Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What are the chances of RIC producing fretless basses again. Any ideas or information if that would be a possibility?

I think they will again, eventually. For a while, they weren't making lefties. Eventually, enough orders build up, and they make a large batch (as they have just done). Probably the same for the FL's. There's probably not a huge demand for them, but once their is a sizable amount of orders, they'll do 'em. That's my guess.

Unfortunately, the Rickenbacker website lists them as discontinued:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=4003FL

I can't imagine too many orders are coming in on a discontinued model.

I remember the model was declared "on hiatus" due to the backlog. Can't find that news item on the website anymore, however.

I feel the pain. I really want one.

There is a member wanting to selling a very nice JG 4001FL.

coolingitdown wrote:Unfortunately, the Rickenbacker website lists them as discontinued:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=4003FL

I can't imagine too many orders are coming in on a discontinued model.

I remember the model was declared "on hiatus" due to the backlog. Can't find that news item on the website anymore, however.

I feel the pain. I really want one.

Now that's just sad. I wanted one too, especially with the new two piece neck in FG.

I can understand RIC discontinuing them. Given a list of, say, the 20 most desirable production fretless bass models made Rickenbacker would not be on that list for 99.99999% of the bassists in the world. You could probably count on one hand the bassists out there that use a Rick fretless bass. That's reality, folks.

Yep, almost all fretless players I know prefer either a Jazz Bass type (clearly a Jaco influence) or a boutique bass. In any case there must be a bridge-position pickup.

You can always mod your fretted bass. Jaco did it with good results.

I would much rather they produced a fretless Cii. I might even buy one. As it is,i keep looking at my cii and thinking Jaco thoughts of fret rippage.....

woodyng wrote:I would much rather they produced a fretless Cii. I might even buy one. As it is,i keep looking at my cii and thinking Jaco thoughts of fret rippage.....

Same here Woody, I'd buy one too!

I may just have to look for a used 4004 and have it converted fretless. I'm using my 4004cii as my main RIC these days, so that would be a nice addition.

Maybe they're not as popular, but having owned fretless models of the Fender Jazz Bass and the Ric 4000 series I go with the 4000 series every time. The only reason it's not more popular than the other instruments mentioned is the same reason the 4004 is barely played by anyone: it's not even on the radar for most people. Few people even think about these models because even if they go out of their way and visit RIC-enthusiast sites like this one what they get bombarded with pictures of is not the models that get made in small handfuls but the flagship stuff they already know. And, sure enough, there is very low inventory of fretless Rics even in the used markets.

I've gigged my 4003FL across 3-4 genres now. I've made some of my best recordings with it. The fretless Ric is something I'll always have at least one of in my stable, if it can be helped.

Let's face it; some fretless basses need to be in continual production as a matter of World balance. As much as I may like it to be a 4004 and others would prefer it to be a 4003, the model I'm thinking of is the 4000FL. There is something so elegant in its simplicity. I passed one up (Jetglo) in an out-of-the-way music store in LA many years ago. $700.00 used. It seemed outrageously priced at the time...now I always regret not having picked it up.

I try to imagine it amplified (on the loud side) through a Fender Showman with a tone ring cab.

jps wrote:There is a member wanting to selling a very nice JG 4001FL.

Link?

Not that I can afford it...

coolingitdown wrote:

jps wrote:There is a member wanting to selling a very nice JG 4001FL.

Link?

Not that I can afford it...

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=407390

ajish4 wrote:

woodyng wrote:I would much rather they produced a fretless Cii. I might even buy one. As it is,i keep looking at my cii and thinking Jaco thoughts of fret rippage.....

Same here Woody, I'd buy one too!

I may just have to look for a used 4004 and have it converted fretless. I'm using my 4004cii as my main RIC these days, so that would be a nice addition.

Id like one as well. They'd really be killer if they had 3 pickups The neck pickup as standard and the other two in the 4002 positions.

I could go for a fretless 4004 as well. Make mine a Laredo in non-yellowing metallic white with a ziricote fingerboard ) side dots, only at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19 and 21st positions (no fingerboard dots, thanks), and the bridge pickup in the further back, mid '00s position and VVT control harness.