1957 Rickenbacker Bass- SF Bay Area Craigslist

wints · Post by **wints** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:44 am

Here's a photo...

You can make out the original four holes that were filled in, and the AI and 61 9 in the horseshoe cavity.

The numbers/letters could possibly be reference to the refinish date, but that early jackplate was allowed to stay.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:39 am

I'll go way out on a limb...

Could it be possible that a bass with the number B7100 had an issue, such as a neck twist, or some other problem that rendered it unplayable, and was sent back to Electro-String, only to be re-born with a later body/neck...?

This bass seems to exhibit features from both very early and 1960-61 4000, and the maple neck does seem way too late to call it a '57.....

AI would translate to Sept. 1961, 61, the ninth month....interesting.

This bass from what I can see didn't have a sliding-mute cover over the bridge...YMMV..

wints · Post by **wints** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:43 pm

John,

Could well be...

What you can't see is the back of neck, where at the very end, there actually is still the rout/recess where the original 4 holes were. Possibly a new piece of wood was grafted on there, but the neck is actually two levels, not a flush finish!

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:13 pm

Hey!

Sept. 1961....that's my birthday too!

Hope she held up better than I did!

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:21 pm

More clues point to '61 than to any other year. That's what I vote for. Of course, I voted for Al Gore, and look what I got!

lyle_from_minneapolis · Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:29 am

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:01 pm

Most probably there is '61 in the mix there somewhere, but the very early features can't be discounted.

It's a true hybrid in all respects.

terry_h · Post by **terry_h** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:50 pm

Andy,good news, yesterday I found the original pick-guard, buried in a box in my garage, could be the other missing parts are out there some where,doubtful,but??? Talkin' 'bout 20 years of **** to go through.

Dale thanx for the offer to help w/ my missing parts. Could I e-mail you about this?

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:08 pm

Yes please do: [email protected]

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:47 pm

Terry,

That's great news. Dale could make you a perfect copy, but if you have the original, it's even better.

Hopefully, the bridge is there too...

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:42 am

Finding old parts is goooood.....

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:21 am

Terry,,,the bridge should look like one from a 4005 with a base plate from a 800 combo guitar..Finding old parts is very good and will up the value of your Bass.