Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The '72 I have now and the one I bought new both had the checkered binding, full inlays, short headstock and the potato chip looking tuning machines (Grovers? I'd have to look to be sure I can't remember).

I had the cover removed on my '86 4003 but have kept it on the '72 'cause I play them differently. I do think the cover on looks better though. I have also learned to compensate for the horseshoe on my 4001CS. There is no way I'm taking that one off.

The '72 with the narrow inlays interests me. If it had plain white binding that is what my original 4001 looked like when I sold it. It's a long story but basically the factory took all the hardware off the original bass and installed it on a new body assembly, this was done around '78 or '79. Was is Mapleglo by any chance? If so it could well be my old bass. I have the serial number at home in my archives.

This one was mapleglo, but it had checker binding. As I recall, all other features were the same as you'd normally expect on a '72 i.e. flat nameplate, potato chip tuners(Grovers, and I like that description of them!), toaster neck pu. etc. Did either of your '72s have walnut headstock wings?

My first 4001, the one I bought new, had the walnut headstock wings. Sadly the neck warped beyond repair and that's how it ended up at the factory for the body and neck assembly replacement. After the re-build I do know it had plain white binding as was standard after '72 or '73. Everything else on the rebuilt bass was '72 vintage including the pickguard with the holes for the finger rest, which I still have.

I'm not sure about the one I have now I'd have to look, it's Fireglo.
Were 4001's finished other than Mapleglo made with walnut headstock wings?

Yeah, I think even Jetglo basses came with Walnut HS wings back in the day. Fireglo definitely, I have a '71 that's got em...

The color selection has always been made when the instrument hits the paint shop, which is to say the wood work has been long done by the time that a determination is made which color to shoot.

All this talk about plastic... I originally own March -85 4001V63. I checked my horseshoe this weekend and it appears to be metal. Can this be so?

Should be. The horseshoe is metal. We were talking about the one-piece pickup cover that was introduced along with the high gain pickups, when the horseshoe originally was discontinued. It maintains the traditional look but is not part of the pickup.

And I maintain that it has always been made of plastic.

Sergio, John Hall himself has stated on this board that the cover used to be made out of metal... Search the archives if my word isn't good enough for you...

No need, it is good enough for me.
Now, I'm curious as to when this metal cover was introduced (immediately after the horseshoe pickup was discontinued?) and discontinued (sometime in 1970?).
My 21-fret 4001 is from November 1970 and is fitted with a plastic handrest which I believe to be original to it.
Can anyone shed some light on this?

WELL?
Interestingly, the few 4001 copies I've come across with so far all had plastic handrests - talk about accurate fakes!

John Hall said something to the effect of they were a few metal ones made, not a lot, I assume from what he said that they were never a regular production item, or if they were, they weren't for long. Someone else had said that they had seen them before also.

I remember seeing them when new, like in 1973 with metal plates over the bridge pickup. I don't think your pickup cover on your 1970 is original, Sergio. I remember very clearly when they changed in 1973, because I noticed it and frankly liked the metal plates better. I think from the ones I've been able to find that they had to have been made for several years. I also have a '73 with the original metal plate.

I'll have to get one for my 72FL

It would be great if we could get somebody with a metal cover to first testify to it, and then show detailed pics to dispel any doubt.