Price Check -'73 4003

[tsarter]

A good friend has decided to sell his '73 Mapleglow 4001. Original owner, good shape. No CB binding, but all original. He's asking me what he should ask for it. $2000? Any input is appreciated.

- Tim

[marc61]

Does it have any of the other vintage features? Grover tuners? Toaster pickup? Gap tooth bridge?

[jps]

Most likely, not gap tooth tailpiece given no CB.

[badeggs]

Should also have poured inlays...wavy Grovers if original, naturally.

If he has pics, post 'em here.

[antipodean]

There's a decent price differential between early and late '73 4001s, with price dropping as features were discontinued. IMHO a late '73 with no CB, no FWI, Klusons (rather than Grovers) and neck higain will be worth around $1200-$1500 for a standard colour like MG (AZG and BG basses will attract a premium). Add in Grovers and the price goes up around $150. Add in an original toaster and you'll add another $100-150. If the maple is nicely figured, there is more room on the upside.

FYI an early '73 with all the fruit should be around $2-2.5k in original condition. Dealers are asking around $3-$3.5k (up to $4k for BG, AZG). My rule of thumb is to discount dealer asking prices by 30%.

Please note that your friend's bass is not an early '73....

[teeder]

All '73's 4001's should have a Toaster originally.

[rickenbrother]

If it's late in '73, it's possible to have a neck higain pickup. The vintage features it should have are the 1/2" neck pickup spacing, plexi TRC and wavy Grover tuners.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

All '73's 4001's should have a Toaster originally.

toasters stopped in mid '73 thus entering the higain. my geddy oct. '73 was higain with grovers. i think grovers went into '74.

[teeder]

You guys are right! It was the 1/2 inch spacing that stayed. My bad!

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

and the 1/2" was out by mid '75 along with the plexi.

[ken_j]

When were wavy Grovers introduced? My friend's '72 has flat Grovers.

[antipodean]

When were wavy Grovers introduced? My friend's '72 has flat Grovers.

Given that I have seen '72s with wavy Grovers, I believe '72 is the year. As with many Rickenbacker features, there is probably some overlap as the flat Grover stock was run down. Of the couple of '71s I have seen, all have had flat Grovers.

[T.A.R.]

My July '74 has wavy Grovers, Plexi.

[johnallg]

and the 1/2" was out by mid '75 along with the plexi.

My late '75 has 1" spacing but a plexi TRC.

[jps]

My late '75 had 1" spacing but a plexi TRC.

My condolences, John.