Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

FretlessOnly wrote:Very nice bass - that's how a FL fingerboard should be (although the side dots at every half-step drive me bonkers).

What's confusing me is that your wife indicated when she got it that it was a special order, but then later you state that you're the second owner. It sure looks like a one-of-a-kind to me, but the key is whether that's how the bass left the factory or if the previous owner possibly took a fretted bass and made it fretless by switching out the fingerboard rather than pulling the frets and filling. So, as a possible one-of-a-kind, the difference in value between it being factory original and significantly modified is likely quite substantial. As it is, as second owner with no paperwork, you're relying on the word of the previous owner as to it's "special order" status.

Maybe some others could weigh in here, but I've never seen any fingerboard anywhere close to that on a Rick. And the matte finish? Sounds to me like some mods may well have been done. Either way it's a great-looking axe.

rictified wrote:I would guess that the fingerboard has been changed. I've never seen any Ric bass fretted or fretless with a fingerboard that light.

lefty1964 wrote:I have just heard back from rickenbacker that the serial number on the bass is a custom order and if I send pics they will verify what it is, so.... No modifications. I now think my wife has excellent taste in guitars! (not that I didn't think she had good taste before!!!)