Stag

Well, whoops - I bought one, and im very glad I did! This is an amazing instrument. It feels great - I cant describe it, just really well constructed and "Premium" (which youd expect considering the price...) Even the rear of the bass has been bound at the edges with the classic Ric checkerboard finish. The bottom string using the neck pickup is thunderous bottom end, its like an EB2 on steroids. Then one flick to mid position and youve got a honky sort of vintage 70's tone... lastly on full bridge pickup (with a pick, preferably) you've got a sound very close to the classic 4003. A very versatile instrument indeed! The case is somewhat bigger than the other vintage case I have for my 4003 BRG but thats to get the wider body in... speaking of which this might be short scale but it doesnt FEEL it. Reason? The body is basically a 360-shape body so its mahooosive, so the bass itself is pretty much as long in total as a 4003. So if you are put off by shorties, maybe try one of these first and see what you think - its not dinky like an EB3 (which puts me off using my SG Bass). Oh yeah, and theres 24 frets so dusty-end widdling is very much catered for here! There's a great deal of "give" in this neck, absolutely no effort is required to bend strings on this unlike nearly all my "early" Rics. The independent dealer I bought mine from had FIVE (!!!) of them in stock, i picked up the one which was the lightest (got to start thinking about my back now, haha) which coincidentally also had the nicest wood figuring under the finish on the body, as well as the darkest fretboard, which I like.. particulaarly in contrast to the crushed pearl sharkfin inlays. Feel free to ask any questions... this one is a keeper!

did anyone ever try the 4005XC? I was intriugued by them given they are shorties, and the body shape is really nice... and the price of them seems to have come down considerably since the 4005V announcement...

Here's my "family picture" 😛

A dealer here ive used before thought based on the RRP hes been quoted by the distributor that the UK price will be £5999/£6299, so this isnt far off the mark. But at that price I am most definitely OUT. Its a crazy price for what they are intending to be a standard offering in the model list.

Ah yeah, the pointy one is a very limited run for the 90th anniversary of Ric - hence the "boutique" price. Allegedly the new (long scale) 4005V is supposed to slot in as a standard offering... it cannot be standard at that price lol Also goes totally against what ive heard dealers in the US taking preorders around the $4K mark - would actually be cheaper to buy a flight to Santa Ana, pick it up from the factory and take it home at that price! 👨‍✈️

https://www.rosetti.co.uk/rickenbacker-4005v-bass-fireglo This price isnt... serious is it??

Reason i ask is I have something similar on my '82 4001, two bolts either side of the bridge where presumably the previous owner decided to put a Fender-style bridge cover over it (???!)

Mmm, very nice! What are those odd little bolts between the pickup and the bridge for?

That pillbox red one is one of a run of 25, theres one of them in the Norwich store too. A very silly price. I paid significantly (like, a lot) less than that for my BRG and that's also a limited run of 25. You also got the vintage funky shiny silver case with mine, not so with the pillbox red ones... you just get the standard black Ric case which is nice 'n all but not "special" or going anyway towards justifying that price tag. Maple neck is something of an oddity on a 4003 as well, i tried it and didnt much like it (yet I love my maple necked Fender Geddy Jazz!)

I wasnt *planning* to, then a friend who knows I am weak willed pointed it out. Then, umm, it turned up at my house. Ive gigged it a few times, its pretty damn fine sounding but because its "special" (or : just too dear for pub gigs) I only take it out every now and then. The Burgungy glo is the go-to weapon of choice!