Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

antipodean wrote:Now, let me get this straight:

- The 4002 was a cutting edge bass that didn't sell and so was discontinued;
- The 4005 was a bass that sold in small numbers and was discontinued;
- We all (yep, me too) want to see them reissued.

There's something in that chain that doesn't make sense, but I can't put my finger on it.......

I don't know about the 4005 but the 4002 seems to me like it was ahead of its time. Today, players like Justin Chancellor employ Wal basses with similar features (like XLR out and weird impedance pickups). Also, Audere is now messing impedance in a unique way (that would enhance the 4002 design for sure).

The 4005 seems really neat to me for tonal reasons but I gravitate much, much more to the 4002 as an "uber" model bass. I mean, it just seems like a Holy Grail to me, most especially after having played iiipopes' on several occasions and found it the comfiest and sexiest-sounding funk machine around! Seriously... who knew ebony could pump out the LOW END like that? Mm.

I have my doubts that RIC would ever reissue the 4002, but I think if they did it and they did it right they would garner even more respect, esp. from the "doubters". Backlogged as they are right now, however, I don't think they are too concerned about garnering much more of anything, esp. sales. In any case I appreciate the fact that Ben Hall is willing to divulge ANY info to us, even just that there IS SOMETHING in the works. It's fun to dream--and for me, the dream is of a 4002.

Why would one assume the RickFlipOut be a reissue?
The Backlog?
That they have Horse Shoes sitting around?
Maybe the flip out will be more discontinuations!!!!!!
Time to order all the models you can!!! Panic!!!!!! Panic!!!!! Danger Will Robinson!!!!!!

Maybe they are moving production somewhere where the overhead will be cheaper.
Like South Dakota.

Maybe they decided to just retire and close the factory forever. No more listening to us *****, measure, second guess, and speculate on their doings!!

shamustwin wrote:Why would one assume the RickFlipOut be a reissue?

Because the announcement said the new model would overlap with the 4001c64.

Far be it for me to get all the facts before opening my big yap!

shamustwin wrote:Far be it for me to get all the facts before opening my big yap!

But that's no fun!

shamustwin wrote:Far be it for me to get all the facts before opening my big yap!

Never stopped me.

I'd like to see a 4002 with HB1s and a new bridge design. That would be sweet!

gearhed289 wrote:I'd like to see a 4002 with HB1s and a new bridge design. That would be sweet!

Why HB1's? Have you ever heard 4002 pickups?

Just to be devil's advocate - while most of us here drool over a 4002, and quite a few of us would put our money where our mouth is, I question whether it would be marketable. I can't see some young player in a store being more interested in a 4002 instead of a 4003.

My view of the 4005 termination was that it was somewhat a victim of the times, the mid-1980's.

I've commented before that when I looked over an early 80's Rickenbacker catalog when in my early 20's, the 4005 seemed like a relic of another time. Not many people played hollow-body basses in the 80's, at least not that I remember. I for sure was much more drawn to the 4001S I did end up buying, and never seriously considered the 4005.

Things tend to go in cycles. I was 10 years old in 1972 and had longer "Partridge Family" style hair, which seems to be back in vogue with kids again the past few years. More people are using and buying hollow body basses again, so the interest is back up. I finally bit the bullet and got a Hagstrom Concorde hollow body bass because I wanted that style of bass now, but again back in the mid-80's no way.

Finally, according to the history, there was a major product line shake-up around that time, affecting many lower selling models. It wasn't discontinued in isolation.

I think a V57 re-issue with modern truss rods, etc., would be a slam-dunk.

I can't see some young player in a store being more interested in a 4002 instead of a 4003.

You see Rickenbackers in stores?

gearhed289 wrote:I'd like to see a 4002 with HB1s and a new bridge design. That would be sweet!

The mysterious new bridge/tailpiece would make my day! The 4002 RI would be a nice bonus....

s4001 wrote:Just to be devil's advocate - while most of us here drool over a 4002, and quite a few of us would put our money where our mouth is, I question whether it would be marketable. I can't see some young player in a store being more interested in a 4002 instead of a 4003.

I'm with you. I get the feeling that a lot of people only want them because they're rare, although they are very nice instruments.

The 4005 ain't going to happen for less than $10K.