Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Howdy, You guys tell me what you think about this as I trust the opinions around here. I have a beautiful fireglow v63 that sounds fantastic but it has a couple of issues for me. One, the neck is rather thick and wide which makes playing not so smooth. I’ve done my best to get used to it but it’s not a fast neck for my hands. Two, it weighs a damn ton so gigging is a bit tough as well. Here’s my idea. I just played a 4001c64s that was perfect in both weight and neck but I can’t afford to buy another bass.And i was far more enamored with the s version than the regular c version. Should I have my luthier sand down the neck and back of my v63 to similat dimensions and refinish or sell the bass and try to gt a 64s? I love the exttra hot horseshoe which I know is not really on the c64 basses. Help me out here...

Thanks, George

George, most would say, including me, is that you really should sell the V and buy a C. But it's your bass and your choice. As it happens here's a C on E bay at present...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=7327724408&rd=1

Another option if you like thin necks, is to find a 70's 4001 and fit a horseshoe to it as a few members here have done.

George,
I too had one of the V63's with a beefier neck in Fireglo. The neck made flying fingers and fast passeges harder to pull off so I resigned myself to using it with flats and only on certain styles of songs. Then my 4001 C64s arrived. The V63 went into the closet and was eventually sold with plans of buying a Fireglo C64 to replace it. You are right about the hotter horseshoes on the s version versus a finished C64. That said the Fireglo C64 has been sold and I am now making plans to get another C64s so I can have one strung with flats and one with roundwounds. Now if I can just find a job after the lay off of our entire IT department I will be placing the order for my second C64s.
Don't have the V63 refinished. There are too many people looking for them and paying premium dollar these days. Sell the V63 and get the bass that you are comfortable with.

I have a 1988 V63MG that has a nice thin neck on it. I suppose they might have made the beefier necks on the later ones for strength & stability purposes. Mine though, has held up well for all it's been through. My 4003MB has a thicker neck too, but it's never bothered me at all.
I have a C64 in Fireglo on order right now. It will be interesting to compare the differences as well as the similarities between the three.

I was curious if you guys have any more impressions to share regarding the tone differences between the v63 and c64s. I'm in a similar boat in that I love the sound of my '99 v63 but would prefer a thinner neck and satin finish (my fingers seem to "stick" to any guitars with glossy finish).

But I'm worried I'd loose the aggressive sound of that v63 horseshoe... I came to the Rick fold via the Geddy Lee/Chris Squire/prog rock route...

Thanks,
Rob
http://robmartino.com

George: There is certainly no point keeping a bass you can't play comfortably. I would sell your existing bass and order the one you want. I would not refinish the neck as it will still be too heavy for you even with the thinner neck.

Or go with plan B, you can always replace the hot horseshoe that you like with another and sell it that way. Not everyone likes to play with the horseshoe. Then replace the pickup that comes with your C64S with your hot horseshoe.

A long roundabout way to your dream bass but at least you will be happy with the end result.

By the way, welcome to the Rickenbacker Forum.

I have a 1999 fireglo V63 that has a rounder chunky neck that is comfortable to me. It reminds me of the feel of my Hofner just a bit wider. The horseshoe is extremely hot and is simply the best sounding bass that I've ever had. I sold a C64S that really felt great,thin smooth neck and a great sound but seemed to my ears to lack the bite and growl that I get from the V63. I would have kept it but decided to keep the RIC that I had always wanted ,sell the other and get another Hofner. I've got the Money (or at least enough I hope) for the Hofner but need to decide between the Club bass and the V62

Hi

I have a C64 and my friend has a V63. I often have them in the same room together and I recently weighed them on my bathroom scales. I can't remember the exact weights but I can tell you the weight difference is negligible.

By all means replace you bass if you're sure you prefer the satin neck.... but don't expect a huge weight difference.

Cheers, Ben

So is the deal with the C64 that the horseshoe just has the capacitor to reduce the output or is it fairly different tone-wise from a v63 horseshoe (not counting the volume difference)?

The C64 is a different bass in many ways but mainly it is the slimmer neck and the horseshoe that is not as hot when compared to the V63.

Rob, I don't think the C64 has a cap. It is most likely intended to be "weaker" than the former horseshoe and closer in sound to the original ones. It blends very nicely with the toaster to get a warmer tone. When you switch from bridge to toaster on a V63 there is a noticeable volume difference and this is not so apparent on the C64.

My 2003 C64S had the cap. I removed it. Now it sounds better!

My '98 V63 did not have the cap. But I'd have to say that my C64S feels heavier and the neck feels chunkier than my v63. They're both great basses, though.

get both.

let the creditors decide!

If you want the thinner neck-
look at the v63s built before '96.
The late 80s ones for the most part have
necks that are pretty close to the original 60s ones.
However- I had an 84 v63 with a neck that was Fatter
than the headstock! It had a reverse volute!
I'd stick with the v63s cause I prefer the headstock
going the right(no pun intended) way.

The neck on my '98 V63 is the same as my '73 4001, very nice!

Someone is considering buying my v63.

He's asking me if a v63 is more "rare" than the c64. I guess that's not the case? Is a v63 generally speaking more desirable than a c64 maybe?