1960 MODEL 4000 W/ DELUXE FEATURES ???

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Greetings, all ! For my very first post on this wonderous site, ( Yes...I've been watching you all ! lol. ) I would like to pose this question to the membership . On page 102 of Richard Smith's Rickenbacker book , on the bottom right, there is a pic of a 1960 model 4000 with deluxe features. Where is this bass, how many of these were made with the current newer style body but old style pick guard layout and triangle markers, and was 1960 the first year of this re-style , as the pic above also shows a '60 4000 with the old style body and jack on the side of the body. Many thanx, Bad Ronbo.

[admin]

Ron: Here is the timeline for the Model 4000 as prepared by David Axt quite some time ago.

This bass is the first bass model that Rickenbacker produced.
Original Features: Single pickup, chrome 1 volume and 1 tone control, mono output, unbound body, dot inlay, clear plastic pickguard with gold back painting, cresting wave headstock, unbound rosewood fingerboard, 8 dot inlays, clear plastic finger rest, Schaller BM nickel machine heads. Originally available only in Mapleglo and older style Fireglo (2 tone brown sunburst) finishes.
1957 - Prototype sent for photographing in April
1957 - Introduced in June
1957 - (Late) movable bridge with string mute
???? - Chrome plated knobs replace black "flying saucer" knobs
1958 - Walnut neck replaced mahogany neck
1958 - White pickguard became optionally available
1959 - Neck width narrowed
1960 - Maple and walnut neck replaced walnut (or mahogany) neck
1960 - "Fireglo" (red sunburst) finish became optionally available
1961 - Body became slighter, slimmer and more contoured
1963 - Bridge/tailpiece with under string mutes replaced bridge with sliding mute.
1963 - Jetglo and Autumglo finishes became optionally available
1963 - White pickguard replaced gold pickguard
1963 - Black bakelite knobs replaced chrome knobs
1969 - High gain pickup and cover replaced horseshoe bridge pickup
1969 - Headstock shortened
(mid 70's) - Set neck design replaced neck-thru design
1971 - Grover sealed back machine heads replaced Schaller open back nickel machine heads
1974 - Gap in center raised lip of bridge eliminated
1974 - Gap in center raised lip of bridge eliminated
1974 - Pickguard shortened 1/2 inch
1975 - Cast chrome plated zinc bridge/tailpiece replaces chrome plated cast aluminum bridge/tailpiece.
1975 - Schaller BMC chrome open back machine heads replaced Grover sealed back machine heads
1984 - Model 4000 removed from price sheets
1987(1985?) - Discontinued

[leftybass]

I'll try:

That particular bass was IMO the first 4000 made with the thin body and is a real beauty. Some 4000s continued to be made with the older-style thick body but by 1962 most 4000 basses made were looking like this...

I love this bass

It could be that the deluxe 4000 made for the trade shows in late 1960 ended up as one of the first 4001 basses, but I can't prove that yet...just a hunch.

[admin]

Thanks John. Your comments and photo fits in quite well with the timeline data offered by David Axt. It is a fantastic looking bass.

[woodyng]

That is, indeed, a fantastic looking bass. I want a new one one just like it! (hint hint, j.h!)

[jdogric12]

Welcome BRKD!