Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

At least that's the impression I get from the pickup that's rigged into this S.D. Curlee...

http://cgi.ebay.com/S-D-Curlee-USA-Fretless-Vintage-Bass-Project-Rare_W0QQitemZ250089204514QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller thinks it's a Dimarzio, but going by looks alone, my gut says Ric.

Yeah, it's a Rick pickup.

Looks like a Seymour Funkin' Dunkin" to me..

Wow, an SD Curlee. You don't see them very often anymore. At one time they were the pride of Matteson Illinois. Well, they were made there anyway. They came with DiMarzio P-bass pickups as original equipment but that does look like a VRI horseshoe pickup with a chopped up surround.

Curlee?

"Hey I resemble that remark..."

Looks Rick to me. Good eye!

But is a Rick VR horsey worth anything without the shoes and surround, or do they only have value because of their looks?

I would take a VRI horseshoe sans shoes and surround any day. That is one ballsy pickup.

The Pride of Mattoon looks like a badly-worn toilet seat.

I like 'em too Ted. But if a complete horsey normally goes for $500.00 on ebay, what would it be worth sans surround and shoes?

Do people bid them up to the moon for their good looks, or for their tone?

SD Curlees were not beautiful by any means but they were good solid gigging instruments for some Chicago area musicians back in the 80's. You could drive tent stakes with them all day and thump out 60's and 70's top 40 all night without having to retune (much).

Jeff: I think it is all about the looks with most people. I like them for their inner beauty.

+

There were a couple of SDs made that I really liked. Unfortunately that isn't one of them...

It looks like it wanted so badly to be an Alembic, but just never could. Good pickup, though. I suppose someone could finish that thing up alright and have a fun bass, though.

Or buy it and steal the pickup out of it.

Shoeless it's still a helluva pup.