NBD - Just in from Japan - Greco Rickenfacker bass from 1974

Neilybob

Purchased via Buyee directly from Japan we have a Greco Rickenfacker RB-650 bass from 1974. 

It does need a bit of work (I know a guy) but I got it for half the price that they are on Evilbay. 

It needs a new bridge (the one on it is broken), neck pickup cover and trust rod cover.  In amazing condition considering it's 51 years old. 

Anyone else have a Rickenfacker? 

Funkfingers

If you are not fussed about vintage originality, consider a replacement bridge by Hipshot or Babicz. These are not cheap but they do not curl up and die like the original design.

PeteBo

Nice one.! I've had a few in the past, a couple of the Hondo ones and an Aria version, I've had a couple of real 4001s long ago too, I'd love to get another but unfortunately even the fakers go for silly money nowadays 

OilCityPickups

That has the potential to be really nice :-) 

prowla

Yep - I've had one or two fakers in my time, though not one of these.

That's a 1st gen Greco, made at the Fujigen factory; they were also sold branded as Ibanez.

I've got an Allparts bridge, which is a drop-in replacement, available.

I'll ping you in the fakers group.

GoFish

Love the inlays and the rest too of course.

How's the bridge p/u sounding?

prowla

GoFish said:

Love the inlays and the rest too of course.

How's the bridge p/u sounding?

I reckon it'll be needing a bridge and strings before that question can be answered. :-)

Adey

That looks nice.

There was an old Shaftesbury one on eBay recently, but the fretboard looked like it was coming away and not worth £600 because of it.

If not a rude question, how much did you pay?

GoFish

prowla said:

GoFish said:

Love the inlays and the rest too of course.

How's the bridge p/u sounding?

I reckon it'll be needing a bridge and strings before that question can be answered. :-)

No sound when tapped? That's a great start

OilCityPickups

An interesting point: those bobbins are pretty much universal in early(ish) Japanese pickups. Two of them can be found in some Maxon 6 string humbuckers ... and single ones hidden in Columbus etc 'single coils masquerading as Gibson size humbuckers'. 

ICBM

OilCityPickups said:

An interesting point: those bobbins are pretty much universal in early(ish) Japanese pickups. Two of them can be found in some Maxon 6 string humbuckers ... and single ones hidden in Columbus etc 'single coils masquerading as Gibson size humbuckers'. 

Which is presumably why making one pickup out of two of those works quite well.

This one looks more like an early Thunderbird pickup, but presumably quite different inside.

Musicman20

It looks awesome!

OilCityPickups

ICBM said:

OilCityPickups said:

An interesting point: those bobbins are pretty much universal in early(ish) Japanese pickups. Two of them can be found in some Maxon 6 string humbuckers ... and single ones hidden in Columbus etc 'single coils masquerading as Gibson size humbuckers'. 

Which is presumably why making one pickup out of two of those works quite well.

This one looks more like an early Thunderbird pickup, but presumably quite different inside.

Actually more like a bass 'gold foil' inside 

Neilybob

Following a visit to see @prowla ; last night it now has a new Allparts bridge fitted. Thank you Paul. 

Will plug it in (baby) and give the pickups a tap to see if they are alive.  The switch doesn't click anymore so I suspect that will need replacing also.  

Choivert

That looks ace - love the binding. Bet it will be lovely once all fettled.

Neilybob

Pickups confirmed to be working after tapping them with a screwdriver and using my DigiTech Trio+ via headphones though the switch is very iffy because it doesn't click and it takes a few attempts to engage the bridge pickup. 

prowla

Neilybob said:

Pickups confirmed to be working after tapping them with a screwdriver and using my DigiTech Trio+ via headphones though the switch is very iffy because it doesn't click and it takes a few attempts to engage the bridge pickup. 

That’s a result re. the pickups. 

The switch will have to go through. 

Did you manage to get the pickguard off?

Neilybob

prowla said:

Neilybob said:

Pickups confirmed to be working after tapping them with a screwdriver and using my DigiTech Trio+ via headphones though the switch is very iffy because it doesn't click and it takes a few attempts to engage the bridge pickup. 

Did you manage to get the pickguard off?

That's the next job on my list. Will have a look tonight. 

ICBM

The switch is probably one of the 1970s Japanese box type - it’s possible to take them apart and fix them, but they’re never really that good - it’s best just to fit a proper Switchcraft right-angle type like an original Rick. (Or one of the cheaper versions of one - maybe more appropriate to the bass.)

Neilybob

ICBM said:

The switch is probably one of the 1970s Japanese box type - it’s possible to take them apart and fix them, but they’re never really that good - it’s best just to fit a proper Switchcraft right-angle type like an original Rick. (Or one of the cheaper versions of one - maybe more appropriate to the bass.)

Thanks ICBM. Will be definitely replacing it with a better quality one that's in Keeping the Rick theme. 

Neilybob

I managed to remove 7 of the 8 pickguard screws but the last one won't budge.  Will have to entice it with a soldering iron another time. Typically the one that won't budge is at the bottom in the last photo, next to the volume pot.