Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone on the forum ever tried to locate the whereabouts/owners of all the RM1999 basses?
I thought it would be of interest to most of us on the forum and if it hasnt been on an old thread already has anyone got any info or pictures they could share?
I dont know if its quite 58 Les Paul territory but a mint RM must be worth a few bob so does anyone gig their RM these days?

Wints does, right Andy??

Well, I know where my two are Jaymi, and that's important!

Pete,

I do have a small database. Gerry Fergusson does as well. We keep our ears and eyes open. Vincent Gallo has been buying most of them for the last few years, including a very nice original example from Music Ground last year, that was well into 5 figures I believe when converted to $$$. He also owns Chris Squire's old RM1999 used on the "HOYH" promo from "FOOW".

Most examples still turn up in the UK, (so keep looking!) and Gerry thinks there are still a few hidden treasures down under, and I tend to agree. A few went east to Japan in the late '80's and one forum member there gigs with her bass which is very cool.

There are a few examples that have found their way over here to the US too, but not many. Overall, I know of about roughly 20 examples.

Now, if we could only find DA24.

They are still the proverbial needle in the haystack...

There's one owned by one of our forumites in Japan, too.

Hi Andy, pardon my ignorance.

DA24?

J_gary: DA24 is McCartney's bass.

A Czech collector ("artnightbass" on eBay) has bought a very nice RM1999 for $300 (three hundred US dollars) on eBay about two years ago.

Ilan,

DA 24 is a RM1999 that Pete owned back in the day.
DA 23 is the McCartney bass.

Ooops.

Thanks Andy. I'll start saving $100 a month so when it pops up. I think DA 23 might take $200 a month. Is the DA part of the serial number?

Ilan, that $300 RM1999 story really hurt. You should be more careful with that kind of information. I got corn flakes all over my computer. ****!

I remember that one.

Hi guys,
Thanks for the comments. Yes DA 24 was owned by me until 1991 when I decided to sell it to fund a trip to Canada to visit my wifes dad.
It was in very dodgy condition when I bought it from Guitar Player in Rochdale for a mere £400.
The horse shoe was missing and before I bought the bass I made sure that I could get a re-issue version from Ric via their office round the corner in Bury.I have some photos somewhere of how it looked when I bought it.The saddles were really loose so I put a drop of Araldite underneath to hold each one in place. The neck was good and thats what made me buy it as a playing bass rather than a collectible.
As for the serial number had we been online in those days I would have found out its significance before parting with it. I remember talking to the Guys at Guitar Player (where I bought the John Lodge bass too) in the 80s and even then the Japanese investors had sussed out the potential of Rock memorabilia and started to buy up vintage guitars. Now that some years have passed I got to thinking about how some of the RMs may have re-entered the market and guys on the forum might have come across them. One day I might have the money and the luck to come across another RM but for now its matter of curiosity as to their whereabouts. I know that Dave Carr up in the Northeast came across a guy who had his from new and there was mention of the price for that one coming into five figures. Either way its a dear do to take a bass like that to your average club gig. What we need here are some pictures of RMs dont you agree? Oh almost forgot about the ex-Greg Lake bass that he had around the King Crimson time which came to Rock Island in Oldham (what is it with North Manchester and Rickenbackers?) that I tried to buy but didnt have the cash in time..cant remember the serial number unfortunately.