a little Rick bass buying advice, please

[crimson_dynamo]

I know the wisest thing would be to weait until i can try something out in person, but if I do end up buying a Rick bass on Craigslist or ebay, what are the "good years" to be looking for. I know people generally reckon the newer ones are pretty spot on, but how far back? 2003 or so? And what do you all think of 80s Rick basses?

I was borrowing my buddies 1972 4001 for a while and I really liked the neck on that. I tried another friend's newer c64 and I found that neck to be a bit thick and unwieldy. I'm a huge Beatles fan, but I don't think that would be the one for me. I'm looking for one in the $1500- $1900 range, so what are me best bets?

I know this is a pretty general question, but thanks in adavance for any advice you can offer.

[s4001]

Since 2009 the Ric basses have had a slimmer neck profile. Also the Ric basses in the 90's usually have slimmer neck profiles and generally have a nice punchy tone that appeals to me.

YMMV, IMHO, ETC

[jps]

You could look for a '73-'74ish 4001, they come up occasionally in your price range.

[Low End Lover]

For $1500 to $1900, you could get a new 4003 without too much effort. I have a Jan '10 4003 I got for the top end of your price range from Musician's Friend, which was not a sale price and MF is ALWAYS having sales. I had never touched a Ric before I bought it and I love it! Also, you can apply for their card and have a year to pay it off with no interest if you want to go the new route, which is what I did. Many people on RRF feel these new ones are as good as any Ric has made so that is something to consider. If you want to go vintage, I'll let those more knowledgable speak to that. In either case, you can't go wrong with a Ric!

Happy Hunting,

LEL (Jason)

[jps]

To paraphrase something I just read that Nancy Wilson said in discussing her 1962 Telecaster: vintage, experienced instruments. Interesting concept.

[Kopfjaeger]

For $1500 to $1900, you could get a new 4003 without too much effort. I have a Jan '10 4003 I got for the top end of your price range from Musician's Friend, which was not a sale price and MF is ALWAYS having sales. I had never touched a Ric before I bought it and I love it! Also, you can apply for their card and have a year to pay it off with no interest if you want to go the new route, which is what I did. Many people on RRF feel these new ones are as good as any Ric has made so that is something to consider. If you want to go vintage, I'll let those more knowledgable speak to that. In either case, you can't go wrong with a Ric!

Happy Hunting,

LEL (Jason)

+1 I own a 1973 4001 andI love the neck but it's the sound that reaches out and grabs me. My 2011 built 4003 is also really comfortable to play and I also love the slender neck. Actually, when I just want to thump around I usually reach for the new 4003 over my other two. It sounded great and felt just right, right out of the box!!

Sepp

[jps]

...her 1962 Telecaster...

Oops, 1963 Telecaster!

[bassman7365]

Corin, fortunately you live in an area that makes trying a Rickenbacker bass before purchase possible. I do believe there is a Rickenbacker dealer in Tewksbury. I too have recently became a Ric addict. Three have made their way to me in a one year period. It began with a phone call from a friend to let me know one had been traded in his shop and did I want it. Naturally, I was there the next day. When I opened the case, there it was, a 1997 4003 MG. I picked it up, plug it in, trying to look cool and accomplished, I proceeded to demonstrate my lack of spontaneous chops to everyone who was in the shop. It didn't matter, she was taking the trip home regardless. Once home that is when she really shined. Perfect scale length, thin straight neck and beautiful tone. Like a piano. Next came a 1981 4001 Walnut, purchased from e-bay. Luckily, after asking a question or two on this forum, I was able to purchase it from a forumite. This bass has a significantly thicker neck, heavier body, and an absolutely beautiful finish. She has become my studio recording bass. Using the Rick-O-Sound and multi-track recording, she is pffft, what can I say. Tony knows. Then, out of the blue, MARF came my way and I was able to aquire what has turned out to be my main gigging bass, a 1995 4004 FG w/maple fretboard. The neck is between the other two and the humbucking pickups bring the bass to the forefront of the bands sound. I have never seen, nor heard, of anyone complaining about the 1990's 4004's. Then again, I have not heard of too many folks complaining about a Rickenbacker they have purchased. To me, it is the opportunity to own a piece of American made art. Go for it!

[antipodean]

Word of mouth is that late '80s to late '90s (98?) 4003s have fast necks. The "fat neck" 4003s seem to run from '99 to around 2005/06. Until very recently (around 2008?) different batches of 4003s had different neck profile specs. The most recent 4003s (from 2009 on) are reputed to have a fast, thin profile. You should be able to pick up a new 4003 at a street price in your range if you're happy with a "standard" colour.

I'm a fan of the 1/2" neck pickup position, so my personal experience is limited to early '70s 4001s/4000s and RIs.

I think Jeff hits the nail on the head suggesting late '73 through '74 in terms of neck profile. The '74s seem to come cheaper than even late '73s with the same general specs and will be in your price range, particularly MGs and JGs (Azureglos, Burgundyglos and really pretty Fireglos will be at the upper end of the range or a maybe bit above it). Earlier 4001s will be above your range if they are in decent condition.

The big issue with any older 4001 is poor neck maintenance and weakness at the neck "joint". If the bass has been strung with high tension strings (and so many have been) there is a chance that some doofus has incorrectly adjusted the neck (probably back in the '70s) and then resorted to all sorts of weird makeshift remedies to get the bass playable (e.g. Leo Quan bridge countersunk deep into the bass). At a minimum this will mean that the truss rods need to be reshaped or replaced. To check whether the rods are wrecked, you just need a pic of the cavity under the nameplate - if the rods look like they're pressing against the back of the cavity, or some routing has been done in the cavity, then the rods will probably need some work and the cost will need to be factored in.

The neck "joint" issue is well documented and stems from the combination of the size of the neck pickup rout (rather large) and the use of high-tension strings on some basses - the pull of the strings can result in the wood at the neck pulling up at the point where the fretboard ends and the pickup rout begins. This is not a universal phenomenon - I can only theorise that the density of the maple varies from bass to bass. The problem can be fixed by plugging the rout with maple and rerouting so that there is just enough room for the pickup, but this will add a deal of cost to the bass. If the bass seems to have high action at the 12th fret but the seller can demonstrate that the fretboard itself is flat, then bass will have the neck joint problem. Other forumites have noted that this problem also pops up on 4003s of varying vintage from time to time.

Best of luck with the search!

[crimson_dynamo]

So helpful, thank you! I know there's a Ric dealer in Tewksbury, but official Ric dealers always seem to be the least likely places to actually encounter any Rickenbacker basses. I have called a half dozen and there's always some vague promise of a mythical 4003 that may come in someday and they can put my name on a list to fruit out. A bit like hoping for a kidney transplant.

The thing I love about the borrowed 4001 was the neck, but also the sound of the toaster in the neck (I never used the bridge pickup)- really full, but punchy. I'm usually a 100% flat wound guy, always going for deep bottom, but that bass sounded killer with rounds as well.

[rictified]

Since 2009 the Ric basses have had a slimmer neck profile. Also the Ric basses in the 90's usually have slimmer neck profiles and generally have a nice punchy tone that appeals to me.

YMMV, IMHO, ETC

I think this is good advice, the early ones aren't as punchy and are generally a PITA to maintain unless you always use the same strings and don't mind tinkering. I had a 92 with a very slim neck and a great loud punchy tone.