Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm thinking of buying this bass, but wandering about it's authenticity. The tuners look wrong, and there seem to have been some re-painting done. Can anyone see anything or offer any advice based on the photos?

4003 in question: http://picasaweb.google.com/RayAdamsJr/ ... 2498483314

Thanks.

Obvious spray paint job.

The tuners are legit Grovers, and worth some $. Some of the early 4003's with the split pickguard came with those Grovers.

Looks like it's real. I've got an '84 4003 with the Grover tuners like that one. The back of the body has been sprayed black, probably to cover some severe buckle rash or something. Fairly significant "witness" lines on the back of the body along the neck, I wonder if it's coming unglued...

how much money do they want for it?

Asking $600.

It's real and $600 is a great deal. It would be nice if you could play/inspect it before you buy, but if not (and it turns out to be a complete basket case) you'd be able to part it out for more than $600.

I'd say it's worth that, just for the parts alone. The Grover's are worth $400 themselves. Bridge/tailpiece another $150, the TRC is another $100 or so, then there's pickups and the rest, easily over the $600 he's asking. So, if it's a total mess and falls apart when you first touch it, you can get your money back selling the parts...

I exchanged a few e-mails with the seller. He's willing to ship and seems like a nice enough guy, but I'm not going to go for it.

Here's the link if anyone's interested: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/msg/1510424806.html

CJ i think your correct about the body. i looked at the pics I belived the wings fell off and glued backed together and painted it to hide the glue job.
Parts is about it on this baby.

Odd - this really, really looks like Azureglo to me, which had been replaced with MID by that time.

"the wings fell off and glued backed together and painted it to hide the glue job."

This makes some sense, especially considering that the front of the body is also painted.

With a little investigation, you can call the guy at his home.

He's given a lot of info about himself already and he's got a land line, tying him to a physical address.

Call him up.