Missing link: '62 4000

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:30 am

Oh my! Paul DiCamillo, a lurking Forumite, has sent me a nice shot of what can be considered the "Lucy" in the evolution of the Rickenbacker bass. This is a 1962 Fireglo 4000. What's so special? Well it combines traits of the early 4000 -- old-style pickguard, sliding mute, and unslotted tuning pegs -- with the "new" style body with the enlarged top horn. I believe the top horn was enlarged for balance purposes, and must have occurred in 1960 or 61 -- the year of the 4001 debut. This is the first I've seen with these transitional features. Also note the interesting shape of the pickup surround. Thanks for the great photo, Paul!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:33 am

Lap steel Pup maybe?

Nice bass!

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:33 am

Very, very cool!

That pickguard is a true 60's Ric piece!

Tell Paul to decloak and join the fun properly!

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:35 am

now THAT is a rare bass. Paul, you are very lucky to own that one.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:41 am

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:59 am

That is gorgeous, and in incredible condition, too!

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:09 am

Amazing outstanding bass. Loveliest early 4000 I've seen.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:02 am

I sure would love having that baby sing just for me...

lars · Post by **lars** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:03 am

Can't say the designers got the pick guard shape right at first attempt... (Ugly, if you ask me...)

brycycle · Post by **brycycle** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:11 am

"Can't say the designers got the pick guard shape right at first attempt... (Ugly, if you ask me...)"

i wouldn't kick it out of that bed...

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:51 am

Very interesting. What a great bass!

New body shape with old-style tailpiece and bridge as Paul pointed out. Similar silhouette to the bound/deluxe 1960-61 4000 seen at the trade shows, and the 4001 in the Rittor book labeled as a '63, but it sure looks earlier than than that; IMO it was made in '62. This 4000 is a beauty for sure...

I've seen horseshoe p/ups like the lapsteel type on much later basses than this but they were probably replacements for sure. This one is probably the real deal....

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:03 am

My goodness! Made just a year before mine, wow, what a beauty!!!

ricosound · Post by **ricosound** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:15 am

Where's Ted these days?

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:41 am

Talked with Ted last night, he's still really busy. His youth baseball team is going into playoffs, so at least he's enjoying things. Ted got pretty discouraged when he lost out on his chance to get a DCM bass from CME, and he just hasn't thought much about musical instruments for a while, but I may have got him interested in a project, so we'll see.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:50 am

Here are a few more shots of the '62 Fireglo 4000. It is a June '62 with BF stamped into the bridge. The back is in near mint shape!