Save me, Ted!!

[rickaddict]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4001-4 ... 240%3A1318

Please?

[doctorwho]

Ironic that it would be on eBay around Easter, as it definitely would need to be brought back from the dead ...

(no offense intended, Christians! )

[jc-sz]

I have just seen this and was thinking that, if it's straight, the neck would be a lot of fun for someone with a project... If this was happening at home, I would certainly buy it. I wouldn't even try to fake a Rick, rather make some use of a great neck for something different...

What about the skunk and the two truss rods? In my limited knowledge on the 4000series evolution, I thought the latter replaced the former... Is this a really early model?

Cheers!

[ilan]

In conjunction with a fretless 4003 this could be a fretted/fretless double-neck project.

[antipodean]

What about the skunk and the two truss rods? In my limited knowledge on the 4000series evolution, I thought the latter replaced the former... Is this a really early model?

It looks like a late '73 or '74 to me - the inlays, neck pickup rout (1/2 inch spacing) and skunk stripe all point to this. The skunk stripe was introduced in '72 as one of many efforts to strengthen the neck. As far as I know, the 4000 series basses have had two truss rods since inception.

[rickaddict]

What about the skunk and the two truss rods? In my limited knowledge on the 4000series evolution, I thought the latter replaced the former... Is this a really early model?

It looks like a late '73 or '74 to me - the inlays, neck pickup rout (1/2 inch spacing) and skunk stripe all point to this. The skunk stripe was introduced in '72 as one of many efforts to strengthen the neck. As far as I know, the 4000 series basses have had two truss rods since inception.

+1

[rickenbrother]

What about the skunk and the two truss rods? In my limited knowledge on the 4000series evolution, I thought the latter replaced the former... Is this a really early model?

It looks like a late '73 or '74 to me - the inlays, neck pickup rout (1/2 inch spacing) and skunk stripe all point to this. The skunk stripe was introduced in '72 as one of many efforts to strengthen the neck. As far as I know, the 4000 series basses have had two truss rods since inception.

+1

Also possibly a '75, which also had the 1/2" route for a good part of the year. Nice looking flamed pattern in the neck stock.

[marc61]

So let me ask this. Someone buys the thing, puts new body wings on, gets a trc, jackplate etc..is it a Ric?

[winston]

Here's the same question posed differently, because this sort of thing goes on all the time with another brand of guitar. If you change the body or a neck on a Fender Stratcocaster is it still a Strat? Most Strat players would tell you yes. Fender themselves acknowledge that fact with their recreation of Rory Gallagher's Strat that did not have an original neck on it and had one oddball tuner. There's a story behind that tuner but I'll save that for another day. They also make the Highway One series. It was originally a nod to those of us who like to mod their instruments.

If this Rick is restored is it no less a Rickenbacker? I suspect that we will have divided camps on that question but I would vote yes it would be a Rickenbacker. The degree of restoration should not enter into the question.

[cjj]

So, if you start with just one headstock wing...

[winston]

So, if you start with just one headstock wing...

OK I'll play along is it an original headstock wing and who did the "restoration"?

[JakeK]

Did this thing meet John Entwistle?

[gareth]

So, if you start with just one headstock wing...

If it's just this part and the rest is manufactured and restored using RIC hardware and the same woods, I'd say yes.

I'll bet there are more than a few of us who own basses that have been restored like this and can't tell the difference. I know I do.

[cjj]

OK, start with one RIC TRC, use the same woods and RIC hardware and what do you have?

[winston]

OK, start with one RIC TRC, use the same woods and RIC hardware and what do you have?

That would not qualify as a restoration project in my mind.

I am willing to bet that Paul can help determine when work such as you mention crosses the line to become a replica and alternatively when it could be deemed a restoration project.