4000

[quote name='Delberthot' post='75389' date='Oct 17 2007, 12:55 AM']Chris Squiers bass was one of the original export 1999 ricks(4001S exports). Apparently he had the 4th one into the country. the first 3 went to the Ox, Pete Quaife (Kinks) and Donovan (?) Chris' 1999 went through a lot of different guises involving putting wallpaper amongst other things on the face of the bass that had to be sanded off resulting in the bass ending up around 3/4 the weight it originally was. Indeed, the horseshoe is missing - you can't just take the horseshoe section off as it is an integral part of the pickup. this guy has replaced it with a standard high gain pickup. If he doesn't have it then you are in the mire as shoes are as rare as rocking horses' doo daa. One interesting fact is that when RIC serviced Chris' original 1999 bass last year, they discovered that one of the pickups was completely disconnected and had been for several years[/quote] You can take the shoes off actually; it's only the very earliest reissues that have magnetised horsies.

[quote name='Musky' post='70216' date='Oct 6 2007, 08:55 AM']I could very well be wrong, but I think the 4001CS came with the bass cut capacitor that Rickenabacker abandoned in the early eighties. I know they've messed about with the inclusion/exclusion of this in some of their more recent models, but I've no idea what model has got it nowadays. But it's just a capacitor - a minor amount of modding to any 4001/4003 should sort you out. Though thinking about it, the CS has a toaster, low output pickup so maybe not. Hmmm... I've had Ricks for 25 years now - I really ought to get a bit more up to date with the specs![/quote] No, they didn't come with the capacitor. I've had 2 (got 1). The biggest difference is the reissue horseshoe (although he's not using one...). I've also a/b-d many times against V63s (owned one, nearly owned another, played several) and in every instance the CS has sounded harder (I personally suspect the vermillion fingerboard, unique to the CS, although I could be wrong). I will however add that my Ric ear is annoyingly sensitive, although our guitarist, who has a similarly discerning ear, agrees. Every Ric I've owned (heck, pretty much every one I've played) has sounded different, although you may only notice back to back; I'll add that a friend of mine couldn't tell the difference between my CS and V63 but to me they were night & day. The most aggressive-sounding Ric I've ever played is my single pickup 4000.

[quote name='Waldo' post='70110' date='Oct 5 2007, 06:57 PM']Can't say I find that tone particularly impressive, IMO.[/quote] Different strokes for different folks and all that. I love it. So, anyone wanna buy my CS (see for sale section)?

Minus the add-ons and if a right hander - and with some crescent inlays - that's what I'd want a Jaydee to look like. Had one very similar actually, but without the neck binding; great bass, but soooo heavy. They really seem to vary a great deal. I've played some that were fairly light but never had the funds to buy them at the time.

[quote name='BassBod' post='255150' date='Aug 5 2008, 10:20 AM']As said, check battery first. Mine used to get through batteries every 6 - 8 months, but they died very quickly when they went. Lowering pickups is a good idea, and check the (adjustable) pole pieces aren't set really high. The transistors do distort when they go bad...but from memory its a fairly constant "Jack Bruce" distortion that gets worse when you pluck harder. On mine its was much more noticable on one pickup, but both did it. New transistors cleaned it up completely. There was a chap at Harrow Audio (google 'em?) who was able to get spares from Pete - get to know the bass, see what needs work and then talk to him? For the record, I love the Pro basses for their historical importance and the complete dedication that went into them - really ahead of their time. But I wouldn't buy or play one now. Too heavy, poor balance and a bit of a "marmite" sound - the only bass I've been requested not to play! BB[/quote] Are they all heavy? I've played about 3 Pro IIs over the years and I only remember one being heavy, although I was young & fit in them there days! The distortion thing happened to my old Wal Custom after the new owner had had it a couple of years; he sent it to Pete who fixed it. Not much chance of that now...

Niiiice! Now here's where if I'd sold my CS and that was definitely for sale I'd be on it (well, depending how heavy it is..)! In terms of price, over the last couple of years I've missed out on 2 ProIIEs, one at £899 and one at £820. Ironically I'd sooner have one than a Custom.

I once bought a Ric 4001V63 (a '92) on ebay from the US and it never appeared. Took me a year to get the insurance money and I lost £200 due to the change in exchange rates. Tread carefully & make sure it's tracked and insured.

[quote name='coasterbass' post='254618' date='Aug 4 2008, 04:23 PM']Please can someone PM me with the details of how to make something that sounds like an Agi or Berg for £120 ?? I may even drop you a fiver if it works [/quote] My GS112s sound like they [i]did [/i]cost £120.... .... I recently a/b-d them with my old Trace 1153 and it dusted them completely. Unfortunately I don't still own it and it's heavier than is comfortable. Anyone know where I can get something similar that weighs 15lb less?

[quote name='Mike Brooks' post='246463' date='Jul 23 2008, 10:30 PM']This is going over old ground but was reminded of this thread by a feloow GB fan. Not sure if anyone agrees but to my eyes Rumours don't suit solid colour finishes, whereas Spitfires suit fancy woods or solid colour. Rumours just need a nice top to set off the shape/curves, etc. Just a thought for discussion! Mike[/quote] Er...I think the Rumours look best in the Daphne Blue to be honest. Whenever I see a Daphne Blue one I always think I really want one.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='251865' date='Jul 31 2008, 09:44 AM']I aim for 9lb being about as heavy as I'd like, though I own a bass that is closer to 10lb. I'd consider anything over 10lb to be heavy I've owned a bass that weighed over 12lb and though the tone was fantastic I'd not want to repeat the experience and 'yes' I will sacrifice a little bit of tone to save lugging an extra 3lb around on my shoulder at every gig.[/quote] I have chronic back & neck problems and anything over 9lbs is uncomfortable. Although I [i]can[/i] play my Alembic (around 10.5-11 lbs) standing up, it really isn't worth it for the days of pain afterwards. My 4001CS is borderline. To be honest, the lighter the better; my Sei 4 is the only bass I own that I would actually describe as comfortable in terms of weight over a couple of hours, and that's probably no more than 8lbs, probably less. Balance is also extremely important, but there is a point I can't go beyond no matter what the balance is like (for instance my Alembic balances great, but that's no help. I also played the Sei Millenium 6 that was in the Gallery until a short time ago and although it balanced great - and was absolutely incredible - it actually put my back out for several weeks after; I was in agony once I got home!).

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='248555' date='Jul 26 2008, 06:02 PM']Yes; Paul worked with Pete for some years so in my opinion, is the perfect person to take the Wal name forward.. Don't see too many Pro's for sale but if you do - grab it while you can!![/quote] Thanks for that. Pro-wise, missed one about a year ago (could be 2). It was advertised in a shop and I rang to get pictures sent. Unfortunately somebody walked in and bought it while I was still waiting for the pics....(probably someone here!). I know, should've bought it. It was only £899 (& black IIRC). In fact it was probably the one in your avatar!

[quote name='Clarky' post='249087' date='Jul 27 2008, 07:57 PM']PS here is Lemmy playing a 4003S (or maybe its predecessor the 4001S) [url="http://jakdknife.tripod.com/lemmy.jpg"]http://jakdknife.tripod.com/lemmy.jpg[/url][/quote] Actually that's an early through-neck 4000 to which he fitted a Thunderbird pickup. The scratchplate is actually brass (was originally white plastic as seen on the Ace of Spades video); that's just the way the light is. Bit of a Lemmy anorak I'm afraid; that's the bass that taught me how to play. His first Ric, modified variously over the years. But yes, definitely a 4003S that's been bought. Unlikely that it's a copy (never seen one of an S, although they may exist). Bargain of the century indeed.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='248716' date='Jul 27 2008, 12:18 AM']its an instrument that someone has played a bit. you dont buy a rick for your first bass.[/quote] I did.

I had a Euro 5LX briefly; when I tried it in the shop I actually preferred it to the USA models I compared it with, and not by a small margin either.