Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi there,
In a few hours after I have a long sleep I'll need to decide if I am going on that mint looking 4005 or not.
The seller wants 7,250 euro for his BIN price, there is no way to take it down (I tried every way I could).
I actually don't have this kind of money available, I do have around 6000 euros, I can "scratch" the other 1250 euro from other sources. I will be financially stable again within 2-3 months.

My questions:

1. In your opinion, is 7250 euros (around $10,400) an overprice for this bass?
2. Do you think this opportunity will arise again (In other words: Do you think that I can get a really nice 4005 elsewhere for this amount of money?)
3. What would you do???

Thanks.

Edit: Moving to the US is currently on hold, so this is no longer an issue

Gil, I think that the second question you ask is really the determinant here. A lot of 4005s have come out of the woodwork this year, and every new successful sale has given others the motivation to bump prices up yet another notch.

I have little doubt that in a relatively brief time span, $10K for a very nice FG 4005 will seem, if not reasonable, then at least acceptable. We're right on the edge of seeing this, I think. How many really nice 4005s do we see these days? Most range from merely OK to nice players with lots of buckle rash, if memory serves me correctly.

What an individual does is a highly individual choice. And, not knowing you very well, it's hard to give advice involving this monetary sum.

I'm with Paul on this one.

There are very few 4005's in this condition, and as they tend to hover around the $7-8K mark, then one at $10K @ 25% premium may seem a lot more. However, an original example in excellent original condition will always be extremely coveted and represents the "grail" to many collectors.

In a couple of years time, if current trends continue, this will just be seen as a good buy ahead of the curve. I remember paying $2K for my 68 4001, in similar condition, in 02 and thinking it was more than any other example I'd seen at the time. Today it ranks of one of my best decisions.

You always buy the very best you can afford...

The seller ended the auction early, does this have anything to do with your deciding?

The only thing I can see that is wrong with this 4005 is it is missing the binding on the front of the body!

As I said to Paul W, I really regret selling mine back in the 80's, but I was a Wal endorsee, and they were losing patience with me sneaking my Ricks onto recordings. Also, I was broke I'll never be able to afford one again for sure. I have a sneaking suspicion that the prices of these are being driven up by people who just HAVE to have one, depsite the fact that they have never seen one or played one, and once they get them, are unlikely to use them for their intended purpose. I don't have a real problem with speculators to be honest, as I own four Rick basses that are only getting more expensive by the moment. I just wish I had my old 4005 back to play. I loved that bass. I hope whover has her now plays her. I'd hate to think of her stuck in a case in a vault somewhere.

gareth wrote:...and once they get them, are unlikely to use them for their intended purpose.

Not me!

Thanks guys,

I think I might go for it... Before I do:

On the following image, do you think there is some sort of a crack between the fretboard and the neck?
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/4005pics/gil1.JPG


More pictures:
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/4005pics

Thanks!

gibsonlp wrote:On the following image, do you think there is some sort of a crack between the fretboard and the neck?
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/4005pics/gil1.JPG

It appears so, Gil. This is not uncommon.

nyrkickazz1 wrote:

gibsonlp wrote:On the following image, do you think there is some sort of a crack between the fretboard and the neck?
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/4005pics/gil1.JPG

It appears so, Gil. This is not uncommon.

Thanks, But is it okay? would it get more and more problematic in the future?

Gil,

Do you have a photo of the truss rods? That seperation is seen sometimes on the older basses, where the rods have been "adjusted" by someone who did not know what they were doing.

It shouldn't get any worse, but at the same time it is a flaw and should be taken into account by both seller and buyer. I would imagine that most here would want something like that looked at by Paul or Dale, and hopefully they will chime in here again.

Which part of the truss rods would be helpful? Only the part under the TRC?

Thanks.

yes the bolts/nuts

Thanks,
The plot thickens:

From the previous owner:
"Without prejudice:
The bass was damaged in shipping when I received it - upper side of the fingerboard had separated from the neck up to the 2nd/3rd fret. I had it professionally repaired though, so if a crack has appeared it wasn't there when I sold it, which may indicate a neck tension problem? I bought it from Mike Parks at the Rickenbacker Pages whose reputation speaks for itself - he funded the repair.
Having said that, when I sold it it was in immaculate condition cosmetically - and it played very well, sounded great. Action slightly high for my taste. I seem to recall one pickup had lower output than the other, not uncommon in a 40 year old bass."

The damage he describes seems to be consistent with what I see on the image... It seems that the damage is back...
I think I am going to let this one go, I am not going to pay so much for a damaged guitar

gibsonlp wrote: one pickup had lower output than the other, not uncommon in a 40 year old bass."

if the pu with lower output is the bridge one, then there is nothing uncommon, it may have little to do with age of the bass.
It is just the location very close to the bridge that affects the output. Furthermore if I am not wrong the bridge pu has the .47 cap filtering bass frequencies too

I just quoted his comments,
Indeed - if it is the bridge pickup I expect a lower output like I have in my 72 4001...

However - I would really like to get comments regarding the fixed damage.
IMHO it disqualifies the guitar as a "near mint"... No?