HELP!!! I need help pricing my Ric 4003 bass!!!!

bass10bfb

Prophet Low End Provider
May 5, 2011
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Thanks for looking.... Here is the deal. I just bought a bulk load of equipment, and ine item I really dont know how to price if I decide to sell or trade it. It is a 2008 Rickenbacker 4003.... The problem is, it no longer has binding on it. A previous owner was evidently having trouble with the binding coming off, so he took it off completely. It has been contoired and sanded and has had tru oil put on it..... And in my opinion, looks fantastic!!!! It has newer Ric humbuckers in it, and has the original pups as well. Hardshell case, pup cover, maybe some other stuff. One of the original pups doesnt work.
Anyway, what say you guys?? What do you think would be a fair asking price?
It's the Ric in the ad below.

SOLD - Gear Lot: Rickenbacker 4003, Carvin B2000, Eminence CA154, etc
 
That’s a framing fallacy. What he paid for the lot has no bearing on the market value of the bass. $400 is too low.
I tend to agree with you DigitalMan.... If I decide to sell it, the bass is the only thing being sold, and what I paid for the lot does not matter, or at least shouldnt. But regardless, the bass plays and sounds killer!!! I love the way it looks and may never sell it... Just wanted to get an idea of the value ya know???
 
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I don't own a Ric, but have wanted one for about 20 years, just not badly enough to drop $1200+ on one. If the un-binding work was done relatively well, and it plays well, I think $400 would be a great bargain. I would pass on it at $1000. If it was offered at $800, I might offer $600, and settle near $700.
 
Don't forget, guys, there was a time when "s" models were the more sought after compared to standard 4000 series bases, in part due to their rarity and iconic status, but also due to the hangup that many would be Rick players have about the body binding.

Another common Rick fallacy is their reputation for "weak" pickups, which, it could be argued, this bass also solves given it's equipped with much louder humbucking pickups, namely the only humbucking pickups available which Rick purists agree "still sound like a Rick."

So, this bass solves some Rick "problems" without sacrificing iconic design elements such as the shark tooth inlay and Rick-o-sound output which are absent from stock 4001s, 4003s, and 4004 basses (which also solve them).

Note that I neither agree with nor endorse the above mentioned fallacies, simply pointing out that they exist. Which is to say, with proper salesmanship, I wouldn't be surprised if this bass could be sold for $1000 to the right buyer.
 
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I would ask $1000 and be willing to take $800. The refin and lack of working original pickups are working against it. I agree it looks great.

OP: I'm with DigitalMan on this. Ask $1k and take $800. IMO, that should be a win/win (for you and for the buyer). That Ric is kinda like having a 4003S but with triangular inlays instead of dots. Very cool! The finish on that bass is not as nice as a factory 4003S, which is why I think expecting to net around $800 is reasonable. Even if you settled for $700, it would still be a reasonable transaction.

For what it's worth, here's a pic of my 2016 Ric 4003S for comparison:

Ric 4003S.JPG
 
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