Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:06 am
What Ric has put on right now! 
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what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
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Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:07 am
Ebay that is.
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:48 pm
Go See YES this summer and you'll get a fairly nice display of one!TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:+1henry5 wrote:I'd love to play an RM; I've never even seen one in the flesh.
I haven't even seen a V63 in the flesh!
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:08 pm
Or come to RIO!!!just_bassics wrote:Go See YES this summer and you'll get a fairly nice display of one!TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:+1henry5 wrote:I'd love to play an RM; I've never even seen one in the flesh.
I haven't even seen a V63 in the flesh!
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:22 pm
for the record, though i have my share i am still paying in the 20K range or more for any RM from 1964 and would pay up for any 60's Rickenbacker bass as well [email protected]
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:33 pm
Ah, I've seen his several times, but always at a distance so it doesn't count!just_bassics wrote:Go See YES this summer and you'll get a fairly nice display of one!TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:+1henry5 wrote:I'd love to play an RM; I've never even seen one in the flesh.
I haven't even seen a V63 in the flesh!
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:35 am
Sorry to get off topic for sec, but are you actually Vincent Gallo the actor?vincent_gallo wrote:for the record, though i have my share i am still paying in the 20K range or more for any RM from 1964 and would pay up for any 60's Rickenbacker bass as well [email protected]
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:54 am
He most certainly is! 
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:32 pm
I just got hip to this thread today. Wow - ALL the vintage heavy-weights are here! This has been a great read, factually & historically. I've got one RM 1999 to add to the mix, formerly in the collection of Gerry F.
DH156:
Mine also has the "4k" insignia:
DH156 is one of the few remaining that has a strong neck, fortunately for me. It has a slight backbow which causes a little buzz from the 7th fret on down, but one of these days I'm going to have Dale F work his magic on it & the slightly bent headstock. A friend of many here at the RRF from the Czech Republic has one of the '64 RM's, and his luthier there did an AMAZING job straightening his headstock using the same method that curved wooden furniture is made. He also fused in some carbon fibers somehow so that the sucker will never bend back due to "wood memory." Here are some pictures of the restoration project:
Note that the forward tilt is so bad that the strings are off the nut:
DH156:
Mine also has the "4k" insignia:
DH156 is one of the few remaining that has a strong neck, fortunately for me. It has a slight backbow which causes a little buzz from the 7th fret on down, but one of these days I'm going to have Dale F work his magic on it & the slightly bent headstock. A friend of many here at the RRF from the Czech Republic has one of the '64 RM's, and his luthier there did an AMAZING job straightening his headstock using the same method that curved wooden furniture is made. He also fused in some carbon fibers somehow so that the sucker will never bend back due to "wood memory." Here are some pictures of the restoration project:
Note that the forward tilt is so bad that the strings are off the nut:
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:36 pm
(The restoration project con't)
The finished headstock:
This is how the carbon fiber lies under the fretboard:
I have no idea how carbon fiber is manipulated, but this was a pretty amazing application by the luthier.
The finished headstock:
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:48 pm
I've also got a 1968 4001 MG "Deluxe" that I purchased from Mike Lull (of Mike Lull's Guitar Works in Kirkland, WA) back in 1996.
He wanted $2,500 for it, and I obliged without haggle. It was the sweetest sounding Rick I had ever heard, and to me it was worth every penny. Of course, I was young, too, and had no sense of business savy, but I certainly have no regrets about making the investment. He also had a '64 RM 1999 at the time, that I played on the same day that I tried the '68 Deluxe. His RM sounded very brash compared to the '68. I'm not sure why that was - maybe the .0047 cap was popped - who knows. Mike wanted $10k for the RM at the time. Fortunately for me, I could barely afford the bass I liked best of the two!
He wanted $2,500 for it, and I obliged without haggle. It was the sweetest sounding Rick I had ever heard, and to me it was worth every penny. Of course, I was young, too, and had no sense of business savy, but I certainly have no regrets about making the investment. He also had a '64 RM 1999 at the time, that I played on the same day that I tried the '68 Deluxe. His RM sounded very brash compared to the '68. I'm not sure why that was - maybe the .0047 cap was popped - who knows. Mike wanted $10k for the RM at the time. Fortunately for me, I could barely afford the bass I liked best of the two!
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:56 pm
That MG is a beauty Mark!
I am considering selling my vital organs on the black market to fund another RM!
I just cant stop the craving!
I am considering selling my vital organs on the black market to fund another RM!
I just cant stop the craving!
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:07 pm
Thanks, Pete. The '68 truly is my favorite bass. It sounds & feels the best of all the Ricks I've owned or played, and by now has a personal attachment that makes it invaluable. I honestly prefer it above the RM, but the RM is still new to me, and once it gets fully restored and in better playing condition, it may grow on me, too. I will say - it definitely has the fastest neck - like buttah!
Be careful with your vitals, Pete. Parting yourself out may be detramental to your ability to PLAY your beloved basses. But it's good to know your bartering capabilities. There may come a time when I'm in need of a vital organ or two, and maybe we can talk a deal at that time. Although my girlfriend would argue "The sooner, the better!" as one organ in particular has depreciated in value to her as of late due to it's unreliable nature.
(OH! Where's my rimshot???)
But I digress...
How many RM's do you/have you owned, Pete? Have you found them to be consistent from bass to bass? That would be a good question for Vincent, too.
Be careful with your vitals, Pete. Parting yourself out may be detramental to your ability to PLAY your beloved basses. But it's good to know your bartering capabilities. There may come a time when I'm in need of a vital organ or two, and maybe we can talk a deal at that time. Although my girlfriend would argue "The sooner, the better!" as one organ in particular has depreciated in value to her as of late due to it's unreliable nature.
(OH! Where's my rimshot???)
But I digress...
How many RM's do you/have you owned, Pete? Have you found them to be consistent from bass to bass? That would be a good question for Vincent, too.
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:06 pm
+1walker wrote:Thanks, Pete. The '68 truly is my favorite bass. It sounds & feels the best of all the Ricks I've owned or played...."
I loved playing it af MARF II. Great neck on that bass....GREAT sound..
Re: what is the most expensive ric bass? rarest ric bass?
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:31 pm
Nice photo's Mark.
The job on the CZR RM 1999 was impressive to say the least. That looks a very cool vintage piece today. It's always cool to see so many different photo's of all these basses, and to compare.
I wonder if Mike Lull ever got his $10K back over 10 years ago, and where is that bass today? Vincent...
He was ahead of the curve there asking big $$$ back in the day.
The job on the CZR RM 1999 was impressive to say the least. That looks a very cool vintage piece today. It's always cool to see so many different photo's of all these basses, and to compare.
I wonder if Mike Lull ever got his $10K back over 10 years ago, and where is that bass today? Vincent...
He was ahead of the curve there asking big $$$ back in the day.