AMV001

23 minutes ago, Skybone said:

Looks like a 4003W, like Simon C's, but with a nice mirror 'plate.

No skunk stripe though, and what is the deal with the TRC?

Chickenbacker perhaps?

22 minutes ago, Skybone said:

Just had a quick look at the Hipshot site, and it doesn't look like they make the HB5 anymore. I knew they'd discontinued the BT5 Xtender some time ago.

That does, indeed seem to be true, and they were a drop in replacement (see below). However, there should be sets still out there if you are prepared to search long and hard enough.

Gives me some hope, that's for sure. Although McCartney has a slightly higher profile than me (and considerably more resources too).

Bridge:

Yes, the Allparts replacement will probably lift. If its the same material and construction as a Ric original though, this is a process that takes decades and isn't necessarily a problem. My 1980 4001 (44 years with roundwounds) has the original bridge and it has only lifted a few millimetres and it doesn't affect its function.

As for better options the V2 bridge has individually adjustable saddles but keeps the vibe of the original. Pricey though.

I don't like how the Hipshot bridge looks.

Scratchplate:

As mentioned, try Rickysounds

Tuners:

I believe the Hipshot HB5 is a drop in replacement. Not sure which way it winds though.

10 hours ago, Bassman1974 said:

A better angle here on a '23 maybe..

Yep, looks like the position has been changed. Check out the neck/body joint and the fact that the scratchplate is much closer to the end of the body on the '23.

Apologies for the dust, by the way, haven't had the chance to pick it up much over the past couple of weeks...

So, its been six months since I started the search for my old Ric 4001 (serial number PL7996). Still having no luck, although there have been a couple of near misses- a guitar shop in Germany recently sold PL7986 and the Rick Resource website, who have a member compiled database of over 50,000 instruments, are listing PL7998 as being located somewhere in Tennessee. Both of these were probably from the same production run as mine.
I’m not deterred though, but as mentioned in an earlier post I’m now just playing the long game, waiting for some info to appear. There are plenty of examples of missing guitars suddenly appearing again, even after many years. You just have to stay vigilant. If Peter Frampton's Les Paul can turn up 31 years after being lost in a plane crash in a jungle, there's always a chance. Although, for obvious reasons I hope it doesn’t take that long…

5 hours ago, prowla said:

I don't like that so much - it's like they've copied the Chickenbackers.

I think they moved the position of the neck-body join.

I thought it looked different, but also thought that it was maybe just the angle of the photo. Now you mention it though, the last fret looks like it doesn't hang over the body, like the earlier models, so you could be right.
The 21 fret versions have a similar bridge position too.

11 hours ago, Bassman1974 said:

Cheerio Chrome flats. I've returned to rounds, specifically DR Highbeams. It's growling like hell now

That bridge looks to be slightly further forward than the standard Ric bridge. Is the V2 bridge smaller?

On 11/02/2024 at 11:17, prowla said:

 

Not dissimilar in colour to my slightly customised 2013.

Indeed, very similar. Though yours seems to be darker- is it a Fireglo?

As this thread seems to still be fairly healthy after so many years, I'll make a contribution. 1980 4001 with aftermarket black plastics. There has been some debate elsewhere about whether this is Fireglo or Autumnglo. I've always assumed its FG but AG seems to have almost been the same as FG at some points down the years, so it could be possible. There is no hint of brown in it though, and the red is a bit brighter in person than it appears in this pic. Great guitar though, I've owned it since 1989.

On 28/12/2023 at 19:22, Thump said:

Finally got the finger out this evening. I've had the bridge sat in a drawer for a couple of months now , went and bought new strings (ouch!) this afternoon. 

 

Not many pictures taken of the process , not a difficult one anyway. It plays the same , it sounds the same , it looks slightly better. Worth it? £30 for the bridge and an eyewatering £50 for new flats. Speaking of which , i bought the same set as i did 7 years ago except now they're 20 quid more and the G feels rougher than the last set and noticeably duller in appearance. Roto monel flats 40-100. Not sure if something has changed in the manufacturing or the finishing process or if this one G string slipped past qc. Just feels less quality than the one i took off.

Is the spacing not too narrow? A and D seem OK but E and G aren't centred on the pole pieces. Is there any sideways adjustment?

I need to replace the bridge on a Squier Jazz and am looking at options at the moment, this bridge being one of them.

Best purchase in 2023 was a set of DiMarzio Model J. The adjustable pole pieces solved a persistent string volume problem. While I was at it I also did a parallel/series mod, using the neck volume on a push/pull pot. Series mode is great- loud and fat.

I'd recommend getting in touch with one of the guitar magazines. Its a good story that would make an interesting piece. A nationally published magazine would probably have the authority to get a response from the Who organisation.

Guitarist magazine can be contacted at [email protected] or on 01225 442244

On 04/12/2023 at 17:43, BigRedX said:

Has anyone here from a performer PoV spent more than a couple of weeks continuously recording and mixing an album in a proper commercial studio?

Yes, I have. Although this was a long time ago (1990s).

On 30/11/2023 at 10:17, sky said:

 

sorry to hear its still not showed up, hopefully you hear something soon! same colours as the fernandes copy i play with the black pickguard / white truss rod cover, although was the pickguard painted black looks like its worn through to white in the picture or is that a sticker?

Its a sticker. Was on there for a few months in 1992, not sure exactly how long though. The pic in the first post is from Feb 1993 and it has gone by then.

Six weeks on from the above and I'm still searching. There were a couple of brief moments of excitement during Nov, firstly when a used black/black '76 with road wear turned up on Reverb.  But it was a manufactured a couple of weeks before mine according to the serial. Also, The Bass Gallery in London had listed a used Jetglo '76 with a non-original bridge pickup. TBG are located just a couple of miles from my old apartment, so I was immediately intrigued. A quick trip up there confirmed it wasn't the one, unfortunately.
So, I’m still no closer to finding the guitar and the waiting game goes on. In the meantime, here’s  a pic of my manservant giving it a quick tune up back in 1992.

I have a 1983 Jazz that had a serious problem with string to string volume (the bottom E was twice the volume of the others). Pulled out the stock pickups and installed a pair of DiMarzio Model J, which have adjustable pole pieces. Set the heights to even out the volume. Made a world of difference. While I was at it I also did a parallel/series mod, using the neck volume on a push/pull pot. Series mode is great- loud and fat.

Since when did Rickenbacker start using mini pots? Shouldn't they be full size CTS?

Caveat- I could be completely out of touch. I've only seen the inside of original 4001's.

3 hours ago, Beedster said:

unless you're suggesting that you're prepared to forgive and forget and pay market value today for the bass, if you were lucky enough for the current owner to come across one of your threads, I suspect you're going to make them less, rather than more, likely to get in touch   

 

Good luck either way 👍

Thank you.

Yep, as I said in the original post above and as I have stated in all the posts on social media etc. I'm prepared to buy it back if it can be found and the owner is willing to sell. If the owner isn't willing to sell, then I'm happy to leave my contact details in case he/she changes their mind.

Just a quick update. Sadly, I am still no closer to finding it. The situation is that I have now been in contact with the person who sold it back in 1995. However, they claim to “not remember that time” which is odd because, even though it was 28 years ago, it will have been the only occasion in their life that they have sold a guitar, so its extraordinary that they can’t remember a single detail about it. I've sent a follow up with more questions but have yet to receive a reply.

In the meantime, there are threads running on all the major Facebook Rickenbacker groups, in both of the dedicated online Ricky forums and other bass related sites like this one and alerts are set up on Reverb and Ebay. I guess its going to be a waiting game now, not sure what else to do, but while I think about that, here’s more pics.
 

2 hours ago, Cliff Edge said:

Interesting thread, I hope you find it. I’ve been looking for the 1996 EBMM Stingray I bought new in New York when it was only a few days old, and foolishly sold on eBay to someone in Scotland a few years later. Sometimes I do stupid things. 

I wish I'd had the choice...

2 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

Stolen? Might that be more likely for any current owner to keep quiet?8

Depends. Whoever bought it back in 1995 probably didn't know then and still doesn't, if they even still have it. On the other hand, if it turns up again on Ebay/Reverb there are people who watch out for these things and report back.

11 hours ago, Skybone said:

They tend to be very US oriented. Have you tried TalkBass? Again, US based, but a more "Global" user base.

Yep. Posted on Talk Bass and The Gear Page too, as well as here. Also posted in a load of Rickenbacker groups on Facebook and it has been shared pretty widely. Also following it up via some private connections with former staff at the studio.

Someone has listed it on the registry at Rick Resource but as what is known as a 'collected item'. Meaning it has been sourced online from public info rather than actually listed by the owner. I'm attempting to get control of that listing so I can tag the instrument as stolen, but its taking a while to get a response from the admins.

11 hours ago, Skybone said:

Good luck with the hunt for your old bass.

Thank you. Not having a whole lot of luck so far but its still early days. Plenty of best wishes and encouragement being sent my way though, so that's cool. The Rick Resource and official RIC forums are being painfully slow at responding though, which is a bit frustrating. Still waiting for the admins at RIC forum to approve the registration.

1 minute ago, ahpook said:

Good luck with your hunt - fingers crossed

 

I have to say, both you and the bass do look somewhat familiar...

Yeah, possibly. I've been around a bit...