Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Started playing bass in '64 after seeing Beatles on Sullivan. Gave it up (my EB-O) to buy a car and chase women in '69.

Twenty years later I'm at my HS Reunion, run into old bandmates, get back together to reminise. Start talking Beatle guitars. Tell my buddy I'd always wanted a Hofner bass. He turns me on to a source, I bite (buy it!). All of a sudden I've got the bug for Beatle instruments! Luck on to a '62 Gretsch CG, '58 325 and others.

Glen Lambert turns me on to this place. Next thing I know I'm reading all the great threads on the Rick basses. See a few pics, then begin drooling over the FG pix Galore! Got a have one! Ask questions, listen, read and learn. Snagged a '68 Fireglo 4001 eighty eight days ago, fell in love, and now play it every day! It is the coolest, best playing, best looking and best sounding bass I own. And it's all because of the great guys here and the generous tips and help you all provide to us other fortunate forumites!

I started playing trombone in the eighth grade. It wasn't cool to be lugging that thing around and I wanted something else...picked up bass because I could read bass clef. First bass was a Kay (cheap). Moved up to a Gibson EB3 soon...had this into college (always wanted a Ric then). I backed over the softshell case with my EB3 in it after rehearsal one day...snapped the neck in two pieces (always wanted a Ric). A bandmate sold me his Gibson Ripper for $100 plus the decapitated EB3....great bass, but very heavy (did I mention I always wanted a Ric).

At any rate, gave up playing for corporate life...then about 6 months ago ran into old bandmates and got the bug. I turned 50 in February and my wife had apparently picked up on my desire for Rics as I came home and on the sofa was a new 4003 JG that she had ordered from the local dealer.......it is no longer a love affair from a distance!

Mark

Great stories, everyone!!


Jeff, welcome to the forum! Your April '73 bass should have all the "goodies", like full width inlays, split bridge tailpiece, CHECKERED BINDING, 1/2 inch toaster spacing.....ahhhhhhh....

Ron...love seeing pics of those late '60s 4001s...yours is especially gorgeous....congrats!!

This will be my first post here, been watching you guys for some while now .

Anyhow, my first ric? I got it just a few months ago. My friends dad owns one, and I have been wanting to have one for years. But since I am an unemployed youngster (20 years) and could never afford one. By the way, I live in Sweden, so the prices are higher here then i the U.S.
But then one day, i had the money!
So I started to search the internet and found a great looking -78 Jetglo 4001.
I guess I'll never sell this one, its a Black Beauty.

thats all I guess

Marcus, welcome to the Forum, and look out, you will want more of them! Post a photo if you can.

Can I tell the story of someone else's first Ric?

I play keyboards/guitar in a cover band (Joy Division tribute - ironic, since Peter Hook played a Hondo Ric copy!) with a bassist much younger than me (I'm 37, he just turned 22). Right before our first (only, so far) show, he was having problems with his bass, so I loaned him one of my Rics ('93 4003JG) for the show. He LOVED it, and for WEEKS after that, kept pestering me to sell him the bass (I also have 2 4001's, so I suppose I could have spared it for him). After much hemming and hawing on my part, he finally gave up and bought a brand new 4003 (also JG), his first Rickenbacker. Which he loves. Glad to see that the new generation can enjoy these fine instruments as much as old farts like me!

I got married on my 18th birthday & my wife bought me a 4001 with her savings as a wedding gift. I had a Precision, but had wanted a Ric for many years before that, since my early teens. It was a 1978 JG.

I still have my wife, but unfortunately not the 4001.