4000

Jon, hence the wink, which was aimed at you.......I know you're on there quite a bit. So am I!

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1072095' date='Dec 29 2010, 08:14 PM']When you see a guy playing a P bass, you never think "This bloke has the cool".[/quote] Er, J J Burnel, Pino and James Jamerson????

Depends who you talk to. Seriously, like any other bass, you need to try some yourself. Not just one, because it may not be representative. They vary a lot over the years; different weights, different necks, pickup type and placement, pot values etc etc. I've owned roughly 10 (?) and have played probably over a hundred. I've played some I've loved, many I've been indifferent to and some I really haven't liked at all. Of course I'm sure you could say that about any type of bass.

No offence intended BTW! Ricks are an absolute minefield when it comes to the details and people with only a passing interest consistently get things wrong. There have been so many variations over the years but even within the "obvious" features people consistently make errors, like saying (and I've actually seen this) that 4001 basses have single truss rods and 4003 basses have twin rods; this is also completely wrong as they both have twin rods. I know a lot about Rick 4000 series basses, but there are some on Rick Resource who know 100 times what I do; it's always worth partaking of that knowledge if you have a serious interest in the subject, particularly if you're looking at buying a Rick. I've learnt so much from there. They are, however, not keen to talk about fakes.

[quote name='mart' post='1048421' date='Dec 5 2010, 05:06 PM']According to "The Complete History of Rickenbacker Guitars" by Richard R. Smith, the difference between deluxe and standard (S) models is: As for set-neck instruments, the book does describe many Rickenbacker guitars as having glued-in necks, but for basses it says: I don't think anybody would claim a set-neck to be "removable", so this supports the claim that Rickenbacker have never made a set-neck bass - just neck-through or bolt-on.[/quote] Sorry but you're wrong there. As a member of Rick Resource, I can tell you that from around '72 onwards the "s" basses were set necks, as were the single-pickup 4000 models. I know, I've had some and I know many other people who have too! And not all 4000 models were routed for a neck pickup either; mine (a '73) certainly wasn't. Prior to that they were thru-necks. The non-s models (ie the deluxe 4001/4003 with the binding etc) were all thru-necks. V63, C-Series, CS were all thru-necks. The s-models came mono as standard (Chris Squire's was modified), deluxe as stereo, but there were special orders and one-offs and others may have been modded. Despite the so-called "intolerance" of Rick Resource (actually no less tolerant than any other exclusive Forum in my experience) if you want to learn about Ricks you need to go there as there is a lot to learn that will take you years to learn anywhere else. It will also help you avoid all the misinformation you'll get from non-specialist Forums, an example being the "no set-necks" comment above which anyone with any sort of serious interest in Ricks will know is completely incorrect.

[quote name='Soliloquy' post='1071351' date='Dec 28 2010, 10:47 PM']I have to say, it's not light by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe that's where it gets its big sound from.[/quote] Both the Supernaturals I owned were probably over 12lbs. The first one I didn't rate but the second was great, one of the nicest basses I've had. Unfortunately my back problems had set in by then; it proved to be too heavy and it went back to the shop after a week.

[quote name='Soliloquy' post='1064906' date='Dec 20 2010, 06:50 PM']Jaydee ! I recently got my 24 year old Series 3 back from John. It's been totally refinished, and sounds and plays as good as anything else I've played, including Wal, Alembic and Status. I'm going to be ordering a new one, I want a 5 string GA24. This is it a month or so ago, and the finished article.[/quote] BTW, that's gorgeous. Aways wanted a Starchild JD; never got one. Now my back sadly couldn't cope unless it was made of balsa!

As ever, the only thing to do is play as many of each as you can and see what you prefer. Each have their fans and detractors (as does every other bass out there) but it's down to what fits your body and suits your ears. My various Statii have been amongst the most uncomfortable instruments I've ever played but that's because they don't suit me ergonomically; they obviously suit others fine. I have the same problem with Jazz Basses which are generally considered to be extremely comfortable. Until you play these things you'll never know whether they suit you. Someone might tell you size 9 shoes are best but if you've got size 11 feet that's not much use is it?

[quote name='4 Strings' post='1066017' date='Dec 21 2010, 06:46 PM']There's a lovely '70s Fender P for sale within these pages and, despite it being an absolute beauty, much seems to be being made of it being slightly heavier than average. There may be lighter weight Precisions, but surely this isn't a heavy item. Do people find Ps so heavy that they need to find one based on a slight variation in its weight? My old Jaydee is solid mahogany, that's heavier than a P but never a problem unless i'm on the 3rd day of a mega-rehearsal. This seems to be a rather recent phenomena that for almost any bass for sale, especially old Precisions, the first question regards its weight. Why is this? Surely none of them are THAT heavy? I have two '70s Fenders, apparently typically heavy, if you did an A-B test one is lighter than the other, just mean its a little more neck heavy but nothing to stop the enjoyment of using it. Am I the only one who finds this a rather unnecessary obsession or have people genuinely been harmed by one Precision but not another?[/quote] I'm 47 years old. I've got two prolapsed discs, one cervical, one lumbar, with referred pain into arms, legs, groin etc etc. I also have a possible subluxation left shoulder, problems with my clavicle (particularly left side) and supraspinatus tendonitis in both shoulders. If I wear a heavy bass it's very painful and causes me all sorts of problems the like of which I'm not going into here. Wasn't always the case, I used to bench 100kg for a good 8 reps and used a Jaydee that weighed 13lb or so, among other basses. But trust me, if/when it starts to matter, it REALLY starts to matter. These days even an 8.5lb bass is giving me trouble. If it never, ever starts to bother you, you're very lucky. If you're unlucky, one day it might be [i]very[/i] important to you what a bass weighs.

Cracking stuff!

Looks like the fun starts Sunday for me too.....

[quote name='silddx' post='1018806' date='Nov 10 2010, 02:08 PM']I can see that! Good call mate. Amazing looking bass isn't it. Totally not the sort of bass I would ever want, but I sort of wish I did if you know what I mean.[/quote] Glad it's not just me. Those wine gums can do funny things to you you know. Well hopefully mine's next, whenever Robbie's ready. Let me know, Mr. M!

Am I alone in thinking that in the first pic the figuring on the top bout of the bass looks like a dark haired girl sitting on a rock with the already discussed sea/sunset behind her? Regardless, that figuring is amazing.

Awesome; let us know how you get on with it.

[quote name='Shaggy' post='1010574' date='Nov 3 2010, 11:39 AM']Probably easier with the Hipshot bridge as the saddles are independantly adjustable, also using the "pickguardian" perspex p/up mounting rather than the Ric one if the latter does get in the way. I bet Lemmy doesn't set his that low though! [/quote] The Hipshot doesn't go as low according to people I know who've tried it. FWIW the pickup cover should make no difference at all to the string height. It's the surround on some of the older 4001 models (some are without the "cutaway" section) that you have to worry about. In fact my old Ric 4000 could probably achieve the lowest action of any of the 30-odd basses (many high end) that I've had.

1mm at 12th fret. Low enough?

The Bogarts I've played have been great, easily a match for any Status I've tried.

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1011363' date='Nov 3 2010, 09:14 PM']Oh my god I have just found the bass of my dreams... I have to own it... Oh... Wait... If you look closely at the light patch on the top horn, it looks like sunset, meeting the quilted section under it, which looks like water. This is completely by accident... But it's very cool.[/quote] Oh [i]aye[/i]......that is glorious. You're right about the sunset/sea thing too. Love it. Can't wait for mine!

Awesome! Why is it though that I keep looking at this and thinking I'd actually like a 5 string fretless...

Cool! That means we get to see yours finished and it gets nearer to mine as well; talk about win/win!

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1005888' date='Oct 29 2010, 10:04 PM']The Lost Highway. Love that soundtrack.[/quote] Love that film! I love David Lynch..... As already mentioned, any of Ennio Morricone's spaghetti westerns, Howard Shore's LOTR trilogy, pretty much anything by Thomas Newman with a particular nod towards American Beauty.