What is this bass worth?

[squirebass]

Pease hep me, people, I need hep coming up with a price for this Feb 1971 Rick 4001 with 21 frets. It had the fingerboard popped off it once upon a time, and a large portion of the back of neck was oversprayed to cover the fix up. The neck is absolutely solid, and all of the basses I've come across from this era have some issues. I had wanted to hand this one off one day to the Rickenbacker Custom Shop (Paul W.) so he could do his magic, but I've got to cull the herd a bit and this one is the one everybody wants to talk about. Sergio, Lefty, Wints, and all the others I have forgotten your names, I need your help and expert opinions! Thanks and Happy Holidays everybody!

[squirebass]

And a few more pics, I will have some from "under the hood" posted this evening....
Oh, and the cat is not included, although he loves Ricks!!!

[leftybass]

Gene: Well, obviously you've got a bass here that many will be after, even with the work that has been done to it. I have a question about the pinkish hue on the top and bottom of the peghead....is this due to the work done on the bass previously, and has the entire back of the bass been oversprayed?

Maybe/maybe not, it's just hard to tell from the pics.

IMO the TRC is off of a V-Series guitar, it is smaller than a bass TRC by a little bit.

From what I can see the hardware looks like it's all there(no p/up cover though), and if it plays/sounds good it can certainly be made BG or a solid color, if one would wish to go the route of a period-correct resto.

What's it worth???? Let's see what some of the others say...I'll start by saying, 'a good bit....'

[dswp]

O.K.

Since you asked, I will not be shy...

For what I see here.........$7,000.00 I say

[rickaddict]

Didn't Elys just buy a dead mint 21 fretter a few months ago for $7100 or 7200?

I'll take the dead mint one for the extra hundred bux, Dave!

No offense, Gene. Its a rare and valuable bass and I like it. Hard to put a value on it since we see so few of them.

[leftyguitars]

TRC is off a 12 string.

It's hard to put a 'true' value on it. Bang it on ebay with a really high reserve (that is if you don't want to sell it) and see where the dust settles.

[teeder]

I'll give you $1.98, Gene!

[doctorwho]

I'll give you $1.98, Gene!

I'm sure Gene would sell it to you for that ... but shipping will be $6998.12!

On topic, instruments such as this with minor fixes and changes are problematic as to pricing ... how much do those 'flaws' knock down the price? Of course, supply and demand can overcome any 'shortcomings' when it comes to establishing a price.

[leftyguitars]

'supply and demand can overcome any 'shortcomings' when it comes to establishing a price.'

Agreed 100% (1,000% where lefties are concerned).

[wints]

Gene,

There was a BG '71 that went for over $5,000 recently and that had some seperation at the wings. Your bass has the extra fret, and the cosmetic issues could be handled by Dale or Paul easily enough while retaining the original FG finish, which does look very nicely aged.

I don't know if you have to sell before Christmas, but if you could hold off a couple of months that would help in the final price possibly.

I'll go with a minimum of $5,000. Ebay is still fetching big $$$ and that would be an option if no one comes up with a strong offer.

Good luck man, and happy holidays.

[rickcrazy]

Hey Gene. Too bad you're letting that babe go, indeed. Five grand? Six grand? I don't know. Not to be a wet-blanket here, but I think the wrong TRC, the overspray on the back of the neck, the missing (?) handrest, and the period-inaccurate tuners are minuses. Maybe someone will be able to dig up a model-accurate TRC, a short handrest, and a set of 1st version Grovers and send them your way?...

[wints]

Are the tuners the original straight Grovers, or is it that one looks slightly bent, giving it that "wavy" look?

I tend to think they are original.

[squirebass]

Yes sir, those are original wavy Grovers, and here are some pics inside...

[squirebass]

I believe the TRC is the original one, although the reissues were a pretty good copy, this one looks alot like the old, flat Rickenbacker TRCs... And more pics...

[squirebass]

Some pics of the Truss rods, and headstock...

I have a bunch more pics of the pickups and other detail shots but I don't want to go hog wild....