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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:04 pm
by delberthot
Okay, at the risk of being unpopular, no one seems to have discussed Lemmy's original Rick in any great detail.

Bought off a guy whom he reckons stole it, maple fretboard - I would like to know if it really is a genuine Rick as I have never ever seen a maple fretboard on a Rick ever.

Obviously the stars where the fret markers should be have been added but I cannnot get past the maple fretboard.

Please put me out of my misery, this has been driving me nuts for a while now.

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:54 pm
by blazer
He stated that he got it in the late sixties, so that would be prior to the first Rickenbacker copy basses appearing, so I guess it must be a genuine Rick. Maybe the person who owned prior to Lemmy had it refurbished by a luthier and had the maple fingerboard added.

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:24 pm
by sloop_john_b
Didn't leave the factory with a maple fretboard, that's for sure.

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:35 pm
by johnallg
What? Rick doesn't make maple fretboards??? Oh my god, is it a Rickenfaker?!?!

Image

Nyuk, nyuk! ;)

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:53 pm
by sloop_john_b
Well, they didn't when Lemmy got his first one! Although there was that prototype 615 in the Smith book...

My 4004cii is coming very soon, John! So excited. Image

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:03 pm
by pekka
I thought this was Lemmy's first Rickenbacker:
http://www.starfarer.net/galleryo/nch74_lemmy2.jpg

http://www.huwlloyd-langton.co.uk/hawkw ... 8mhead.jpg

Looks like a 4001 S (or RM 1999) w/ a Thunderbird pickup at the neck position.

The maplefretboarded one has the "Out to lynch" slogan? I've never seen a pic of it from the early years-

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:27 am
by johnallg
Neither looks maple to me. I did notice a capo on the neck at the second fret position in the second pic.

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:34 am
by teeder
Looks like the same bass in both pix to me. No HS PU in it.

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:52 am
by pekka
Yeah, it is the same bass in both pix and in my opinion Lemmy's first Ric. I didn't mean it was the one with the maple fretboard. The Rickenbacker discussed in the first post might be this:
http://www.motorhead.ru/pics/1/profil.jpg

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:10 am
by pekka
Here's a bootleg cover which shows both basses:
http://www.motorhead.ru/singles/lemmymania.jpg

Later pics show both basses modified with mirror scratchplate (or pickguard).

Maybe the mapleboard one is a custom made copy?

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:12 am
by pekka
Here's Lemster with an early 4003MG:
http://www.motorhead.ru/singles/ovation.jpg

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:28 am
by kcole4001
There be 21 frets on that there 'board!

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:03 pm
by rickcrazy
Yeah, but that's not a 21 fretter proper. Someone (Lemmy hisself?) added the 21st fret to that 4003 somewhere along the line.

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:07 pm
by kcole4001
Looks like a custom fingerboard for sure, it hangs out over the pickguard a bit.

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:08 pm
by loendmaestro
I seem to remember another one with German style military crosses for fretmarkers. I think is was on an episode of The Young Ones.