Original 4001S?

beatlejon · Post by **beatlejon** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:44 am

Hey guys...
This is my dads left-handed Rickenbacker bass. He bought it in the 1970's and still plays it today. He said it's the best bass he has ever owned..anyway... the bass was sold to him as a 4001S. We really dont know the truth about this bass. My dad keeps saying.."it's probably one of those cheap copies" but, I know it's not. He says this because he thought all Rickenbackers had "through the body" neck design....this bass has the "set in" neck. The numbers on the jack read... QA 383 Any info on this bass would be great.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Jason7/4001S1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Jason7/4001S4.jpg
Thanks,
Jon N.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:50 am

That dates it at Jan. '77. A 4001S would be a set neck at that time. Looks real to me.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:09 pm

Looks just like my '82 4001SMGLH, even strung backwards like mine.

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:13 pm

I recently acquired a 1982 set neck in azureglo. I too, had my doubts but it is real and real fine, as well.

beatlejon · Post by **beatlejon** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:14 pm

Ha! Funny you noticed the backward string pattern. Yep, my dad is left-handed but learned to play on a right handed bass so, he had to flip'em.
Jon N.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:37 pm

I too believe it's a real Rickenbacker, although I'm curious if it may have been a Fireglo bass to begin with, and the neck p/up and knobs have probably been replaced at some point....

beatlejon · Post by **beatlejon** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:11 pm

The knobs have been replaced. The color and pickup(s)are original.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:18 pm

I wonder if the "wings" of the headstock were stained or replaced with walnut or some other wood? Typically, basses of that era did not have contrasting head wings.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:57 pm

For that year; No Toaster or Skunk Stripe with Walnut wings. I don't know the history of your fathers Bass, but in the pix it looks as though there is still some Fireglo on the front lower body wing.. Possibly a 4000 single pickup that had the neck routed for the toaster and new pickguard with dual controls....

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:06 pm

Whatever it is, that thing is cool!!!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:19 pm

That pickguard isn't original, either.

beatlejon · Post by **beatlejon** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:25 pm

No, it's not fireglow. That is dirt/wear his arm rest's...it's also up and down the back of the neck where the finish is wore off. He said he did stain the headstock "wings" a long time ago. So, it is most likely the original pick-up and not firglow. Yeah, he said the pickguard was cracked so, he made a new one. We just didn't know if this bass was a 4003S, "B" series,..etc... He just wanted to know if this was an actual 4001S because that is what it was sold to him as.
Thanks for the info.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:38 pm

It is a 4001S because there is no body binding and the neck is set.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:44 pm

Oh my god, that's exactly the bass I am searching for, except it's left-handed! I've been looking for a MG 4001S that I would then give walnut wings to have that cool 3-stripe look on the headstock. Whatever the bass originally was, it's awesome now!

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:25 pm

Of course it's real. A copy wouldn't have the headstock upside-down.