Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I can't take it any more I got GAS bad.

Sorry if you thought this thread was someone who had one for sale.
I have been looking and looking at 8 string basses for a while now and trying to talk myself into buying an ESP 8 stringer or an older Kramer 8, then another, then another.
I know I will not be happy if I do not find a nice used S-8 or that older Ric design with the potato head? What was that a 4005? or something.

These things are harder to find than my youth! I have curbed my desire for a 5 stringer with my 4003 conversion but I think I want to go with the real deal for the 8. I know if you guy's knew where there was one you'd most likly already own it but do these ever come up on the Bay? I have been watching and emailing most of the dealers? nothing nothing nothing.

Can anyone tell me how rare the potato head basses were? Were they a special order or? That White one Squire had was just the NUTS man! The vision of that goofy looking headstock is stuck in my head.

Someone give me hope before I buy an ESP and always regret it! I don't want to surrender yet.

I wanna say that it was just a custom piece for Squire and/or Entwistle. I may be wrong & there are others on this forum that are more knowledgeable than myself.
I'm sure that they will chime in here very soon...

The Richard Smith book has a pic of one with standard features (dot neck). It is captioned "a very rare 1960s 8 string Model 4005-8" but when you go to the rear of the book for the production totals it is not mentioned. Could it be that there is no exsisting record of these? Or just overlooked? It also mentions a 4005-6 but no pics. Totals at 2FG in 65' and 2FG in 68'. Only 4 made! What does their headstock look like?

The Entwistle book "Bass Culture" states that only 2 were made. John had one and Squire had the other. If you can live without the Mr. Potatoheadstock, there is always the 4008. I have a '98 4008 and it is amazingly powerful. They are out there so you will find one if you are persistent. Here is mine........

4003S/8's

or
4008


Kinda like the 4008 neck vs the S/8 even like the "reverse" stringing.

My bridge looks like a dremel test piece reject tho.

Go figure.

Or Randy...you could build one. The mods to a standard 4003 tailpiece are pretty straight forward. You're gonna have to lengthen and section the headstock but the neck will take it. You can use 8 Schaller tuners or 8 vintage style tuners(not my preference) or 4 vintage and 4 guitar tuners for the "big and little approach". I need a single guitar tuner from Mike Parks and you could buy four out of the same set. High string first or low string first.C'mon..just do it!

What I would really like to know is how RIC got a 4001 neck to handle the tension of EIGHT strings. Is it thicker? Are they flat wound strings? Does it have a wood over titanium skeleten like the Terminator? I mean...hey...what gives?

well my "Black Beauty" doesn't even have the 2 extra screws in her tailpiece. No lifting here either.

Yah the necks' a little thicker/wider, but not totally 'clubby' like my Hamer.

You say potato, I say patatoe...

Dane,
Doesn't the Ric already have the dual truss rods like the Hamer, and I BELIEVE that the newer 4003s have a 3-piece neck? I know my Hamer 12 has a BEAST of a neck compared to my '73 4001...but if you think about it, the added "guitar" strings don't put as much tension on as say, an added bass string? Just wondering, dont know for sure...Randy, I would either A) try and find a 4003S8, B) Try a Hamer 8 (ESP's SUCK!) C) mod a newer 4003 to be an 8 with the big/small tuner idea. Good luck, I am with you on this one!

You need this:
http://www.bassnw.com/Used%20Basses/hamer_chaparral_8_st_aztec_gold.htm

The 4003S8s rock; I had one which I sold to finance my Alembic (*ducks to avoid thrown objects*) and my band went nuts when I sold it. My 4000 seems to just about make up for it in the "tremendous din" stakes, but I'd really like another.

I'm sure you also noticed that the 4005/8 in Smith's book is either short or medium scale and has a 21 fret neck!

Jared are those 8 stingers your's? If they are you gotta let one of em go dude. I'm hurtin for one.

Dane, Ted ; You wouldn't happen to know where there is a 4003 with a broken headstock? Or perhaps someone has an old project bass that has been collecting dust for a while? Your right Dane! If I want to own that goofy headstock bass then I am going to have to make it. I know some of you guy's have it drawn out to size on paper I think I saw drawings in some of the earlier postings? I knew it must be a rare bass but I had not figured on less than 5 count-em 5 basses like this made? (I'm out) if one does come up it will be $5,000 and I can't do that twice.

Russ I almost bought a 12 string Hammer and I do really like those basses but just not quite the color, I had in mind, on the one you found for me. But thanks for the link I'm sure that one was not your color choice either. I just know I will spend around $1,000 and get a great quality Hammer Bass and then always wish I waited for a Ric to pop up. And you know that is what happens right after you buy something else a whole bunch of what you wanted turn up.

In the meatime while trying to find a project bass, I will be waiting and watching for an S-8. I always figured I would want the JG and now that I see Ted's and some of the shots Jared posted I am better with the FG or Midnight Blue. But It's White I am after for the 8 String if I build it or buy it. Anyone got a shot of a white S-8? After seeing that one C S had I can't get past how nice White looks with the black body binding and all those tuners!

I guess after typing this massage I am going with the Potato Gig! Somebody help me find a 4003 with a broken headstock and most of it's parts intact! Anybody drop a Ric lately! Ohh man did I say that? Not a good question to post here? Sorry for the bad Ric vibes. But there has to be some Ric somewhere that has had a bad fall? It does happen.

The 4005/8 had a single truss rod? Watch out for those ceiling fans!

Are the 4008 and 4003S/8 distinct models? I was not aware the 4003S/8 even existed.