Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What is the difference ?

About $2500 and the color and pickguard.

Don't forget that the fingerboard and headstock wings were Vermillion on the CS basses too. That wouldn't matter to me though. I would much rather have a pre-93 V63 to convert to a Squire tribute bass. I'd really like to see the pickguard done right to.

Dane, I second that about the pickguard. I have a '91 V-63 that is just great but the pickguard proportions weren't right, so I made a replacement. But my '97 CS is the best sounding Rick I have ever owned. Maybe it's the vermillion..........

The pickguard on Squire's actual bass apparently cracked by the front upper screw hole. A new hole, lower and closer to the neck pickup was drilled, and the guard re-shaped to remove the cracked area. For several years you could see the hole left on the bass uncovered by the re-shaped guard, then at some point a cover-up was done on the hole so you couldn't see it anymore. It's the guard in it's present form that I'd like to see on a CS tribute bass.

Dave, the 2 CSs I've had have both sounded different to the V63s I've owned/played, and yet have sounded very similar to each other(I do have very picky ears). I wondered if it was the vermillion too.

If this helps: I have a '98 V63 and recently purchased a reissue HS from ebay for my '82 4001S. After installation, I was intrigued to discover that the two HS's sounded quite different. The V63 is warmer and mellower, the new HS on the S is clear and very bright. The RI HS measured 10.65k when tested, not sure about the V. Another forum member, who happens to own a CS and a V63, described his CS to me as very clean and "piano-like" as opposed to his V63 which sounded warmer. Perhaps he'll weigh in...

I used to think that the CS was a nicely dressed up V63, but it's quite possible that the horsies in the V, CS and C64 models have some differences. Or,it could just be the individual basses themselves.

My '93 V63 sounded a lot brighter than my '92 V63 did until I put a Hipshot tailpiece on the '92. Now it's bright and ringing like the '93. I guess what I'm saying is there are a lot of variables that go into making the "sound".
Another interesting note about these two V's is, before the tailpiece swap, they weighed exactly the same down to the ounce.

Quote - "I guess what I'm saying is there are a lot of variables that go into making the "sound"."


Oh absolutely. I'm forever espousing the differences between individual guitars. It's just that all of the V63s I've played have been a lot more "open" sounding than my 2 CSs; both CSs have been, for want of a better word, more "nasal". My current one is a '91; my first was a '96 IIRC, and yet they sound very, very similar. My first CS was considerably heavier than the second though, although the second isn't particularly light.

Something else I just thought of, didn't Rick change the tone pot values in the early '90's?
I wonder if it was across the board or for certain models first?

Anyone know what pots they have in their CS's?

Good point about the pots Kevin . I am a new owner of a 97 V63 and was very surprised at how different it sounds from the two 77 4001s I have owned . My favorite RIC sound is my 4004Cii with toasters . Im still working with the V63 to get more mid-scoop tone .

Does the CS have the 0.0047 MFD bass-cut capacitor installed for the treble pickup? That would explain the more "nasal" tone.

Plus, it would be historically correct if it were installed.

I've got a CS that I bought new in '92. A little over a year ago, I bought a '92 V63 in hopes of having basically the same thing that I could actually gig with. These two basses, built within months of each other were very different in sound and feel. The CS has a slightly thinner body, and much thinner neck. The string to string balance is much more even on the CS, and the overall sound is just "instant Ric tone"! The V63 is a beauty in it's own way, but was no replacement for the CS, so I sold it after about a year. Actually bought it from a forum member, and sold it to another forum member for the same price.

Tom, I'd be interested in what pots you have in your CS.

PS. Where has Jeff Thomas been?

...or Ted Staberow. Did Chicago disappear?