A few questions regarding 60's Ricks...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:36 am

a) Did Rick basses have any "deluxe" features prior to 1968, or were they all simply "S" basses (Like Macca's)?

b) Come to think of it, I don't think i've ever seen a 4001 for sale, on eBay or otherwise, that predated 1968. Were they being produced in extremely limited numbers or something?

c) This is regarding Chris Squire's bass - did it actually come in that cream color, or is it simply a faded white?

marty · Post by **marty** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:00 am

A)I believe that the deluxe features were in existence prior to 1968...not too sure of the year though.

B)There was a 1964 4001 on ebay a couple of weeks ago..an RM1999 in fact...basically this is the version of the 4001 that was exported to the UK and distributed by Rose Morris.
It sold for an incredibly low price...$400-$500 I think it was....the seller obviously didn't know what he had hold of!

C)Chris Sqire's was originally Fireglo...an RM1999 in fact.
Afer years of sticking stickers onto it and dropping it all over the place...apparantly!..he got it refinished in the cream colour.

wints · Post by **wints** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:12 am

Here's a 64 deluxe John.

They are in very limited numbers.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:24 am

P.102 in the Smith book has a pic of a 1960 Model 4000 in Fireglo with Deluxe features (binding and triangle inlays).

Martin: I think that in question (b) John meant non-S 4001.

According to the Smith book, 143 Model 4001 basses were made until 1968 (the first one in 1961), and only four 4001S's, all of them in Fireglo. I guess that all the other unbound Rics in those years were RM1999's.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:26 am

Early to mid-60's 4001 basses are pretty rare, at least there haven't been many that have seen the light of day in the collecting world.

There are one or two 1963 deluxe 4001's owned by Forum members, and the oldest I know of personally could date to 1962, if I had more information about it.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:35 am

Thanks a lot guys! When I think "mid-60's Rick", images of Macca, Squire and Entwistle immediatley come to mind, who I believe all used 4001S, or RM1999's, which is why I was unsure about the early deluxe features.

With this knowledge now, why is it that forum members are always clamoring for a "4001v68" to be made? What features actually changed when 1968 rolled around?

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:48 am

John,you are correct Mecca,Squire and Entwistle... used s models,Mecca's a different story he got his bass from Mr Hall[Ric. CEO at the time]all others got there basses in the UK so they were RM1999s.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:51 am

Pretty much all of the 4001 basses exported to England in the 60's had no binding or triangle inlays ... and I always thought that a rm1999 was just another name for a 4001s ... so in the 60's the 4001 deluxe models were primarily if not exclusively sold in the USA ...

1968 was the last year of the horseshoe pickup and the first year of the smaller pickup surround ... people clamour for the v68 because I posted pics of my old '68 ... everybody wants one of these ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/68-ric-2.htm

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:54 am

That's Macca, not Mecca...although an awful lot of people seem to be bowing towards him five times a day, so the confusion is understandable...

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:05 am

Rickenbacker,chose to send the 4001s as an export and keep the 4001 deluxe as a domestic model,Why who knows,maybe pricing,the exchange rate at the time.The 4001s being a stripped down deluxe was a little cheaper.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:08 am

"people clamour for the v68 because I posted pics of my old '68 ... everybody wants one of these"

Yes! exactly like Jeff's! only without that carpet.

BTW, again according to the Smith book, 151 RM1999's were produced until 1968.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:10 am

Jeff, I certainly wouldn't mind having a new Rick that was just like your '68. That may be the nicest one i've ever seen!

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:12 am

I've always heard the 4001S was shipped to the UK because R/M wanted a more traditional-looking instrument, hence the f-holes on the hollow guitars.

"people clamour for the v68 because I posted pics of my old '68"
Who knew that was why?

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:42 am

Maybe Ronn,I don't know ,I don't go by the Smith book i don't think it to be very accurate,especially production #s and models shipped.JH, has even said Smith did not have access to half of the invoices.In other words until JH,decides to go through all those invoices,we will never know what went where and how many.And why??

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:51 pm

"Rickenbacker,chose to send the 4001s as an export and keep the 4001 deluxe as a domestic model,Why who knows"

I believe the Brits requested the plainer S model.