Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just came back after a long absence... what finally happened with the Redneck?

Marc was waiting for you to come back so you could make him an offer on it!

I'm tempted... a while back I listed it on a "gear wanted" board. But I don't like taking its dark cousin out to rehearsals even though I love playing it. At some point these rare models are unusable. But then, the redneck is a beautiful creature.

"At some point these rare models are unusable"

Really?

Jeff, maybe you're confused. Your group is Rare Blend, not Rare Model

Different perspective ...My '65 4005 got it's neck broken in a van accident after a gig.

It sounded so good, but was it smart to use it?

They are made to be played. Instruments can be repaired, check out some of The Curmudgeon's work.

Do you still have your 4005?

"It sounded so good, but was it smart to use it?"

Is it smart for any of us to leave the house to play a gig? Humans break pretty easy in car accidents... just like rics.

Live life. Better yet... live it playing a rare instrument.

Can't argue with the sentiment, but I remember how I felt when I swung the Blackstar and nicked the head on the amp head. Ah well..

I guess not everything in life is black/white, plus/minus or ying/yang.

Sold the 4005 a couple years ago. It had a great repair but it only sold for $1930. (I posted some photos of the repair here a while back.)

This is one of my pet soap boxes; bass guitars are made to be played and should be played. The only exception I would say would be an instrument of special historic value, like say one of the first 10 RICs ever made or Chris Sqires’ RM, but even he still gigs that one.

None of my basses are worth a kings random. The only special one is a mint ’72, but that one gets more play time than any of the others. One day I will buy a 4005. I will probably pay about 6K USD for it but it will certainly get played.

I remember my first bass and my first RIC, a brand new 1974 JG. The feelings that I had when holding and playing those basses are priceless. I am more than happy to take the risk that a bass will get a ding. You are a long time dead.

My $.02:

I'd play a 60's 4005 out(or a mint Redneck) if I had one. But if the gig is gonna be 5 guys and a drum kit jammed into a 10ft X 10ft corner stage, playing for an audience of 15, I'd pick a bass thats a little more expendable.

Jeff, spot on! There are two venues that our 5 piece play that is just about as you described. I take my '80 Azureglo to those. The bass has quite a few battle scars already.

"...or Chris Sqires’ RM, but even he still gigs that one..."




Here he is at a small club!