Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This question has probably been asked before, but why was the 4005 discontinued? Thanks

Lack of demand. The 4002 met a similar fate.

Yeah, the youngun all they wanted were 4003s and saw no interest in their father's 4005 hollowbody monstrosities

Well I think things might have changed, considering the price of them. I realize they are rare but some people pay BIG money if they want one. Like to see them bring them back, with one special short scale for me. Just Rickenbacker dreaming.

partime wrote:Like to see them bring them back, with one special short scale for me. Just Rickenbacker dreaming.

It's funny how that works. Production model doesn't sell, get's discontinued, and the item becomes rare. Then everyone wants one!

(I feel similar about the 4002 - but not the short scale.)

Perhaps one reason why the 4005 and 4002 proved unpopular and were dropped from the Rickenbacker range might have been the lack of "role models" who played them at the time.

Most teenager would-be bass players back in the 60's or 70's would have been only too aware of the fact that popular and talented players such as McCartney and Chris Squire were using 4001's, and would have naturally wanted to own one themselves and achieve that trademark sound, seeing the 4001 as THE Rick bass to own. The amount of influence and publicity generated by a musician of that stature playing a particular instrument can be huge. However, with the 4002 and 4005 (apart from John Entwistle's brief association with the latter around the Tommy period), I can think of no-one in the public eye who was known for played those wonderful instruments - equally as good both aesthetically and sonically as the 4001, in their own ways.

I do wonder whether, had someone like Geddy Lee had taken up the 4002 as his main instrument at the time when Rush were starting to become hugely popular in the late 70's, it might have sold by the shed-load and might still be on RIC's roster now...

Ash

If a Beatles played one we'd probably still have them.

But the model that sold by the boatload (4001/4003) was not even what the early British guys played. (Rm) it may be splitting hairs,but they do feel different.....

The Gibson Les Paul was discontinued in 1961 due to poor sales, and replaced by the SG. The Explorer was dropped in 1963 and the Flying V in 1959 for the same reason.

Trends come and go. If the design is good, and the time is right, it can be brought back, with some modern adjustments. I'm sure John Hall knows that.

A hollowbody Ric bass (doesn't have to be a tuna boat. Think of a 330-bodied short scale bass) and a 4002 (maybe with active electronics instead of low impedance) could be a success today. Hollowbodies are back in demand. J clones are everywhere, and a Ric bass with J pickup layout could be a hit.

I thought the 4002 was intended to be a Rick with kind of a Jazz Bass pickup layout

Interesting discussion with many good observations. I can recall a few of my own too. Rochester, NY, and THE place to hang was at The House of Guitars. They had a large Rickenbacker presence. The only other place I recall seeing a Rickenbacker (4001) was Duke Spinner Music. But, 'The House' carried anything and everything. And, you were allowed to try the instruments.

My impressions remain. The 4005.....well, for someone who had four 4001's, it didn't have the best appearance, it felt different. Most importantly, it didn't sound 'right' for what I was playing.
The 4002...again different sound. I didn't like the feel of the ebony fretboard. It was heavy! And, it was much more expensive. I can't remember the price, but I do know I paid $500 for a 4001 with case and tax included. I think the most was $535 by 1980. Money was tight and those extra dollars were spent on other gear. Recall too, that Ricks were much more expensive than Fender or Gibson fare.

crazyeelboy wrote:I thought the 4002 was intended to be a Rick with kind of a Jazz Bass pickup layout

I'm not sure that was RIC's intention (though it may have been), and I don't think that was the result. To me, the 4002 has a sound all of its own - not unlike a Jazz bass but with a responsiveness and "grunt" when you dig in that a Jazz doesn't have.

Ash

Ashgray wrote:Perhaps one reason why the 4005 and 4002 proved unpopular and were dropped from the Rickenbacker range might have been the lack of "role models" who played them at the time.

Most teenager would-be bass players back in the 60's or 70's would have been only too aware of the fact that popular and talented players such as McCartney and Chris Squire were using 4001's, and would have naturally wanted to own one themselves and achieve that trademark sound, seeing the 4001 as THE Rick bass to own. The amount of influence and publicity generated by a musician of that stature playing a particular instrument can be huge. However, with the 4002 and 4005 (apart from John Entwistle's brief association with the latter around the Tommy period), I can think of no-one in the public eye who was known for played those wonderful instruments - equally as good both aesthetically and sonically as the 4001, in their own ways.

I do wonder whether, had someone like Geddy Lee had taken up the 4002 as his main instrument at the time when Rush were starting to become hugely popular in the late 70's, it might have sold by the shed-load and might still be on RIC's roster now...

Ash

Mani of the Stone Roses played a 4005 with a custom Jackson Pollock-style paint job - and I've wanted one ever since I first saw a picture of him with it in 1989-90. Everyone I know who knows about basses lusts after that instrument - surely if there's enough demand for various "C" instruments (specialised, top end, for the true enthusiast/connoisseur) then there's a big enough market for a re-tooled 4005?

I'm guessing RIC aren't interested due to the set-up costs involved in producing them.

I know at least three people here in the UK who would buy one!

JH will say it if I don't - in order for them to be made today, it's a total redesign from the ground up, and everyone would sign up for one until they'd see the price tag.

That being said, I love mine.

kennyhowes wrote:JH will say it if I don't - in order for them to be made today, it's a total redesign from the ground up, and everyone would sign up for one until they'd see the price tag.

That being said, I love mine.

I know you're right but still.......