The 4000

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Mon May 05, 2003 2:18 am

I have always found the single pickup 4000 model interesting, and managed to find one to try out in a london store last year. (i didnt find out the price)

From what i hear they are quite hard to come by.

If i waited for one on ebay, would it demand a high price due to being somewhat rarer than a 4001 of the same period, or could i get one cheaper due to the fact that they have less features?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon May 05, 2003 3:18 am

Good question, Owen.
Well, I think I would pick this 4000 right up, unless the asking price therefor was way too unrealistic.
Wait for one to crop up on Ebay? Hmm... As I seize it, there's always some risk (= watch out for fakes), however small, in buying a 4000 from Ebay. It's your decision, Owen. Anyone?

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Mon May 05, 2003 4:22 am

If Geddy Lee is having a hard time finding one, you know they are in short supply. (the GC website has an interview in which the G-man expresses his obsession with 4000's. )

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Mon May 05, 2003 8:45 pm

Owen, Ive had my 4000 for 20 years now and I still use it at gigs, a lot, in fact I use it more than my 4003jg. Mine is serial# HD734 (April '68) and is mapleglo (or natural if you go by the listing in the Richard Smith book). The guy I bought it from had replaced the original horseshoe with a Schecter active p-style pup. He had routed an extra hole for the battery to reside. I replaced the pup with a vintage horseshoe and the pup surround just covers the hole. About the one you tried out, did it have a neck-through or did it have a set neck ? It was discussed here awhile back about those necks. The neck-throughs were replaced by the set-necks around 1972. I think by having no binding on the body or neck gives the neck a slimmer feel to it and the top groove of the body is rounded, not flat like a 4001 or 4003. I still have to complete my business with Don and get my old pickgaurd sent to him so he can make me a new one. I talked to him last year about doing it, I just never got around to sending him the template.The original has extra holes in for the switches the guy put in for the active pickup. But hey, if you get a chance to get one I highly recommend them, they're great fun to play. I did see one on Ebay awhile back that looked just like mine that sold for $1,600 and it had the cresting wave sawn off the headstock. Good luck. Randy.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:21 am

I just picked up a modified '73 4000 off ebay for $475. After a refin and a new pickguard it should
turn out quite nice.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:40 am

Such a deal, Kendall.
Is this 4000 the Azureglo one with the home-made brown (yuck!) pickguard?

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:12 pm

Way to go,Kendall.
Rickenbackers seem to have a good survival rate when rescued from the Frankensteins of the world. I recommend a vintage horseshoe, the tone is amazing. When I replaced the p-style pup with the vintage, the first pluck of the string let me know I did the right thing. Even with flat wounds and only one pickup this thing has that Rick tone through and through.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed May 07, 2003 12:05 am

Sergio,
That would be the one, the photos really didn't do it justice, the refin must have looked really good back when it was done, but the wood part I don't understand. It's going back white with white plastic and a horseshoe.

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Sun May 11, 2003 7:57 pm

This looks to be a pretty nice '76 that appeared on the bay just now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2530487040&category=4713

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sun May 11, 2003 10:36 pm

you beat me to it! I just noticed that,.....thats what i call a Rick bass!!

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 12, 2003 1:16 am

A beautiful March 1976 Model 4000.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Mon May 12, 2003 2:21 am

Gorgeous!

Is this is a set neck?

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 12, 2003 2:38 am

John: Set neck construction on the Model 4000 Rickenbacker bass was introduced in the mid 1970s. This bass would appear to be a set neck based on the photo on eBay showing the back of the bass. It will be very interesting to see what this bass sells for.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Mon May 12, 2003 5:25 am

Thanks Pete.

It is beautiful!

Autumnglo?

luvmy4001 · Post by **luvmy4001** » Tue May 13, 2003 8:42 pm

Here is a pic of my recently acquired '75 4000 MG. Someone, before I got it, installed a badass bridge. It has a set neck, and there is not route behind the pickguard, just a set neck. I always thought possibly there was a route there, for a pickup, for the "4001s" upgrade.