Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Congrats John. Are you planning to attend the Mid Atlantic Rick-Fest? If so, you gotta bring that bass. It will look good with the two MG '72s that I have!

FWIW, both cases for the lefty '72s I own are like John's and are factory original. John made the comment that it was a "Fender case", and I agree in principal to what he says. What is interesting is that I tried putting my left-handed Jazz Bass in one of them, and it does not fit. LOL

Thanks everyone... I really like the mapleglo, not as jaw dropping as some of the mint fireglos but I find mapleglo works much better with the skunk stripe, and I LOVE the skunk stripe.

The thumbrest is not stock, I need to order in a clear one. The two thumbrest holes are a sin... someday I might get them filled. Right now I am not so worried as this will be my #1 gigging bass... this baby has seen some action and it will see plenty more in my hands!!! Vintage is meant to be played I say... this baby is not going on my wall!

The case is Fender because it actually has a fender logo on it.

Right now I need to look into giving this baby a proper polish. Boy do I love this bass... and the fact that it is 8 years older than I am just adds to the marvel ;P

You were born when I was in high school??

Ouch! Me too.

Thanks for the pics John. Your 4003 has a thinner neck than others that I have played. How does the output compare to the 4003? Does it have the .0047 cap still in place and if so would you think of the bypass?

The bypass and a set of TI flats made mine a serious thumper that still has a nice bite.

I have not looked inside but from the sound of it the cap is on. I think I might just keep it on to give this bass a different voice from my 4003. I will have to try it both ways though.

Output is not as hot as the 4003 but the difference is not something that jumps out at me.

If the bridge pickup solo'd sounds thin then the cap is probably there. You can look inside to see without having to slacken the strings.

For me the range of useable tones was much greater with the cap bypassed. You can undo the mod in a minute if you don't like the change.

make sure you keep the case-closed!

just compared the two directly again and I will say that there is more of a volume difference compared to the 4003. I will also be bypassing the cap as I did prefer the fuller sound of the 4003

Morrow, am I mistaken or is the cap on the neck pickup?

Jared, I keep fish not cats... though some of my bandmates are quite feral

What a bunch of youngsters! I got married in 72.......

The cap is on the bridge pickup, John. And for the record, I also prefer it out of the circuit.

John, Fred should know how to rig the bypass. It is a five minute surgery and can be undone even faster.Give him a call.

If Fred isn't sure , I have some instructions around here somewhere.

I have the schematics and photos, but thanks for the offer. I will talk to him about installing it... he did a great job wiring my 4003 (the original owner had swapped in bartolinis and had changed the wiring). Actually Fred does all my bass work now.

Tonight is round two with the 72' as I have another band practice. I havn't been able to put this baby down since I got her...

My old man, who is a fender junkie, dropped by to have a look at the ric and he was pretty impressed (Which is saying a lot because he was not so hot on the idea in the start because I sold a Fender Urge II to get this baby). I am pretty sure I have him sold on rics now... plus one of my guitarists wants to get a ric guitar...

"You were born when I was in high school??"

I was in high school when that bass was born!