Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

SixtyFour wrote:*** Vince, Wints, Leftybass, Pete G.; and all following this thread.

One question; do the names "California Guitar" or "Frank Lucido" come to mind ???

I point this out especially to Vince Gallo who may have been in touch with the above
mentioned names.

Paul, not to me. I'll leave that to those old school WC guys...

To the other Paul,

There's no doubt that RM must have done a good job with their marketing at the time. They were fortunate that Entwistle and Quaife took a lead role, and it was mission accomplished in early 65 when Macca took ownership of his. From there it snowballed, Waters, Gibb, and then Squire, Rutherford, et al...One after another, and the die was cast.

From this bass, Rickenbacker has produced over 25 years worth of variation. From the original B series, V, and now C, along with the CS model, this dot inlay, unbound bass is right up there as one of the most iconic instruments the company has ever produced. Some may say it is..

As a bass, there's no question it has been their masterpiece.

As we've said before, many were abused and trashed, with Rotosounds and "improper adjustment individuals" being the main culprits. As this thread has progressed, some more information has leaked out and there's about 25 known examples at present. That's @ 10% survival rate as a rough guide...

I'm sure there are a few more out there, but probably not that many. Today the 'net should attract reluctant owners who still want information, and hopefully this site will continue to act as the catalyst for that purpose.

What does anyone think happened to Entwistle's RM1999? He said it was the second RM exported to the UK, which I think would give it a DA serial number...

My one (dk564) did'nt actually survive the 70s (to many 70s mods) but thanks to a good luthier it is now back from the dead.
I guess so many did not survive at all.....
emac.

wints wrote:

SixtyFour wrote:*** Vince, Wints, Leftybass, Pete G.; and all following this thread.

One question; do the names "California Guitar" or "Frank Lucido" come to mind ???

I point this out especially to Vince Gallo who may have been in touch with the above
mentioned names.

Paul, not to me. I'll leave that to those old school WC guys...

Wints, great post as usual.

To get back to my question; During the early eighties Frank Lucido owned a dealership, "California Guitar", ...pre internet and published an inventory
list each month sent thru the mail.
I subscribed and received the listings, ...many Rickenbacker guitar and bass models available then, ...IIRC more than a "few" 4000 series basses listed.
At the time I was unaware of the RM connection, ...I'm sure that a RM1999 drifted into that shop.

Perhaps Vince may comment?

seyesbass wrote:Lo and behold there is King Crimson with Greg Lake on guitar and (I cant remember the guys name) at the back the bass player is holding a FG RM which I assume is the same one that Greg owned.
Maybe the programme will be repeated in which case I can get a recording of it.

I nearly forgot to comment on this. I'm amazed that that footage was found again! I'd love to see it. By the way, that's Peter Giles playing the RM.

SixtyFour wrote:

wints wrote:

SixtyFour wrote:*** Vince, Wints, Leftybass, Pete G.; and all following this thread.

One question; do the names "California Guitar" or "Frank Lucido" come to mind ???

I point this out especially to Vince Gallo who may have been in touch with the above
mentioned names.

Paul, not to me. I'll leave that to those old school WC guys...

Wints, great post as usual.

To get back to my question; During the early eighties Frank Lucido owned a dealership, "California Guitar", ...pre internet and published an inventory
list each month sent thru the mail.
I subscribed and received the listings, ...many Rickenbacker guitar and bass models available then, ...IIRC more than a "few" 4000 series basses listed.
At the time I was unaware of the RM connection, ...I'm sure that a RM1999 drifted into that shop.

Perhaps Vince may comment?

I remember Frank's store, yes....although I didn't subscribe to his stock list, I don't doubt that he and people like Norm Harris and Lloyd could have had stuff like that float thru their stores.

I can remember about 1980-81 when Guitar Trader in Red Bank, NJ (Dave DeForest) had a '64 4001 deluxe for the unheard of price of $1000.00, LOL......at the time the most expensive '59 Les Paul money could buy was $10K.........

TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:What does anyone think happened to Entwistle's RM1999? He said it was the second RM exported to the UK, which I think would give it a DA serial number...

I thought that I read somewhere on this site that his RM had a severly warped or bowed neck and it was unplayable.

Here's some old Who vids. Enjoy!!

To Scott Herkimer,
Your apology is more than accepted. Thank you !

To Pete Greenwood,
I have an un-played RM1999 from 67 and a 64 4001 new in the box. Those should stay that way for future folks to see what they were like from the factory. The other basses I own can be played by anyone who visits me in LA.

To F. Paul Dicamill,
I purchased two Rickenbackers from Frank at California Guitar. A highly figured 64 mapleglow 4001 (which I traded for my first RM1999) and a 4000 converted to a 4001S/RM1999 (which I gave to Lucas Haas for his birthday in 1999). The shop also had a refinished 4001 with tons of flame from 68 which I passed on. I did purchase a 64 4001 from Guitar Trader and 6 or 7 60’s basses from Guitar Broker.

Regarding the Rose Morris success overseas, ALL THE MORE REASON THE MODEL SHOULD ONLY BE KNOWN AS A RM1999

I own the Donovan bass and the one Chris Squire plays in the Fish Out Of Water film

vincent_gallo wrote: I have an un-played RM1999 from 67 and a 64 4001 new in the box. And the one Chris Squire plays in the Fish Out Of Water film

Dude! You are almost GOD!!!
One never played from 1967 and a new 1964? I just ******* me pants!!
Can you post some pics of these?
I just have to see them!

How about a photo of your ENTIRE Rickenbacker bass collection?
What's your street address again?

2112 wrote:Here's some old Who vids. Enjoy!!

That video of old Enty is great. One day my home will look like that.

2112 wrote:

vincent_gallo wrote: I have an un-played RM1999 from 67 and a 64 4001 new in the box. And the one Chris Squire plays in the Fish Out Of Water film

Dude! You are almost GOD!!!
One never played from 1967 and a new 1964? I just ******* me pants!!
Can you post some pics of these?
I just have to see them!

How about a photo of your ENTIRE Rickenbacker bass collection?
What's your street address again?

Yes Vincent, please post some pics, or do you have a photobucket or something....? Im also curious, is the 60's case candy the same as the US delivered instruments, or do the RM Rics have different tags and manuals?

I'd like to add that I'm glad to see this forum and thread aid Scott and Vincent put their issue behind them.

An apology, and acceptance of such, is not always such an easy thing to achieve, and this is what this place is all about.

Props to you both...

Right you are Andrew. Very nicely done, guys. I love it. The rarest and most memorable moments are often found when we meet in the middle.

thanks, vincent !!

andy and peter as well.

2112 wrote:

TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:What does anyone think happened to Entwistle's RM1999? He said it was the second RM exported to the UK, which I think would give it a DA serial number...

I thought that I read somewhere on this site that his RM had a severly warped or bowed neck and it was unplayable.

My old 68 had a bowed unplayable neck and a simple correct truss rod adjustment made it playable for over 30 years