Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Howdy folks...

After 30 years of playing RICs - tonight I scored my first Rickenbacker bass. A November 1979 JG 4001 in great condition... SN is SK5040.

The bad? Pickups replaced with Bartolini's in 1983. And a very unusual wiring modification that has added a "blend knob"... Just like those found on RIC guitars... Odd to hear it on a bass.

The body itself has the cleanest JG of any of my Rickenbackers - it looks like it just came out of the factory in Santa Anna. No belt rash and all of the chrome is shiny, shiny shiny...

The cost was about $500 dollars below the market average - although that makes sense as it will cost at least $500 to get it all back to stock condition again...

Still no Brokerage fees, HST and less then an hours drive each way from where I live.. A really great deal in my books... Also my income tax refund just arrived meaning that I could pay for it...

One other cool note. The owner bought it from the owner of the Music Shoppe in Thornhill Ontario.. It was the business owner's personal bass hence all of the modifications.

The Music Shoppe was the RIC dealer that I bought two of my high school Rickenbackers at (my 82 JG 620 and my first 1980 FG 620 12 - as well as an Ovation Balladeer) in 1982 and 1984... It was also where Rush used to buy their gear back in the day...

Feels like synchronicity to me... Like it was meant for me...

a few pics here

Congrats, Brian!

It could have been worse, there could have been Seymour Duncan pickups in it! I have not heard them, but some folks like the tone of those Bartolinis (Bartolinae?).

jps wrote:Congrats, Brian!

It could have been worse, there could have been Seymour Duncan pickups in it! I have not heard them, but some folks like the tone of those Bartolinis (Bartolinae?).

Jeffery:

I am stuck with them right now... I can't afford to change them out... It has also delayed the restoration of my 77 JG 620... Ah money is a bugger sometimes...

But one more vintage Rickenbacker to add to the pile - I just can't say no... A classic case of RAS I guess

Congrats, Brian.
JimK

i think he just bought one so i'd go visit him ! great score. congrats ! music shoppe might be where rush had all their ricky mods done ?

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:i think he just bought one so i'd go visit him ! great score. congrats ! music shoppe might be where rush had all their ricky mods done ?

Ron:

I thought the exact same thing when I bought it! Time for another Ontario RIC meet up I think... Perhaps in the summer..

The Music Shoppe was a large operation rivaling Steve's and Long and McQuade at the time... They also had the Drum Shoppe just down the street... Not sure why they closed/folded... I still have their rental catalog in a file

I saw many cool RICS back there in the 1980s. Including a 1982 MG 362 double neck...

Nice! You're lucky to find one that old in such good condition.

You didn't say how the Bartolinis sound in the bass. I'd be willing to bet a lot of Rick character comes through, my personal belief on this is that a lot of the magic is in the wood. I've had a (close your eyes if you're squeamish) DiMarzio in the bridge position of my 4001 for a long time, and it still sounds like a 4001. Then again, I just took delivery of a new horseshoe, the DiMarzio is going to retire very soon now...

Of course, you can sell the Barts to help finance new pickups from RIC!

Very nice, Brian, congrats! Love me the 70s 4001 basses.

Bill:

I have never owned a Rickenbacker bass before, so I have no idea what it is supposed to sound like... (Other then hearing Paul's or Geddy's from recordings)..

It actually sounds fine plugged in... So it is a player at least. But I am a purest.

God (or Roger) made them a certain way when they left the factory... I think (on principle) that they should stay that way...

Congrats and enjoy it, Brian! The Barts are good pickups, much better than the SD replacement pickups for Ricks. The Rick character will come through with the Barts, there just won't be quite as much bite in the attack.
PLEASE do me a favor, install the strings correctly on the keywind posts! I'm sure you got it like that. When people install the strings like that, it makes me nuts!

Congrats Brian! Welcome to the Rick Bass club! As for pickups, if it sounds good to you, it's great! If you want to return it to its original specs, there's no hurry.

The only real problem I see with the bass is that it's Jetglo...

cjj wrote:The only real problem I see with the bass is that it's Jetglo...

Don't listen to him, BrIan!
JETGLO ROCKS!!
Besides, I've come to the conclusion that the reason Mr. Johansson doesn't show his first name and goes only by the initials of CJ is because it stands for, Craves Jetglo!

Hmmm, maybe that's what my Dad meant when he filled out my birth certificate...

Hey Brian,

Congratulations!

Joey is correct, JETGLO ROCKS. I'm primarily a guitar player too and I also got a 4001 a while ago. I think it's part of the RAS you develop here. I love mine. I know you'll enjoy yours as well.

Dan

Congrats Brian,

I got my first 4001 a few years back so I could play bass on my recordings. Now I have four basses. Two of them are Rickenbackers and like you I am a primarily a guitar player.