Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have never seen a Rick like this one recently spotted on eBay. I have no association with this listing and do not know who that owner is. I didn't see it until after it sold so I didn't get to bid on it. It is listed as a 1978 Rickenbacker Fretless Bass. I am going to try to add pictures but this bass has a 1" white stripe running through the body in the lower section, partially obscured by the pick guard. It appears to be part of the body instead of a painted stripe. Has anyone see this before and whats the story on it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-RICKENBACK ... 7675.l2557

It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

Whether it covers damage or not, it is paint.

Thanks for the input and nice picture.
I had not thought that it might be to hide a repair. It didn't look like paint to me because of how it contours with the body and seems to go under the binding

jps wrote:It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

LPB.jpg

You really SHOULD take better care of your basses, Jeff, even if they ARE MM Stingrays!

squirebass wrote:

jps wrote:It looks painted on, to me. Probably to "hide" a repaired crack perhaps. Maybe the bass got dropped and the bottom part of the body broke off and was glued back on.

Here is bit more extreme example of what I am talking about; this is pre-repair job.

LPB.jpg

You really SHOULD take better care of your basses, Jeff, even if they ARE MM Stingrays!

I could swear I've seen the OP guitar pictured before somewhere. Sure looks awful clean for something that may have taken such a nasty hit. While I think the repair is a super valid theory, I wouldn't be surprised if some nut just liked racing stripes either.

Funky guard. Odd contours on the guard and it appears cracked.
I'd love to see what the control cavity looks like.
Still- A rare(ish) bird....

Auction ended so I guess somebody's questions were answered.....

jdogric12 wrote:I could swear I've seen the OP guitar pictured before somewhere. Sure looks awful clean for something that may have taken such a nasty hit. While I think the repair is a super valid theory, I wouldn't be surprised if some nut just liked racing stripes either.

I agree. I've seen it somewhere myself. Its been a while though.

Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

So, what's your assessment of the stripe on the guitar.

jps wrote:

Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:Olivia's sold it in 2013. It is in the register..
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D5

So, what's your assessment of the stripe on the guitar.

I used to own that bass. The stripe was on it when I acquired it. It's a white paint stripe and is not covering any defect. The paint seemed to be professionally applied, flush with the surface, no brush marks. Racing stripe, if you will, a la Mustang. But definitely an aftermarket addition.

I decided to leave it as is. I eventually traded it to Olivia's for another instrument.

Great, nice to get a previous owner's POV. Kind of a strange place to put a "racing stripe" on it, I think.

It brought this to mind when I first saw it.
Sorry about the image quality, the camera was dying at the time!

That looks an awful lot like the late Paul Kantner, of Jefferson Airplane, if I'm not mistaken...

Yes, it is Paul.