Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got an '88 4003s/5 that I've owned and loved since '91. My bass sounds like a grand piano, best B string I've ever played. (Am I biased because I'm a ricky freak?) I'd love to hear feedback from other S/5 players, history of the instrument, pics,info, etc.

I do want to add one to the arsenal but sadly, it hasn't happened yet.

Sepp

Mine from '97. Known as "Da Blue Beast" for the intense blue color and powerful, aggressive tone. I mostly play fingerstyle. It took me a while to get the hang of playing it fingerstyle, but I did. If guitarists like Jeff Beck and John Mayer, to name a couple can play their skinny, close strings guitars without a pick, then bassists can play these without a pick. Sometimes I will play this 4003S/5 with a pick, but usually it's fingerstyle. With or without a pick, it sounds great. It always gets compliments from audiences for it's look and tone.

Oh yeah! I DO want one, or some sort of Rick 5 string. I'd LOVE to have a non-S version though, I just love the look of the binding. Now, if only I could convince the good folks at RIC to make me a 4002/5. Wouldn't THAT be something!

Welcome, Clarke!

I'm just a hack bass player, but I have a couple of 5ers ...

Nice basses!! Joey, that Blue beast is awesome!! The black hardware on the blue finish really compliments the bass.

A Blackstar 5ver, now that is a rare beast!

CJ if the good folks at RIC make a 5ver, I'd buy one as well. Hint hint.

Sepp

I'm a LRRG so that doesn't mean too much to some folks.

I never played a 5er before this one so I can't really comment on how it feels compared to others. Like Joey, I play mostly fingerstyle and it did take me a few months to learn how to play it this way. I now find myself playing 4s that way, oddly. Go figure.

When I found it, I I had stopped playing bass for about 15 years. I went through a phase in the early 90s and sold my 1990 4003 MG that I got brand new. The kidlet wanted to play guitar and I picked up a cheap bass and started jamming but my heart was still wanting my old 4003. Every time I went into any guitar store and someone asked to help me, I always said, 'not unless you have a Rickenbacker'. After about a year of saying that to one guy, he took me aside and said, 'Hey, my brother has a Rickenbacker he's looking to sell. Maybe I can hook you up..."

A few weeks later, I took home this 1986 4003S/5 that had sat in a case for most of its life. It makes me giddy every time I pick it up, but maybe I'm just a dork that way.

http://www.tarrbot.net/pics/guitars/Ric ... nt_001.jpg (higher res image at slightly different angle)

I've put some black pearloid pieces on it with the thoughts of going all black but I'm now thinking I want to go with white pearloid just because.


This thing BOOOOMS like nothing I've ever heard. I take it to any store and plug in to test out equipment and always walk away thinking I stole Satan's soul and had someone put it into this bass.

I've had thoughts of finding a worn S/5 and having someone make it a fretless. That would be pretty much all the basses I would ever want... until someone makes me a 4004 FL or some other fabulous Rick comes along that I'd have to have.

Again, maybe I'm seeing it through rose-colored glasses but I don't mind being deluded that way.

Wow ,I always knew there were other wierdos out there. It feels so good to finally belong to something Thanks for the great pics. Rickenbrother, where did you get the rare photo of Gene Simmons playing a ricky with John Bonham on the traps? He's quite handsome without the make-up and platforms Just kidding, awesome blue beast and advice on fingerstyle s/5. Dr.Who would you fire up the TARDIS and bring that BLACKSTAR 5 up to Canada? I'm willing to part with a major organ or two if you could part with that eh? What's the history on the S/5 line? Mine dates to '88 , I see Tarrbot's is '86? I picked mine up used in '91. Who in their right mind would've traded it in... and on what, a mexican jazz? If you're out there I rescued her in 1991 @ Mountain Music in Hamilton ON Canada. I've treated her like a Queen ever since Thanks for the great input Forum.

The world is our can of pork & beans and the RICK is our can-opener go forth, my chunky brethren and gorge youselves at the trough of freedom

I do believe I saw an S/5 on the local craigslist going for $3000 today.

I just found it interesting...

Seem's a little inflated? What did they go for new in the day?

ricken5er wrote:Seem's a little inflated? What did they go for new in the day?

They were free to anyone who wanted one. RIC couldn't give them away.

I've sorta been tracking them on ebay since I was sorta interested in getting one. Prices are all over the map. We had a 2002 Black 4003 s/5 sell for $2,550. A Fireglo sell for $1,700.+, then that Fireglo came back for for sale from the new owner and sold for $1,900. A real nice looking 4003 s/5 from Japan with a broken truss rod sold for $,1525 and went to France. There was a silver one that sold but I did not follow that one. I think it's comfortable to say the $2,500 price is the high water mark and the $1,525. price was at the low end.

Am I still interested in one? Yeah, I guess if a nice one came across my sights but right now I have something bigger occupying my thoughts.

Sepp

Welcome to the Forum, Clarke !

Kopfjaeger wrote:I've sorta been tracking them on ebay since I was sorta interested in getting one. Prices are all over the map. We had a 2002 Black 4003 s/5 sell for $2,550. A Fireglo sell for $1,700.+, then that Fireglo came back for for sale from the new owner and sold for $1,900. A real nice looking 4003 s/5 from Japan with a broken truss rod sold for $,1525 and went to France. There was a silver one that sold but I did not follow that one. I think it's comfortable to say the $2,500 price is the high water mark and the $1,525. price was at the low end.

Am I still interested in one? Yeah, I guess if a nice one came across my sights but right now I have something bigger occupying my thoughts.

Sepp

I think I bought mine in Feb of 08 and recall that one sold on ebay the month before for $3900 or some high water mark like that.

To counteract that high point, I picked mine up for $900. Go figure.

Gorgeous bass Joey. One big regret I have is not buying one when I had the chance. I'm convinced now I could adapt to the tight string spacing. I have a very nice 5 string but man to get the Rick sound you gotta have a Rick. When I'm a little better positioned financially I'm going to hunt one down.