Rickenbacker 4004 LK

[bb5000]

Sorry if this has been covered before....
Still pretty green here and couldn't really find much on the subject.
I was wondering if anyone knew where the idea behind the ornamentation/carvings came from
on the Lemmy sig. bass? Did he request it ? Was it a nod to the
Guild s-100 sc acorn ?

- Brian

[rickfan60]

I think the inspiration was one of Lemmy's own basses.

[j_gary]

Hi Brian,

It's a great question that I don't recall ever being asked. The design is so unusual for any instrument and very curious for arguably such a conservative company as Rickenbacker. I was knocked out by the bass from the first time I saw it. John Hall and company seem to follow their own drummer, no off shore follies, no 55 versions of the same guitar, no ownership changes every other fiscal year. My sense is Mr. Hall was the driving force behind the design. Perhaps he was at Woodstock?

[4003]

[rickfan60]

Someone posted some concert shots of Lemmy with a 4001 that had similar carvings. Which came first?

[dog]

IMGP0022.JPG

Wow That's a first look for me!!

[daveman]

I'd always assumed that Lemmy modified and carved up his own bass, & the tribute followed long after. I didn't think the factory had any role in it in initially. Anyone know for sure?

[gareth]

The attachment IMGP0022.JPG is no longer available

Wow That's a first look for me!!

Well, here a second. The neck is really cool too, with the star inlays.

[aceonbass]

Lemmy's got a 4001 or 4003 that among the many mods to it, has had the outline of oakleaves carved around the edges if the face of the body. These were inspired by the oakleaves on the lapels of WWII German uniforms. I believe that was the inspiration for the carving on the 4004LK.

[rickfan60]

That makes sense. I seem to remember there being a precedent for the carvings. So Lemmy's customized bass did precede the 4004LK then.

[4003]

Since they are all hand-carved, each one is different. Some are way different.

Here is the top to go with my previous post.

[aceonbass]

This is a pic of Lemmy with the bass I believe inspired the 4004LK.

[rickfan60]

That's the one.

[deaconblues]

What's with the pickups on these models? I've seen 4004LKs with different placements.

[rickfan60]

They moved around a bit. I think there were 3 (maybe 4) distinct arrangements, Two with three pickups and one with two.