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4002 on ebay

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2003 5:56 pm
by landon
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2509426570&category=4713

I found a 4002 on ebay for someone here maybe to buy, but they put in different pickups and a bridge, I think it ruins it!!... WHY do that??!! I don't think it is, but, is it possibly a fake, the pickups and bridge make it look that way somewhat...

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2003 7:25 pm
by jwr2
That was just on ebay like a month ago ... It was grabbed up with buy it now rather quickly if I remember correctly ...

That bass would be cool with 4004 pickups or high gain, or toasters, or a combination thereof ....

I bet you could put a Ric bridge on it again ... despite the nicks and scratches it looks cool ...

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2003 7:31 pm
by fireglo
Anybody heard those Duncan pickups? How do they compare to the Ricks?

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2003 7:55 pm
by 4003seagreen
This RIC is being sold by Steve "Dude" Barr, a staple poster on alt.guitar.bass, and from all accounts a pretty decent guy who specializes in basses. I believe (as pointed out above) that this bass was bought "as is" on eBay by the "Dude" with the seymour duncans.

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:23 am
by rickcrazy
I hope this time someone puts that 4002 back to original condition.

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:40 am
by jeff_ulmer
Restoring it to original would be a difficult if not impossible task, since those pickups aren't standard high gains. I suppose they could be faked if Rickenbacker would supply the winding specs for the original pickups.

Technically it should also have a period bridge as well to go back to stock. Sticking a new anything on the guitar kind of defeats the purpose.

Someday I will own one of these, but not today.

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 1:52 pm
by johnhall
Pickups I probably have, the bridge I know I don't.

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 4:03 pm
by jwr2
I always thought the 4002 had the same bridge as the 4001 ... as per this picture ..

http://www.the-music-connection.com/r246b.jpg

Also if it were restored with a 4001 /4003 bridge and 4004 pickups it wouldn't be original but it would still be all Rickenbacker ...

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:40 pm
by paul_yan
That would make a 4002 Hotrod with humbuckers then. Not a bad idea actually.

I wonder if the pickguard of Steve Barr's 4002 had to be extra-filed as the Duncan pickups seem to have squarer corners.

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:21 am
by rickcrazy
Like I've said in a previous post re this 4002, those pickups and that bridge make the instrument look cheap! Someone please smash them to pieces!
The bridge on a 4002 is not identical to that on 4001s/4003s, you say? I'm not aware of any difference.

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:34 am
by jeff_ulmer
I was under the impression it had the same bridge as the 4001 too...

It would mean finding a period bridge, but that shouldn't be that hard - there should be a glut of them from all the frankensteins that removed them.

The pickguard mods would be a concern as well. The last 4002 that was up before this one had been drilled for a thumb rest, which broke some of the top layer off.

Someday, someday....

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:11 am
by gregson1
I have a '77 4002 that was in pretty bad shape when I first recieved it, but now it's in excellent condition, thanks due in large part to Mark Arnquist.

It takes the same bridge/tailpiece/mute as an era 4001/4003. Putting modern 4003 parts on would be a no-brainer.

The pickguard is the same 5-ply stuff as used by Gibson for some of their 'guards. Assuming the pickguard was hogged out for the Duncans, this can easily be fixed. Supplied with the correct material, Don Adamek could probably make the pickguard.

The electricals, from what I can see, look good. Unfortunately, the pickups themselves will be an extremely tough find. About three years ago, I asked John Hall if he had any of these left on the shelves, but all he could find were those as used on the 3001 basses. A pair of 4004 pickups with chrome covers would make an excellent visual, if not authentic, replacement for the Duncans. Unfortunately, you'll lose the XLR jack because of the lack of secondary windings on the 4004 pickups.

The rest appears to just be normal wear and tear finish issues. The next time Rickenbacker offers a refinish program, have it done. Or, have Mark Arnquist refinish it.

I'm actually bidding on this bass right now and if I win it, will definitely restore it.

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 7:13 pm
by jwr2
You know that 4002 would look marvelous refinished to mapleglo ...

it would really show off the quilting and the black binding ...

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 8:29 pm
by gregson1
It would, no question. It would look very nice next to this one...

Image

First time I've tried posting an image in this Forum. Hope it makes it.

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 8:32 pm
by gregson1
Bummer...something about an 'Invalid Referer'...let's try this again...

Image