New model???

[zarezare]

I found this in Italian page...
http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/ann/an ... 2-rick.htm

[beatlefreak]

In his description, he says it's a copy.

[gareth]

I found this in Italian page...
http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/ann/an ... 2-rick.htm

Even if it's a copy, it's nice looking bass. I like it when people take 4001's and refit them with some nice matched flamed veneer.

MIght be a nice limited variant for RIC one day if they can be bothered to do all that matching......

[zarezare]

In his description, he says it's a copy.

Nothing about copy in description...

[rickenbrother]

In his description, he says it's a copy.

Nothing about copy in description...

The ad basically says it's great example of a Rickenbacker that was made in 1972 with active pickups. It has a beautiful maple top and he is selling only because he needs the money.

It's definitely not from '72 even if it is a real Rick. The inlays don't look right, but it is a lousy photo. Possibly a real Rick that was customized with a flamed veneer top?

[beatlefreak]

The translation of the description I got from Babelfish is this:

"as from tito I sell it Rickenbacker 4001 of the 1972 natural with wonderful top in active maple tree and pick up Magnetics
It is a wonderful copy of Rickenbacker in optimal conditions that I sell only x need of cash
For other photos more detailed you also contact to me!"

And you're right - No way is it from 1972.

[johnallg]

With that fretboard and those knob positions, this has to be a customized lawsuit copy.

[myfretless]

It's like one of those What If comic books they used to have years ago... What if Paul Reed Smith worked at RIC?

[1965]

Yuck.

[rickenbrother]

The translation of the description I got from Babelfish is this:

"as from tito I sell it Rickenbacker 4001 of the 1972 natural with wonderful top in active maple tree and pick up Magnetics
It is a wonderful copy of Rickenbacker in optimal conditions that I sell only x need of cash
For other photos more detailed you also contact to me!"

And you're right - No way is it from 1972.

Yeah, that's Babelfish for ya!!
Esemplare", which is Italian for example, was translated to "copy' instead.

[rickenbrother]

Esemplare can also mean exemplary, maybe that's why Babelfish translates it to copy.
I think the seller carefully picked his words not to be caught in a lie.

[BlueAngel]

It also appears to have wavy Grover tuners and the correct width neck stripe. Yes, the Grovers could be refits and some copies have the right stripe too, but my guess is that it's a genuine '72 Rick that's had flame veneer added to the front, and perhaps a new fingerboard, although I've seen one or two real Rick boards that can appear this dark especially in photos.

You would also have to ask what had been done to the body before the veneers were done - it's not unlikely that this was a good way of covering other filled damage as many old instruments (not just Ricks) were routed for other pickups, preamps etc in the 1970s, but making it look 'intended' as an 'upgrade' rather than a 'repair'. The quality of the filling can still matter, and I've come across a couple of real horrors hidden by apparently high quality work - cavities filled with badly-fitted wood blocks and lots of glue, or even car body filler. Even if the infill has been done to the highest standards it might still affect the tone since there will always be the joints.

It will of course have at the least had the original pickup cavities filled, and a back rout for the control cavity made now too since the front has no pickguard.

[rickenbrother]

John, if it was a '72, the fingerboard should have the crushed MOP full width inlays.

[BlueAngel]

John, if it was a '72, the fingerboard should have the crushed MOP full width inlays.

I thought that was the transition year to the poured ones. Or is it '73?

[jps]

'73 it is.