Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

http://cgi.ebay.com/EARLY-VINTAGE-1980-RICKENBACKER-4003SB-STEREO-BASS-NR_W0QQitemZ7364783063QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So what would posses someone to trim away the serial number unless it's been HOT at some point in its life. This could be the basis for a nice vintage conversion, but what the hell is it worth without a serial number authenticating it as a Ric in the first place? Were there ever any copies being made by this time, with the split guard and all? I'm sure its just a Ric with a dubious past. Any discussion about this one, and what about a replacement jack plate?

It's an SB, interesting - ancestor of the V63.

Seems the logical thing to do if you're a thief, I guess.

Ouch !!

Notice the two-piece neck and the narrow headstock wings? This is a good example of how the early 4003s were built very much like 4001s. The Grovers are a nice touch and appear to be original.

I hate to ask, but does anyone have the appropriate replacement jack plate and other misc bits to sell to a trusted forumite if I want to save her? Is an "XX" replacement available?

RIC used to replace jackplates on an exchange basis like TRCs. If they still do that, maybe there is enough of this one left to get a replacement. I believe RIC uses a different number scheme for replacments that does not reflect the year/month the instrument was made.

...also, interesting two piece neck blank.

It must have been hot at some point.


Other than that she looks like a nice early one.

This brings up an interesting point for me. Since it's obvious that the seller or some previous owner has tried to conceal its serial identification, how culpable does that make a legitimate bidder as far as receiving suspected stolen goods? You sometimes wonder how some auction sellers come across this stuff, and is ebay a convenient clearing house for stolen goods. There certainly seems to be a lot of shifty characters out there.

I love the "broke the G string while tuning, so it was time to move on" comment. If I sold every bass when it needed new strings...

I really like these red fretboards!

Too bad its HOT HOT HOT!

I don't think this one is a B series. The picture of the B in the Smith book shows it to have a toaster, and a one piece guard. The picture also shows it to have a stripe on the headstock but none on the body suggesting a set neck. This one appears to be an S with Rick-O-Sound.

I just found some pics sent to me by Ed Dupont that show the details of his SB. Apparently the Smith book pic is not entirely accurate but the B seem to have a one piece guard and an toaster. This one is a bit confusing.

Those do exist, Ted, with the dual outs, I had an Azureglo S from 81 with the 2 pc. guard and dual outs.