[quote name='vax2002' timestamp='1336386689' post='1644695']
Its real, it is from the age when an Old 4001 would fetch £250-£350, they have not always been worth stupid money and those old enough will remember you could not swap a Rick for a Precision, these days they would get you 3.
Folk did sand them, spray them, all sorts of things as they were not seen as a holy grail in the 70's and early 80's, more of a dog of an instrument to play.
Most music shops would have several hanging on walls in various home custom jobs and they were very hard to shift.
One thing John Hall has done is made them in to an expensive trinket type thing to own, you have to hand it to him, he must be lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills.
[/quote]
I agree with some of what you say especially about the way instruments are hyped and prices inflated. I'd be happy to swap this for a maple neck P bass! However I believe it boils down to instruments being a matter of taste - my two favourite basses are a 70s Tele with a mudbucker & customised and a Gibson Grabber that remains all stock, dogs to some but to me great instruments that work well and inspire me. The Rick here perhaps exemplifies how a good core instrument can survive despite all the 'bling' being stripped away...if that makes sense? When I picked it up from the chap I got it from it somehow felt 'right' I just thought it would be a fun project to work on. I've always had a 'thing' for Rick's and as a kid I used to lust after them when I saw people like Barry Adamson or Bruce Foxton using them. Ironically now I can afford one I've never found one to suit my playing style as the switching is just too damn fussy for me and the pickup placement means there's nothing comfy for me to rest my thumb on. I would still love a 4000 mono bass though!