How old is my bass?

a1x · Post by **a1x** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:24 pm

i recently bought what the rick website identified as a 1982 4001. as i got to looking at this forum, i ran into some discrepencies.
first of all, it has the .0047 cap, wich i thought was gone by '82. it also has closed back tuners that really look stock (no filled/open holes).
is the serial number identification frequently innacurate? if so, is there a surefire way of narrowing it down?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:37 pm

Closed back tuners? Grovers. Totally stock even in 1982. As for the treble-pass capacitor on a 1982 4001, totally stock as well.
From 1996 to 2001 I owned a 2nd hand September 1982 Fireglo 4001. It had Grover tuners and the treble-pass capacitor. Plus it was heavier than you would expect and the neck on it was noticeably fatter than usual. It was one tone monster! I still regularly call the guy I sold it to in 2001 hoping he will finally sell it back to me. No luck so far...

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:39 pm

Alex, Rickenbacker's serial numbering system is very accurate. Look at the input jack plate and you will find two letters there along with 3 or 4 numbers. If your bass was made in 82 the first letter should be the letter "V". The second letter will be;
A = January
B = February
C = March
D = April
E = May,
F = June,
G = July,
H = August
I/J = September
J/K = October
K/L = November
L/M = December
If your bass is a 4001, it will have the .0047 cap in it. The cap was replaced with a shunt on the 4003 models around 87. All 4001 stereo models had the extra cap factory installed.
As for the tuners, it's possible that you could have Grover closed back tuners on your bass that were factory installed.
Post a picture or two of your bass we would love to see it.
If you can't post a picture, then email it to Peter and he will post if for you.
Cheers,

a1x · Post by **a1x** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:55 pm

sergio,
you described my bass to a t!
it's extremely heavy with a huge neck. it's a tobacco burst(montezuma?) and was apparently made in august of '82.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 2:25 pm

Closed back tuners also describes Schaller M4 tuners. My '73 4001 is very heavy also.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 2:41 pm

My 73 has a fairly heavy body and an almost weightless neck. Just goes to show how these basses vary