Reissue this blast from the past? What do you think?

[jps]

Personally, although I like the original vintage 4000, a perfect re-issue still wouldn't be the same. You can only get that patina, that seasoning of the wood and pickups, through age and use.

RIC themselves made this point when they built the 4001CS, and I paraphrase somewhat here. They apparently went to great lengths to duplicate Squire's original bass, down to planing the body the same way, making it weigh exactly the same, and even winding pickups to give the same output as his originals. What they ended up with was a bass that whilst identical for all intents and purposes, still didn't sound the same. They had no recipe for 40 odd years of player mojo and aging.

I think the major reason the 4001CS does not sound like Chris' RM1999 is because RIC didn't break the headstocks off and glue them back on to reproduce the additional tone that would provide.

[cassius987]

a perfect re-issue still wouldn't be the same.

Yep. When I say something about wanting to see a 4002 reissue (for instance) don't for a second think I'm expecting the same exact thing that was being made in the 1980s. I like the idea that modern refinements are going to be added to improve on the original design, and also that there isn't a way to totally replicate the original allows the original keep its mystique and the new model to have an identity of its own.

If ultimately that means not making reissues and instead experimenting with new ideas based on older ones, perhaps like the 4004, I'm all for that too. Dane's idea to make changes to the 4004 so that it is more like the 4002 certainly sits well with me.

[Ric N. Backer]

I think it would be terrific to own one of these, even if the reissue weren't 'dead-on' perfect. Get it 90-95% of the way there and many players would be satisfied. You can never fully recapture the past. I don't think it's necessary or warranted. This year has a certain vibe and mojo that isn't currently available. I think people would appreciate the overall look, feel, and tone of this.

It's cool!

[rickenbrother]

I would have almost no interesting a reissue of the 4005. I'd have even less interest in a reissue of the original 4000. The originals are cool for what they are, but I prefer the better, modern style Rickenbacker bass guitars. If RIC ever issued reproductions of the experimental 4001S that they did in '67, put me at the top of the list for one!

[jps]

If RIC ever issued reproductions of the experimental 4001S that they did in '67, put me at the top of the list for one!

+∞

[aceonbass]

Can someone post a pic of the "experimental '67 4001S"?

[johnallg]

Can someone post a pic of the "experimental '67 4001S"?

Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing it. First I ever heard of it, but that doesn't mean much.

Wait, wasn't McCartney's a 4001S???

[jps]

IIRC, page 209 of the Smith book. I also have a color photo of it in a book called "2000 Guitars".

[woodyng]

umm ...so we have to order the book,Jeff?
i do like the idea of a cii that has the pickups positioned like the 4002's .....without the pg,too.

[rickenbrother]

Can someone post a pic of the "experimental '67 4001S"?

Um, maybe...

[wim]

IIRC, page 209 of the Smith book. I also have a color photo of it in a book called "2000 Guitars".

205
209 is Chris Squire

[jps]

IIRC, page 209 of the Smith book. I also have a color photo of it in a book called "2000 Guitars".

205
209 is Chris Squire

Thanks, that was from memory, obviously not as good as it used to be.

[wim]

IIRC, page 209 of the Smith book. I also have a color photo of it in a book called "2000 Guitars".

205
209 is Chris Squire

Thanks, that was from memory, obviously not as good as it used to be.

still pretty good though.

[Ric N. Backer]

Papa might just get a new 4003 and do the 4000 conversion.

I'm in a 4000 mood.

[johnallg]

Papa might just get a new 4003 and do the 4000 conversion.

I'm in a 4000 mood.

Remember, the 4000 was a dot neck, not a shark toothed. If you want to hear how a 4000 would sound, plug your mono cable into the Ric-O-Sound jack and you only get the bridge circuitry.