Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Many years ago on this very forum there was a thread that asked the question: "If RIC had a custom shop, what would your dream Rick be?" Or something to that effect. Maybe the question was: "If RIC were to re-issue any of their basses, which would you like it to be?" This must have been around 10 years ago...maybe a little more. Anyhoo... at the time, my answer (and that of more than a few others on this forum) was a 4001V68...basically a re-issue of a deluxe 4001 from 1968. We had already had a re-issue of the RM 1999 in the 4001V63 and C64 at that point, so a deluxe re-issue with crushed pearl inlays and checkered binding seemed like a logical choice. Some of us that wanted such a bass wanted it with a horseshoe pickup, and others (myself included) wanted it with a hi-gain. Since we've seen examples of actual 1968 4001's that left the factory with horseshoe pickups and some that left the factory with hi-gains, it seemed like a cool idea for this fantasy bass to be offered with either. Buyer's choice.

At that time, the 4003 didn't have full-width inlays or walnut head stock wings. But some time in 2006, RIC changed the shape of the head stock from the "bulbous" version back to pretty much the same as it was in the 60's and re-introduced the walnut head stock wings. When I saw those first walnut-winged 4003's that had made their way out of the factory, I knew I had to buy one and have it converted to the 4001V68 that had been dancing around in the back of my head (along with unicorns, Ferraris, cafe racers, and slices of deep dish pizza!) So I bought a nice 2006 4003 in MG that I thought would make a great 4001V68 conversion, and got some vintage re-issue parts from the RIC boutique (Plexi TRC, C64 tuners, toaster pickup). But then life got in the way...

I decided to have Dale Fortune do the work for me, but I wasn't able to send the bass out to him until Feb of 2008. And then Dale ran into several major issues with his health and his personal life that severely delayed the project. I waited patiently, kept my faith, but didn't get the bass back from Dale for a little over 5 years! Once I got it back, I had to tweak it a bit more and then last fall I took some photos. And then I didn't get around to posting them until a few days ago.

But here it is, in all it's glory...The 4001V68 as I had envisioned it some 10 years ago. Very much inspired by Andy Winter's '68 4001FG. Dale did a great job. Check out those inlays!

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... ine%3Dtrue

Very cool, Jeff! Everything looks fabulous on it, I am sure the (long) wait was worth the quality of the craftsmanship that went into this by Dale.

It looks like you have TI Jazz Flats on the bass? That bass must sound wonderful (it's the CP inlays that produce that special tone) not to mention, IMO, the 1/2" toaster location. Does this bass have the vintage tone switch on it, or if not, is the .0047µF cap in place to add to the '60s tone? Are you going to get an aluminum mounting plate for the bridge pickup to add to the '68 look?

It is wonderful to have that special instrument that we've wanted, and you've had that made for you, the 4001V68JT! Play it in good health.

That is delectable, Jeff. And great to "see" you back here, too!

Hello everyone, I joined the forum last month and have been lurking ever since. I figured this would be a great time for my first post. Anyway........that 4001V68 is gorgeous, excellent work and a great idea. I hope you enjoy it for many years.

Very cool Jeff!

You are far more patient than I am, but it looks like it was worth the wait! Congrats!

Welcome, Chris!

Damn Jeff that is one sweet looking bass!! Well worth the wait.... but then we are Ric owners and most of us used to a good wait. Anyhow, congratulations!!!

Chris welcome aboard!

supazar wrote:Hello everyone, I joined the forum last month and have been lurking ever since. I figured this would be a great time for my first post. Anyway........that 4001V68 is gorgeous, excellent work and a great idea. I hope you enjoy it for many years.

Welcome, Chris!

Wow,that is seriously gorgeous!
Congratulations to Jeff,and kudos to Dale!

jps wrote:Very cool, Jeff! Everything looks fabulous on it, I am sure the (long) wait was worth the quality of the craftsmanship that went into this by Dale.

It looks like you have TI Jazz Flats on the bass? That bass must sound wonderful (it's the CP inlays that produce that special tone) not to mention, IMO, the 1/2" toaster location. Does this bass have the vintage tone switch on it, or if not, is the .0047µF cap in place to add to the '60s tone? Are you going to get an aluminum mounting plate for the bridge pickup to add to the '68 look?

It is wonderful to have that special instrument that we've wanted, and you've had that made for you, the 4001V68JT! Play it in good health.

Thanks, Jeff! Dale did do a great job. But honestly...had I known that it would take so many years to get it all done, I wouldn't have done it. For quite a while there, I had to assume that I would never see the bass again. But I had several other outstanding Rick basses that were more than enough to keep me happy, and I knew that what Dale was going through had much more gravity than that of my bass, so I just sat back and let the chips fall where they would.

Yes, I have TI Jazz Flats on it. Good eye! I'd say this one sounds "thumpy." I currently don't have the vintage tone switch or the .0047 cap. I know that you and some others here can get great tone with the cap in, but for my style the cap never worked out so well. I put a late 80's wiring harness and bridge pickup in this one (for now) because those ones have been my favorites for years.

Funny you should mention the aluminum bridge pickup mounting plate! You nitpick as much as I do! I actually had a '73 bridge pickup with aluminum plate and a more squared pickup surround all ready to go for when I got this bass back. But then, during the time that it was gone, I found a super sweet '72 4001 that had no bridge pickup or surround. Not knowing if I'd ever see my V68 project bass again, I put the '73 pickup and surround on my '72:

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

If I find another '73 pickup like that one, I'd put it on the V68. Although it would be more vintage correct, I don't want a skinny magnet/and/or green hi gain for the V68. I've had a couple and prefer the bigger magnet for tone. YMMV.

bassduke49 wrote:That is delectable, Jeff. And great to "see" you back here, too!

Thanks, Paul. I check in every now and then, and it's always good to be back! Cheers!

supazar wrote:Hello everyone, I joined the forum last month and have been lurking ever since. I figured this would be a great time for my first post. Anyway........that 4001V68 is gorgeous, excellent work and a great idea. I hope you enjoy it for many years.

Thanks, Chris! And welcome!

jdogric12 wrote:Very cool Jeff!

Thanks, J-dog!

teeder wrote:You are far more patient than I am, but it looks like it was worth the wait! Congrats!

Thanks, Kevin! Was I patient? Maybe. I think I just realized that I could jump up and down and scream until I was blue in the face and it wouldn't matter!

ram wrote:Damn Jeff that is one sweet looking bass!! Well worth the wait.... but then we are Ric owners and most of us used to a good wait. Anyhow, congratulations!!!

Thanks, Tom!

woodyng wrote:Wow,that is seriously gorgeous!
Congratulations to Jeff,and kudos to Dale!

Thanks, Woody!

My God that's nice. I like the darker cherry red fireglo better than the almost orange you see on some. Dale does amazing work, wish I could afford him. A jetglo version of that would be my dream bass, always was a sucker for crushed pearl and checker binding.

Lovely looking instrument.

I salute your patience. I'm expecting my '74 back in the next couple of weeks, and that's only been 3 months.....it feels like a lifetime!

I'm sure you'll have a blast playing it!

That is drop-dead gorgeous.