Interesting RIC on eBay

[garyhead]

This eBay posting came in my feed today and I was wondering what you all think about it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266037012152?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=98805e5a982a4cf8903add199c3e489e&bu=43199323312&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20221212013804&segname=11021
Technically, It Is a RIC.  heavily modified to recreate the two prototype 8-Strings sent to Entwhistle & Squire. It looks like a well done mod.  The price is about what a used 8-string RIC goes for.
We all are pretty "eagle-eyed" when it comes to questionable Alembic sightings, what say y'all?

[gearhed289]

I've been Facebook friends with the guy who builds these as "Famous Guitar Replicas" for probably over 10 years. He does some really nice work. His finishes look great. He's reproduced all kinds of stuff, from MMT Ric basses, to Chris Squire Mouradian replicas, "Fool" SGs, "Rocky" Strats, etc.

His 8 string Ric prototype copies look great, though I'm not really a fan of the potato headstock.

[gtrguy]

Looks nice (except for the headstock but that's just me). I always thought you could pretty much get that 8 string sound with a stomp box, so I never considered something like this. I also think the 4001 and the 4003 are two very different critters, but I see why it's posted that way.

[hieronymous]

I just saw the current owner post that for sale at TalkBass! He only posted the body, so I was wondering if it was some obscure early 4008 but when I saw the actual ad, realized it was a recent recreation. To me the checkerboard binding is a little over the top but oh well. Glad it has the extra 2 screws in the tailpiece!

Kind of surprised they never clarify if it's mono or Ric-O-Sound. And how did they get that binding on a body that was originally an unbound S?!!! The mind boggles. I'm glad I have an 8-string Ric already. I love 8-strings, an 8-string Alembic is one of my dream basses.

[gearhed289]

how did they get that binding on a body that was originally an unbound S?!!! The mind boggles.

Chris often makes entirely new body wings for his creations.

[gtrguy]

Looks like the front toaster pickup was also moved closer to the neck. If so, That's cool. I like the deeper sound of the 1974 on back Ric's. This thing must have been a ton of work to make.