Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

He called me up and said, since I knew about Rickenbacker basses (owning one of my own and all), could I have a look at one that he came across and maybe help him get it all cleaned up and back in "fighting shape".
So, we met up at the local GC and this is what he has come into:
He says that he isn't sure whether he'll hang onto it, or move it along... but he had me bring it home to install some fresh strings and to apply some TLC (he was told that it supposedly hasn't been played in 15 years).

Any words of wisdom from you 4004 owners/players before I dive in?

***Just "decoded" the SN - it's from Aug. 2005, so the "15 years unplayed" stat is probably just a bit exaggerated.

bigbajo60 wrote:He says that he isn't sure whether he'll hang onto it, or move it along... but he had me bring it home to install some fresh strings and to apply some TLC (he was told that it supposedly hasn't been played in 15 years).

Any words of wisdom from you 4004 owners/players before I dive in?

Words of Wisdom: Buy it from him and play it, forever.

jps wrote:Words of Wisdom: Buy it from him and play it, forever.

Don't think that I'm not shuddering at the potential "GAS" that might be triggered once I go through the whole process of getting it all polished up and playing nice... then experiencing what will issue forth from my rig once I plug it in!
The good thing is that, monetarily speaking, acquiring it for myself isn't even a remote option!

That's pretty cool. 4004s are easier to maintain than 4003s, in my experience. It should clean up quickly.
They have quite a different sound from the typical 4003. Great for someone who's looking for something different.
How much does he want for it?

sfuentes wrote:How much does he want for it?

Not sure, but I think $2K was mentioned briefly during conversations...

bigbajo60 wrote:

sfuentes wrote:How much does he want for it?

Not sure, but I think $2K was mentioned briefly during conversations...

Offer him $1200 and see where you end up at.

jps wrote:Offer him $1200 and see where you end up at.

I think the folks repping the medical professionals/facilities that I owe money to would have something to say about that...

bigbajo60 wrote:

jps wrote:Offer him $1200 and see where you end up at.

I think the folks repping the medical professionals/facilities that I owe money to would have something to say about that...

Sssh! Don't tell them!

The ultimate Rickenbacher bass.
And somebody get those awful stepped strings offa there...the horror...the horror...

lumgimfong wrote:The ultimate Rickenbacher bass.
And somebody get those awful stepped strings offa there...the horror...the horror...

They're gone... replaced with Ernie Ball 2833 Slinkys.

Took 'er for a test drive with a VERY simple pick'd line after letting the truss rods settle overnight.
May try to pull the neck just a tad straighter, although the rods are feeling fairly max'd out!
Played straight into the computer (Both, Neck, Bridge), no EQ, no compression (other than for the LANDR Mastering).

https://soundcloud.com/bigbajoman/ricke ... drmastered

Sounds great. You need this bass.

jps wrote:Sounds great. You need this bass.

"Need" is such a strong word...

bigbajo60 wrote:

jps wrote:Sounds great. You need this bass.

"Need" is such a strong word...

Okay, how about: that bass is YOU!

jps wrote:Okay, how about: that bass is YOU!

It does seem to "hang well" with the rest of the "gang"...

I have one just like it,, only mine is a '08. It's amazing instrument, but it took a while to get used to the wide neck. I had to adjust my playing style quite a lot, as well as wearing it much higher on the chest compared to playing the 4001/3. Now I find it a very versatile instrument, still very much a rickenbacker, but more modern sounding. Rickenbacker's best kept secret-