Conference napalm::guitar

    
    
       I guess I forgot to mention a few things....I was told it's a
    mid 70's model, neck thru body, wired stereo, I'm not sure how many
    pick ups were on it but how ever many it was this bass didn't look
    like it had been altered in any way. It sure did look nice...maybe
    I'll take a closer look!   Thanks Brian.
    
                     
    
                                        Dana
    
                         

    The big thing to watch out on Rickenbackers is neck alignment.  For
    years Rick claimed use of roundwound strings on the 4001 model would
    void the warranty and damage the neck (which is why they now sell the
    4003 which has extra neck reinforcement). Of course, most people who
    use Ricks put roundwound strings on them! So look for warpage in the
    neck.
    
    If it looks like the bass that Geddy Lee or Chris Squire used to use,
    it's a 4000 series.  Within the 4000 series there are a few models:
    
    4000:  single pickup, no binding, dot inlays on neck, mono wiring
    
    4001:  two pickups, binding, triangular neck inlays, stereo wiring
    
    4001S: two pickups, no binding, dot inlays on neck, mono wiring
    
    4003: similar to 4001 but two piece pickguard, neck reinforcements
    (this if course not visible)
    
    4003/5, 4003/8: five and eight string models, mono wiring
    
    There was also a 3000 series of solidbody basses and some hollowbody
    basses, which I think are no longer made.
    
    $350 is a *very* good price if the bass is in good condition, dealers
    usually get $500+ for a used Rick.  Perhaps Tom Testagrossa could
    comment further.
    
    							Brian

    While on this subject:
         I've got a late 70's Rick 4003. I bought it brand new and have
         used RotoSound roundwounds on it since day one. I haven't had
         any trouble with the neck warping, My problem is with the the
         fretboard. The fretboard is pretty chewed up in certain areas
         from years of roundwound use, and it affects the intonation in
         those areas.
      
         Can the fretboard be changed? Is this something that should be 
         sent back to the company to repair? Has anyone else ever had this
         problem on their bass or guitar?
        
         -dave-  

     4003 basses won't have a problem with roundwound strings, since
     the 4003 was meant to be strung with 'em.  I suspect that your
     bass probably needs to be refretted after 10+ years of use. I'm
     guessing that when you say "fretboard" you really mean that your
     frets are pretty worn. I can't imagine that the actual fingerboard
     itself is actually worn, unless the frets themselves are worn.
    
     I'd caution anyone considering a used Rick bass to have it checked
     out by a competent and trusted repairperson, since Rick basses are
     prone to neck problems which can be very expensive to fix.
    
     Dave, I'll probably be at one of your gigs this Thursday or
     Friday, we can talk about it more then.
    
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
    

    re: Dave
    
    This a fretless bass?
    
    Greg

    Re -1 Tom
       Nope, I mean the fingerboard is worn. (fretboard was the wrong word)
       I've had the bass refretted twice since I've owned it and they could
       probably use it again although I don't think they're that bad. This
       may be a result of my stupidity in the past in waiting to long to
       have it refretted, I don't know. I was told by a technician at a
       local music store a couple of years ago that it sometimes happens
       to older Ricks that have used roundwounds for a long time. He also
       recommended that when I decided to have it repaired, I send it back
       to the company to be done. 
    
       I make it a habit to check used Ricks for this when I see them for
       sale, and I have seen other older ones with the same problem. 
    
       You can take a look at it this weekend.
    -dave- 

    I don't understand how the fingerboard wear would cause intontation
    problems if the frets are in good condition.  Do you press real hard on
    the strings or something?
    
    Greg

    Re: Greg
    
                           Nope, not a fretless!
    
                         Does Rick make a fretless?
    
    -dave-

    
    Re:Greg
      The intonation isn't really that bad at all, the little bit it is
      off is very likely due to some wearing of the frets. Like I said
      it is possible I waited to long in the past to have it refretted.
    
      -dave-

    Greg,
    
    
    	Maybe the intonation is corect as in the frets are all placed
    correctly and the bridge is properly adjusted,.. but,.. as you alluded
    to,.. because the fingerboard is so worn that when the string is fully
    pressed to the fingerbaord (as most everybody who plays does...right?)
    then the string goes sharp...???
    
    	Anyway,.. I wore completely through the fingerboard in a couple
    of spots on my old classical guitar,.. nylon strings so the frets are
    still like new,.... but the fingerboard is shot. If you don't clip
    your nails,.. you can do some serious fingerboard damage in a hurry...
    
    							/Catocaster
    

    	Boy, I miss early morning access to ONE days notes, and MISS the
    opportunity to show off some Rickenbacker expertise...you guys all
    beat me to it!
    	In answer to the original posters question, there are SOME
    Rick basses which are not generally worth owning for $350 used, the
    "Hamburg" model (2030) and the "El Dorado model (2050). I've never
    actually had one in my hands, so I can't comment on anything about
    their playability...These are the newer, very plain (no pickguard) sort
    of strat shaped basses...their list price suggests that they would go
    for around $300 used...
    	The 4001/4003 basses however are a GREAT deal at under $400 used, if
    there are no neck problems or other problems with them.
    	 A general rule of thumb that I use is "what are these things
    average used price"...I usually see 4001's and 4003's in mint shape
    advertised (at music stores and private sales) for between $475-$550
    and probably getting bought for closer to the low end...
    	Right now the demand is much lower than it has been in the
    past...your price of $350 would be a good deal to pick up...a couple
    good videos on MTV etc could send that price up again ;^)
    	Hey, it happened with Gretsch's for a while...before George
    Harrison's album "Cloud Nine" and The Travelling Wilbury's came out,
    you couldn't GIVE them away, a couple interesting album covers, then
    they shot some video, and voila...prices...went SKY HIGH...Right NOW,
    (again) you can't give 'em away again...How many Rick basses do you SEE
    on eMpTy Vee being played at the moment... If you start seeing some of
    the popular bands playing more and more Ricks, the prices will soar again...
    	Tom T.

    Yeah, TomT knows from whence he speaks.  I've been told by more than
    one vintage dealer that they watch the trends on MTV to determine
    what's going to be hot and where to invest.  Sad, ain't it
    
    /rick

       Thanks Tom, I was hoping to tap your expertise on this.
          This sounds like good news, the bass in question is supposed
    to be a 1970's model so that might preclude the "undesirable" models.
          If it's still available, and in as good condition as it seemed,
    I'm going to snatch it up. I'm getting the feeling it's a 4001.
          I'll let you all know next monday. :')
    
                                         Dana

    re: MTV
    
    Hey, if we spent our time watching MTV, we wouldn't have to read some 
    stupid notesfile, right?
    
    Dave

    
    Well, I'm sorry to report that I seem to have (once again) missed
    the "window of opportunity" on the Rick bass........maybe....there's
    always next week.
        I find it kind-of amusing that this week I run into a Rickenbacker
    amp! I didn't know they made amps too.
        If only the universe would get it's $h!t together, all at one
    time!

    Hi.  Good news.  I have a '69 4001 Stereo Bass.  It is in good shape,
    but not mint.  I haven't played it in years (currently using a Fender
    Precision).  I considered selling it but never got a Round Tuit. o
    In fact, a friend of mine has it on loan (for home recordings).  He's
    got two kids so it probably hasn't seen the light of day in 3 years.
    
    It's deep cherry red with ivory inlay along the body.
    
    The point is, if anyone is interested, let me know.  I will be leaving
    DEC on Wed  8/26 (back to school - no excuse for having 2 basses).
    
    Thus, vaxmail is good for a few days.  
    
    LANDO::HUTCHINSON
    
    After Sep 1, call at 617 738-7206  (Brighton, MA).
    
    Regards,
    
    David

    
    Help me out here....Rickenbacker cautioned against the use
    of roundwounds on 4001 basses due to neck damage. Was this
    due to roundwounds chewing frets or the fact that they need
    a higher tension? Assuming the latter, if one had a 4001 and
    wanted to get away from flatwounds....would there be any better
    brand or gauge of roundwounds that would be less damaging?
    
    I've got a 4001 that came with trashed-out roundwounds on it,
    so it ain't like the bass is a stranger to them. The neck ain't
    too bad, but I did stick flats on it based on what I'd read
    here. I'd have to say that I don't enjoy the bass anywhere near
    as much since then, in both sound and feel. Hell, Sam even set
    it up for me, so its about as right as its gonna get :-). So,
    any way to beat the reaper?
    
    DAP
    

    Don't know the answer to your question, but you might give
    Bill Ogle (sp?) at Rickenbacker a call. He's their public relations
    guy and could probably tell you off the top of his head. Rickenbackers
    telephone number is in here somewhere under one of the Rickenbacker
    topics.
    
    jim

    
    re .19
    
    Actually, my scheme was to seek knowledge in both directions...
    I figgered that calling Rick would just get me the "party
    line", ie no roundwounds....(being CSC, I spout the party line
    on a regular basis, so I know how *that* goes :-).....I figgered
    that practical experience would come from here. Anyway, I
    did call Rickenbacker...I did indeed get the party line, but
    I also got an answer as to "why" no roundwounds. The person
    I talked to said string tension on the neck, as I suspected.
    
    When I asked if there were any workarounds, he told me that 
    lite gauge roundwounds should be OK; he first wanted
    to know what year my bass was ('75). He said that the biggest
    thing to avoid was using "compressed" roundwounds. He then
    gave me some part numbers for lite gauge roundwounds that they
    sell:
    
    #95566  45 - 56 - 77 - 98        
                                  *price $35/set
    #95577  46 - 62 - 77 - 98
    
    So, as soon as I can justify throwing away $25 worth of Brite
    Flats, I'm gonna try some lite gauges :-).
    
    DAP
    

   I guess I still don't understand how a roundwound string can have a
   difference in tension than a flatwound or half-round of the same length and
   diameter.  More windings on the roundwound?

   Never was much for physics...   :-)

   -- Sam

     I'd suggest using a light gauge *nickel* roundwound set on the 
     4001. Nickel strings have the lowest tension of roundwound strings. 
     
     The D'Addario XL .040-.095 set has about the lowest tension of all 
     the roundwound strings I've tried. They sounded great on my 4001. 
     
     I would avoid steel roundwound strings like RotoSound, since they have 
     pretty high string tension. 
     
     Re: string tension 
     
     I'm confused. I thought that flatwound strings had the highest
     tension, followed by halfround, with roundwound having the lowest
    tension of the 3 types. 
     
     Anyone know the real story? 
     
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
     
     
    

     re: .-1 
     
     I forgot to mention that nickel strings are also much easier on the 
     frets than steel strings. This is an important consideration for 
     instruments that are expensive to re-fret, like the 4001. 
     
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
    

    
    Tom,
    
    Thanx for the recomendation on light gauge strings.....especially
    since it's based on personal experience. I don't ever want to
    have to refret that thing :-). I like having the Rick around, even
    though I don't use it as much as I do my Ibanez....my ol' friend
    and bass mentor, Sam Lambert (take a bow, Sam :-) got it set up
    real nice but I went to them damn flats at the same time and
    while it plays great now, it sounds like shit. It'd be good to
    get some of that "bright" back that the Rick does so well.
    
    Regarding the fizziks of tension....I dunno; I slept through that
    part of high school :-). I do recall reading somewhere that rounds
    operate at higher tension and the guy at Rick said the same thing.
    
    DAP