paul's point makes me think to ask what really makes a rare instrument? Paul's bass has a rare finish, pickguard and TRC, but the hardware is standard, so is it rare? Same with the lefty 4005. The hardware is the same but is it rare because it is left handed or because it's a 4005 or both? Paul Boyer's mink bass is rare, but because it wasn't factory produced does that not count? Not to mention with people like Paul and Dale who are able to make just about any instrument with any configuration we can think of , will that make certain instuments rare by ther work?

simer4001 wrote:Not to mention with people like Paul and Dale who are able to make just about any instrument with any configuration we can think of , will that make certain instuments rare by ther work?

Only if someone wants it when selling time comes. We've already seen what will happen with the Sean Kelly/Paul Boyer transaction.

Oh, and I would think McCartney's bass would command a MUCH higher price than that, well into 7 figures. Squire's also, though probably not as high, as would GL's JG also.

For rarity, there are probably a bunch of one-offs out there that have not yet surfaced. Celebrity guitars are a different category - not rare per se.

The ones we know or have some vague idea about:

'67 JG 4005WB owned by Jeff Scott 1
DCM Proto 1
4005LH 2
4001/8 2
4005LS 3
4004 RCA ?
4005/5 ?
4005/6 ?
4005/8 ?
4005/S Blackstar 1?
Shadow 50-60
4004LK 60
DCM 75th 75
Tuxedo 120 (or 125)
Redneck 125 (so says the cert anyway)
Bonafide RM ?
4002 Probably less than 200
4080 Probably less than 200
4001 21fret ?
GF Model ?
Blackstar 200
4001CS 1000


Did I miss anything?

rickfan60 wrote: Did I miss anything?

'67 Jetglo 4005WB

It's on there....

The most expensive: the next one I ask permission around here (i.e., home) to buy. It'll cost me a whole lot more than cash, I suspect.

how about this one ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/red-ric.htm

or this one ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/68-ric-2.htm

or this one ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/2020.htm

or my personal favorite ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/98-4004ci5.htm

I don't know how you could have sold that '68 4001FG, Jeff. Not criticizing, it's just I don't think I could have. Such a beauty.

Expensive is hard to define and is constantly shifting due to the volatile marketplace.

When it comes to rare, a refin is artificially rare. Yes, my "Mink" was a one-of-a-kind, but that was because I made it so (actually, Ted Staberow and Paul Wilczynski did), but since then there is at least another similarly finished, and more coming.

Factory rare, Gary Clauson has a 4003S/5 in Blackstar trim. He was told by JH that there may have been a handful of S/5s made like that. We may never know exactly.

Here is the most expensive bass ever...:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0222596846

I think it is a *bit* overpriced...

B.t.w - isn't "AA" Jan 1961?

johnallg wrote:I don't know how you could have sold that '68 4001FG, Jeff. Not criticizing, it's just I don't think I could have. Such a beauty.

the stock pickups were weak and the neck was not flat and I couldn't put a 5th string on it ... it was essentially useless to me ...

Would my Left-Handed 4003s 8-String (FG), fit anywhere in this thread????
(Sorry, no picture avail as of yet)


LeftyRickBass








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