Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Haven't we seen this before?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3702093673&category=4713

I don't remember seeing that one before, but whats up with that description, about 1983 being the last year of production for a 4008? I thought they just discontinued those in 2000?

You are right Jared, that one was up on ebay not too long ago.

Gene, technically the seller is almost right...the 4008 was introduced in the 70's as a special order item and then dis-continued in 1984! The 4003s8 was introduced in 1987 and ran until pretty recently. The one on the bay is almost a 4003 because it has the 2 piece pg cover, but would have been desiginated as a 4008.

Yeah and its got the makeshift bridge with cutouts for the strings and near the mute.

I think it was done with a hacksaw at the factory.

The seller won the bass on this past Jan. 10, '04, for $1525.

Back in January '04

Maybe he didn't like her or maybe he's an investor looking for profit.

By the way, forgive my ignorance, do all RIC 8 stringers have a tailpiece like that? Do the mute pad area and the 4 string holes behind the bridge have to be cut out like that? I agree with Jared that it looks very "make-shift". Also, has anybody here come up with a way to modify a 4 string bridge into an 8-saddled bridge? Or better yet, a new 8-saddled bridge that fits into the stock tailpiece?

"do all RIC 8 stringers have a tailpiece like that? Do the mute pad area and the 4 string holes behind the bridge have to be cut out like that?"
Paul, my 4003s8 (The Juggernaut) has the exact mods...also notice that on the 4008 the strings are set up like a traditional 12 string guitar, my 4003s8 is the opposite ie: the little/octave strings are in the 2nd/4th/6th & 8th positions instead of the 1st/3rd/5th & 7th positions like on the 4008 in question...the nut looks original so who knows? Rick might have shipped them in the traditional setup until the 4003s8 was introduced.

Thanks David for bringing me up to speed on the 4008. This is a bass I've always been peripherally interested in(because, hey, its a Rick!), but I never paid much attention to their availability or gave much thought to what they could do. Maybe it was that I'd never seen one up close to try it out, but when I finally did get my hands on one, I was very impressed with its playability, especially when compared to the Hagstrom 8 string, which I got to play on the same day that I tried the 4008(or 4003s8). I would like to one day add one to my arsenal...

I don't know, the use of the EXACT same description makes me think this is shill bidding, and that this is the same person who was trying to sell it before. Wouldn't it be interesting if the seller of the January auction turns out to be the winner of the February auction?

Yes, that auction looks pretty suspicious to me.

I prefer the more Ric like headstocks on the S8, but if I had a chance at a decent priced 4008, I'd probably bite. If I got a second Ric 8 string, I would also stick a horseshoe in it.

It also looks like the truss rods adjust at the body, rather than the headstock, which makes these a little less desireable to me.

Yeah the truss rods adjust at the body, the bridge is that funky cutout, the octaves are reversed (better for pickers) the neck is bound. Ric-O-Sound abounds.

I THINK thats what sets the 4008 vs 4003S/8.

Solution? Buy both! Let the creditors decide...

A real nice recording of an 8 string bass is the song "American Jingo" on Attention Deficit's CD "The Idiot King". Michael Manring plays his Zon 8 string bass. Very interesting album.

David,
Thank you for chiming in.
Do you play Juggernaut fingerstyle or with a pick?

By the way, the CD sounds good!

SOLD at $2000+ US!!!!

oh my, the second seller made $500 profit

That was a big number. I was shocked, but shouldn't be at this point.