Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My tastes, like many of us are always changing. Style of play, lifestyle etc all play into that. However, if Ric was making a bass just for me today...here's what I would want...

A model 4000, in satin finish ( the production model would be available in a variety of colors ), reissue horseshoe as the only pickup. No volume and tone knobs. Just an on/off switch as I never touch the controls except to see that they're on full blast. Possibly fitted with a 4004 style bridge. As much chrome on it as possible...even a chrome trc ..for my very personal use, I'd probably want a satin maple, or maybe a whitewash on it with tortoise pickguard...For me, that'd be one hot-rodded Ric

That'd be a goodlooking bass! Especially with the whitewash I leaves the look of fresh sanded wood, I love it.

mine would be:



Claro walnut, quilted off course, ebony fingerboard, one or two control knobs and now that you mention it, a single horseshoe would look better on this one too.

Well it's look, sound and functionality I'm after. Yours looks cool too. Exotic to say the least.

My idea of how I'd want my model bass has changed also. I think I'd like it to be a 4004 Cheyenne II, but with "S" body shaped maple/walnut/maple wings, I have what I think is a unique idea about the use of pickups. Yes, they would be RIC pickups, no change to the specs or look of existing RIC pickups. The bass would have the standard RIC bass tailpiece. Not sure if I'd want dot or full width fingerboard inlays. I guess it would depend on how how the figuring in the bubinga is. I'd rather less inlay on pretty wood and more inlay on plainer looking wood. I'd want the back of the neck to have a satin finish. Would be available in 4 & 5 string versions, with a fretless option for both and would be available in all RIC finishes...except if Tony ordered one, then it would have to be Jetglo.

Joey, I could definitely go for that...especially in the 4 string version. +1 to Tony must have Jetglo

Interesting how you want a 4004 body with a 4003 tailpiece, and I want the opposite

Pffft....I KNEW my ears were ringing for a reason!

Jetglo, how un-imaginative!

I think I'd go this way. Hollow, short scale, checkerboard, maybe twin toasters, crushed pearl if fretted, no dots or anything on the fingerboard if fretless, stereo-wired.

Tony, that's NOT A RICK!!

Marc, my idea comes from the experimental '67 4001S that can be seem on page 205 of the Smith book.

rickenbrother wrote:Tony, that's NOT A RICK!!

I know...it'a like a j bass lookin' Alembic

marc61 wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:Tony, that's NOT A RICK!!

I know...it'a like a j bass lookin' Alembic

It looks like the designer didn't know if he wanted a F*nd*r, or Alembic or Carvin!

Ya think??

I posted it for it's sexy grain & color Joey!

Carvin? Watzza matta U?

That's why the Dumpster bass appealed to me. Gimme a RIC with grain & color like that in fretless and I'm home...and an ebony neck!

Meh...that Alembic looks like a tree trunk.

I'll take a 4004Cii in quilted maple with a lighty yellowed MapleGlo finish, a slim-profile (4003) neck, chrome hardware intead of the gold, and an ebony fingerboard with no position markers. Stock Ric humbuckers, with 2 volumes, 2 tones, no pu selector switch and the rear pickup moved about an inch & 1/2 closer to the bridge.

Gimme a fretless with an oiled ebony fingerboard, no lines, side dots at A and the octave only, passive electronics, high action on a flat neck and a thumb anchor one inch from the end of the fingerboard and 1.5 inches above the E string.

Color, style, weight is immaterial. Just make it bullet-proof.

rickenbrother wrote:Meh...that Alembic looks like a tree trunk.

Did I ever post a photo of my custom fretted ZON? Disregard the yellow reflection near the neck pickup and the heel end of the neck.