Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

That is my question!

A Rickenbacker Forum newbie here looking for some general pointers from the Ric Gurus out there. A long time Chris Squire fan (saw the man this month at The Syn's London Marquee gig) now confirmed that the answer to the 'if not now then when?' question is NOW!

Having seen that a good condition 4001CS will trade for the same as the national debt of Mexico, that model is a little out of my league.

Another post I have read (sorry if this all sounds a bit familiar) states that the nearest best thing is the 4001 v63, which seem to pop up now and again on, how you say, 'the bay'.

So...
My questions to the Forum are, really and truely
- What are your experiences of buying from the bay, or am I better and safer to bite the bullet and source from a reliable store/dealer?
- Does one 4001 really sound much different to another?
- Does this look like the real deal
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7566280893&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
(Check out the pick ups! One image looks like its a toaster, the other images I can't be sure?)

Many thanks

It looks good to me, but I'd be cautious as he is a 0 ranked seller and he's trying to keep bidders I.D.s private. These may be signs of a suspect deal. If you are in the U.K., you might want to see if you can travel to his location (in Wales, right?) and inspect the instrument. The pickups look right for the V63.

I've had nothing but good results on eBay, but really it's a matter of what you're buying and who's selling. My ear is not sophisticated enough to notice the tonal qualities among different Ricks, but many have said they like the combination of the toaster and re-issue horseshoe as on the V63. Hope this helps.

I've had pretty good luck on the 'Bay (except for last night...), with only one stinker guitar out of the 30 or so I've bought this year.

That having been said, this is a nice bass from a zero-feedback seller. All images are of a toaster-top-equipped instrument. I'd maybe try to contact the seller and get a feel for him before placing a bid.

Could be a pirate, judging from his location...

Thanks Paul. It has crossed my mind to pay a visit down to Cornwall. I've never bought a thing from Ebay, just a lot of window shopping, but the private buyer id thing I've never seen on any of the auctions I've followed...

Let's see how this one progresses...

Thanks for your tips though.

Yo Ho Ahoy... Sorry to hear about the rough trade (so to speak).

Yes, as Paul says, be careful of this one as it has two red flags - zero feedback AND a private auction. JG V63's are not very common so you would be getting a hard to find V63. It has the old style headstock which IMHO looks better than the later shape. I have one just like it and it is one of my favorite Ricks.

Be afraid.... very afraid.....

I think I can see the Jolly Roger flying here guys!

If it looks too good to be true, it's probably because it is...

If it helps, I got my old V63 on e-bay UK and had no problems. Was a second chancer as well.

The first thing I ever sold on ebay, if I remember correctly, was my 4003s8. And the first thing I bought on ebay was a V63...although that was from the States and never arrived....

My only Rickenbacker was bought on the bay. It took a little longer than expected, and my dad threated the guy with the police, but it got here.

That seller just signed up on Thursday. I'd at the MINIMUM write him and ask him a few questions, ask for the serial number or something, see how he responds.

It is not out of line to ask for the seller to write something on a piece of paper and place it near the bass in a photo for verification. Perhaps there is a forum member in the seller's area that can pop in for a look on your behalf. Legit sellers will seldom balk at such requests. If he does, there are other auctions.

Steve,
he has quoted the serial number in the ad. I've asked a pretty dumb question to see gauge the reaction.

Nice idea Ted.

..

Jetglo....S...ooh la la!

OK not a real S... a v63 nontheless though, looks sharp! Hope it's not dodgy.