16Again Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I'm interested in a ricky 4003 thats for sale for £300! i've not seen it in the flesh yet but got a few pics and some info from the seller its gots a few dings, a bent tuner, and some stickers on it.and 3 strings. the serial number is J54875. i notice it hasnt got shark fin type inlays on the fretboard or a binding on the edge of the body. is it a real one?? i'm thinking of going to see it tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 (edited) There are unbound, dot neck Ricks eg, the "McCartney" 64s (I think) - they usually go for about a grand second-hand or more if in vgc (new c. £1500). Sounds fishy but TBH looks like a real one to me. If I were you I would pop over to the Rickresource forum and send them the photos - there are incredibly knowledgeable dudes on there and they will spot a faker in about a millisecond. Fingers crossed you found the biggest bargain of the year ! Edited July 26, 2008 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I'n no expert but it would be difficult to tell with such dodgy pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 even if it's not, it looks like a good copy. I don't know how reasonable £300 would be for a good copy though? I'm not up with my Rick' knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 (edited) Incidentally the serial number is a real number (whether copied or original) and indicates October 1992 manufacture if that helps Edited July 26, 2008 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16Again Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='248510' date='Jul 26 2008, 05:13 PM']Incidentally the serial number is a real number (whether copied or original) and indicates October 1992 manufacture if that helps[/quote] interesting. thats what the seller said. he's selling because it just sits under his bed and he's skint and needs the money. could be a spoilt little rich kid down on his luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Sounds like a job for cap'n japcrap. If its a fake i bet he'd know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 From what I can see it looks like a real one - most of the copies were designed in the early 70s & don't have "modern" Rick features like one-piece neck (no skunk stripe) and the 1" spacing of the neck pickup. That looks like a recent design real Hi-Gain in the bridge position. Although selling for £300? A guitar shop would probably give him 6 or 7 and still make a tidy profit. My one concern about this is that its owner might be missing it. :ph34r: Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Is it in Aberdeen? Even if it turns out to be no more than a decent RickenFaker, it should still be worth somewhere in the region of £300, so it won't be a wasted trip whatever you do. Get hold of some reference photos of the exact models that Rickenbacker were selling in 1992 and take them along for comparison. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16Again Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='248535' date='Jul 26 2008, 05:41 PM']Is it in Aberdeen? [/quote] aye its aberdeen. ive heard the stories. but ive got his address and going to see it tommorow between 5 and 6pm. sh*t, im excited now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebeat Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Looks real to me...certainly a neck through. As Clarky said, not all Rics are bound and he's right that if you want confirmation either way you should go to the RicResource forum. Don't stay too long though, some of them are enough to put you off buying a Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I thought I'd seen the carpet before The only thing I would be cautious of from the pictures I saw about a month ago was the neck, Rics necks are very easy to bugger up in some peoples hands. It looks real to me but even if its a copy £300 is not a bad price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 as has been said, £300 for a copy is worth it, so definatly take it as long as the neck is straight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16Again Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 cheers guys, i'll let you's know how i get on. d. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 [quote name='Geddys nose' post='248653' date='Jul 26 2008, 09:33 PM']Rics necks are very easy to bugger up in some peoples hands. It looks real to me but even if its a copy £300 is not a bad price [/quote] Not so much of a problem with 4003s & reissue 4001s - they have truss rods which adjust in a conventional fashion, and are designed for high-tension strings. The old 4001 neck had to be bent by hand to the correct relief & the truss rods tightened to hold it there, and was designed to be used with low-tension flats - which was all there was back in the 50s when it first appeared. A lot of people popped the boards off the necks by bunging Swing Bass on them, or bent/broke/stripped the truss rods. Or both. Anyway, the lack of a skunk stripe on this bass indicates it has the redesigned neck & is a 4003 or reissue 4001 - and I'm sticking my neck out here & saying it [b]is[/b] real. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 [quote name='Bassassin' post='248696' date='Jul 26 2008, 11:40 PM']I'm sticking my neck out here & saying it [b]is[/b] real. J.[/quote] On balance I too think its real - in which case my earlier comment (bargain of the year?) is probably true - and if you didn't get on with it, you could stick new strings on, have it professionally set up and flip it on eBay for a handsome profit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 its an instrument that someone has played a bit. you dont buy a rick for your first bass. also if you just get given a really good bas you dont stick (quite well done) stickers on it. So its something someone at some point has played live. enough to ding, bend the tuner and make one of the knobs fall off. so a fair bit. but the guy/girl doesnt seem to realise how much it should be selling for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 In this day and age it doesn't take much to figure out the true value of something. Even if you don't have the Internet someone somewhere will have and can find out for you! Without a shadow of a doubt I'd be having a look at this asap BUT I'd be taking a big f*ck off friend with me and the cash would still be in the cash point around the corner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='248754' date='Jul 27 2008, 08:30 AM']Without a shadow of a doubt I'd be having a look at this asap BUT I'd be taking a big f*ck off friend with me and the cash would still be in the cash point around the corner [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cooke Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='248754' date='Jul 27 2008, 08:30 AM']In this day and age it doesn't take much to figure out the true value of something. Even if you don't have the Internet someone somewhere will have and can find out for you![/quote] there are plenty of little old ladies who've no idea of the value of the vases their hubby collected while he was alive... plenty of people who go to car boot sales selling off highly collectible china without realising the true value of it... how else would antique sellers manage to make a living? Same with basses, this guy probably thinks it really is only worth £300 as it's all beat up with a broken tuner and he probably only paid something like £300 for it himself years ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [quote name='Paul Cooke' post='248934' date='Jul 27 2008, 03:05 PM']there are plenty of little old ladies who've no idea of the value of the vases their hubby collected while he was alive... plenty of people who go to car boot sales selling off highly collectible china without realising the true value of it... how else would antique sellers manage to make a living? Same with basses, this guy probably thinks it really is only worth £300 as it's all beat up with a broken tuner and he probably only paid something like £300 for it himself years ago...[/quote] Hmmm I accept the little old lady not understanding what she has but any kid/young person/adult (not suffering from senile dementia) selling an expensive musical instrument I'm not saying that it is impossible but opportunities for 'attic relics' are far and few between in this day of the Internet and TV programmes such as Flog-it/Bargain Hunt et al. Either way, hats off to the OP for finding such a bargain. I wouldn't dream of asking him to foreclose where he first found out about this little nugget (it wouldn't take a genius to track it down with even the slightest of clues) but once the purchase is in the bag I'd be interested to know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16Again Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 well, i went to see the ricky and...........i bought it it certainly looks like the real thing, i've checked it against my other one (a 1996 4003) and the only differences i can see are the fin fret inlays, binding and 1 input instead of the 2 inputs. even is its not the real thing it looks great! only has a few dings. and the tuner works fine and isnt that bad at all,the stickers peeled off no prob. the guy who sold it to me (through aberdeenmusic.com) was in DESPERATE need of cash. has played in bands for a while in aberdeen and i know friends of his. i didnt need a big f*** off mate with me thankfully i'll post new pics in the gear porn section. aberdeen dodgy? nae chance not everyone gets a share of the oil money unfortunetly davie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [quote name='16Again' post='249062' date='Jul 27 2008, 07:07 PM']well, i went to see the ricky and...........i bought it it certainly looks like the real thing, i've checked it against my other one (a 1996 4003) and the only differences i can see are the fin fret inlays, binding and 1 input instead of the 2 inputs. even is its not the real thing it looks great! only has a few dings. and the tuner works fine and isnt that bad at all,the stickers peeled off no prob. the guy who sold it to me (through aberdeenmusic.com) was in DESPERATE need of cash. has played in bands for a while in aberdeen and i know friends of his. i didnt need a big f*** off mate with me thankfully i'll post new pics in the gear porn section. aberdeen dodgy? nae chance not everyone gets a share of the oil money unfortunetly davie. [/quote] Today should be declared 'Bargain BassChat Day'! What with this and all of the Warwicks flying out of REVERB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I think you have bought a 1992 4003S (see link below). "The model 4003S is a standard model bass without Deluxe features as bindings, triangle inlays and stereo outputs." You have bargain of the year! Congratulations, you have saved yourself at least £600 [url="http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/4003slh/4003slh.htm"]http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/4003slh/4003slh.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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