Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

so i was checking out a band tonight and the basist has been 'around' for a long long time. i noticed he pulled out a ric that had obvisouly seen some better days. it was fireglo. as he was setting his gear up i started some jibber jabber with him and asked to check it out. i asked how old and he said "i don't know what year it is, a 70 i think". the truss rod and pickguard had been replaced with some makeshift wooden ones, but i knew it wasn't a 70. first things first, i checked the jackplate: TFxxxx. I said "hey man, it was born june of 1980 and it's a 4003."

"whoa. thanks man. i paid $200 for it in 84 at a pawn shop...had to talk the guy down from $400."

it felt great though, wonderfully low action. other than the trc and split pick guards being replaced, it was all original. sounded great too.

i felt intelligent for a moment and was glad to help him out...or i was just glad to be nosey.

Local guitar shop here called The Rhythm House... sells nothing but vintage, quality stuff...hundreds of 60s, 70s, 80s Fenders, Gibsons, Ricks, etc etc...

I walked in and the owner said "Come with me."

Was marched up the stairs, another gentleman in tow, where I get guided to a damp grey room, with 5 or 6 Rick basses before me.

"Can you tell me what year these are?" - It's great, ain't it.

LOL! Hope you told 'em they were all fakes and you'd take them off their hands and save them the embarrassment of trying to sell them !

Actually I was in the Bass Centre in Brum once (when it existed) and ended up telling the manager how to date a '72 he had in (he thought it was "probably a 79"..), and all the main stuff to look for. Probably should've kept my mouth shut, and certainly should've bought the bass....doh!