Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I keep forgetting about this thread. I missed the chance the celebrate Da Blue Beast's 11th birthday last month!!

But now it's the 7th birthday of my my 4003 Turquoise.

Schweet Joey! Any special story or just got it and love it???

Actually Tom, I hadn't seen a Turquoise 4003 in person until it was just about too late to buy one. Before then, I didn't like the way the finish looked in the pics I had seen of it. After seeing a Turquoise 4003 in person, I loved it and wanted one since. My wife, Diane bought me that one this one for my birthday last year.

Love that Turquoise, Joey! Thanks for posting.

And I don't think anyone would seriously object to you backtracking to January to tell us about the "Blue Beast."

Okay, cool, thanks Mark!

Most of my playing in my band gets done on a 5 string. For several years, my main 5 string basses were StingRay5's and a TUNE Bassmaniac 5. Both very nice basses, but not a Rickenbacker. I wanted Rick tone out of a 5 string, Finally in Sept '03, I decided to buy a used S/5 despite the tight string spacing. After playing it and hearing it, I wished I had bought a couple of them when they were still being manufactured. When I brought it to band practice for the first time, it's output and tone amazed by band mates. That's the night it got named "Da Blue Beast". I get complements on it's looks and tone at every gig.


Happy belated 11th birthday to Da Blue Beast!!

rickenbrother wrote:
Happy belated 11th birthday to Da Blue Beast!!

A belated congratulation Blue Beast! And I'm leaving the picture in the quote as this is -in my humble opinion- the most beautifull color combination ever for a Rick.

Joey, I agree the pictures never really capture the Turquoise correctly. Saw my first and only live sighting (thus far) a few years ago – wow!

I must agree with Bert – Da Blue Beast has one of the neatest color combos. It took a little getting used to the string spacing on the S5 (mine Sept this thread), but that seems to make it a really quick play! Thanks for sharin them with us.

Well son of a gun. I was remiss in bumping this last month. Anybody with a guitar "born" in March should post your story along with the April birthdays.

Hey Mark. I'm waiting for May - I got 2 from that month.

Okay Mark, I'll do another belated anniversary thread for my Ricks. I have a few from March.

My Fireglo from 1979, which I bought used out of the window of We Buy And Sell Guitars ion 48th St. in NY NY.
It has seen countless gigs the past 24 years on both coasts. A great player that sounds amazing.


My recently acquired Jetglo 4003S/8 from '98. I can't put this bass down since I got it!! I'm wishing I could record and or gig with it soon...unfortunately I am bandless right now.


My Mapleglo 4004Cii/5 from '04. Purchased this bass new. Probably the most impressive looking instrument I've seen in my life without the super fancy woods (see Dane's signature). I'm a lousy picture taker. It has to be seen in person to appreciate it.


My Monty Brown 4003FL from '06. Purchased this bass new. It was a surprise that it didn't have walnut headstock wings, but I've seen other Monty Browns with the walnut wings and I prefer the look of the brown burst on the headstock without the walnut.


Geez, where does the time go? My 4003 DCM from '07, a couple of weekends ago made it a year since I got it. It's seen some light duty at a couple of gigs.


I guess I should mention that my wife, Diane's birthday was also in March. I've very lucky that she appreciates my passion for Rickenbacker instruments...but I'm not gonna show the year SHE was born. I know better!!

rickenbrother wrote:I guess I should mention that my wife, Diane's birthday was also in March. I've very lucky that she appreciates my passion for Rickenbacker instruments...but I'm not gonna show the year SHE was born. I know better!!

Probably wise. Truth be known, my girlfriend has a few 29th birthdays under her belt, too!

Great looking basses! I'm especially looking forward to hearing that 8-string whenever you get a chance to lay down some tracks with it.

Joey, good to see you posting. I have missed your erudite commentary. Great basses – I especially like the 4004 (I am a grain-a-holic). What strings you usin on the 8? My wife too is a Marcher...

Thanks Mark and Tom.
Believe it or not Tom, I haven't put new strings on it yet nor have I ordered new strings for it yet. When my band fell apart a few weeks ago, it just killed my desired to do anything like that.

Joey, sorry to hear about the band - bummer

Maybe a bowl of spaghetti with a nice glass of wine.... Then some new strings and the remainder of the bottle and some solo noise making could help.

Good luck with it all man... things will pick up!

Still that is a damn nice lookin 4004!!!

Great basses, Joey. I love the '79 4001 too - great feel and tone.

Keep your mojo up - a new playing opportunity is just around the corner.