Return to 4000 for resale?

[Renfield]

I think that sounds right, I would expect under 2 grand. Lots of folks out there are asking the sun and the moon, but I see unmodded 4001's of the same vintage, in fantastic shape, selling around 1200-1500 fairly often.

I payed $500 for it in 1976. When I last did the inflation calculator check, it came out to $2249 in 2019 dollars.

[Isaac]

$500? Damn. I think I paid $700 for mine.

[Renfield]

$500? Damn. I think I paid $700 for mine.

It wasn't like anyone was really discounting them. My recollection is that they took my money and told me don't call us, we'll call you. Attitude was one of "you're lucky we're taking time out of our busy day to deal with you." And "you'll get it when Rickenbacker is good and ready to ship it."

It was a horrible retail experience. They made it seem like everything coming out of Santa Ana was shat from the gods and I'm not worthy.

[Isaac]

It wasn't like anyone was really discounting them. My recollection is that they took my money and told me don't call us, we'll call you. Attitude was one of "you're lucky we're taking time out of our busy day to deal with you." And "you'll get it when Rickenbacker is good and ready to ship it."

It was a horrible retail experience. They made it seem like everything coming out of Santa Ana was shat from the gods and I'm not worthy.

My experience was more pleasant, if more expensive. I dealt with Toad Music, a legendary music store in Ashland, Oregon. They got the bass, informed me that the nut was miscut (not an unusual occurrence - I have a 1986 MB 4003 with a bad nut) and we discussed mods. As delivered to me, it had a brass nut, hand-made active electronics, a Hi-A pickup in the neck position, and a Badass bridge. The bridge was too high, so they routed out a space and inserted a block of rosewood. Unfortunately, they miscalculated where it needed to be. Looks pretty shítty up close, but doesn't affect the sound or playability.

I gigged with that bass for a few years, making my living with it. Eventually, the electronics failed. That happened while I was in the Navy, so it just sat for years. Eventually, I pulled the preamp out and wired it passive. Since then, I have replaced the Ric bridge pickup and Hi-A neck pickup with a Seymour Duncan set and the 3-way switch with a six position rotary switch. The intent was to give me all six possible pickup combinations. I botched the wiring a bit, so the combinations aren't in the intended positions, but they're all there. Now, at least one of the old pots is going bad, so I'll need to fix that. I guess it's time; it's been 45 years or so.

[Renfield]

It wasn't like anyone was really discounting them. My recollection is that they took my money and told me don't call us, we'll call you. Attitude was one of "you're lucky we're taking time out of our busy day to deal with you." And "you'll get it when Rickenbacker is good and ready to ship it."

It was a horrible retail experience. They made it seem like everything coming out of Santa Ana was shat from the gods and I'm not worthy.

My experience was more pleasant, if more expensive. I dealt with Toad Music, a legendary music store in Ashland, Oregon. They got the bass, informed me that the nut was miscut (not an unusual occurrence - I have a 1986 MB 4003 with a bad nut) and we discussed mods. As delivered to me, it had a brass nut, hand-made active electronics, a Hi-A pickup in the neck position, and a Badass bridge. The bridge was too high, so they routed out a space and inserted a block of rosewood. Unfortunately, they miscalculated where it needed to be. Looks pretty shítty up close, but doesn't affect the sound or playability.

I gigged with that bass for a few years, making my living with it. Eventually, the electronics failed. That happened while I was in the Navy, so it just sat for years. Eventually, I pulled the preamp out and wired it passive. Since then, I have replaced the Ric bridge pickup and Hi-A neck pickup with a Seymour Duncan set and the 3-way switch with a six position rotary switch. The intent was to give me all six possible pickup combinations. I botched the wiring a bit, so the combinations aren't in the intended positions, but they're all there. Now, at least one of the old pots is going bad, so I'll need to fix that. I guess it's time; it's been 45 years or so.

A miscut nut is not uncommon on a $2200 instrument? I expect that on a $100 Rogue, not a Ric. The shop where I bought (wish I could remember more details) did me no favors and were out of business pretty fast. I did replace the neck p'up a few years back. But that came straight from Rickenbacker. And I kept the original. Recently, I thought the bridge p'up had gone out, but it was just corrosion on the 3 way switch. A shot of DeoxIT cleared that right up. It might work for your pot as well. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

If not for the customization on day 1 this could've been a solid collectible. I can't imagine many 18 year olds would have that goal in mind. I just wanted the discontinued 4001S. Rickenbacker wanted me to buy the 4003, after teasing me with Paul's freebie for over a decade.

[radapaw]

I think that sounds right, I would expect under 2 grand. Lots of folks out there are asking the sun and the moon, but I see unmodded 4001's of the same vintage, in fantastic shape, selling around 1200-1500 fairly often.

I payed $500 for it in 1976. When I last did the inflation calculator check, it came out to $2249 in 2019 dollars.

I don't think inflation alone does a great job reflecting supply and demand, or many other economic variables, (or 'improved' truss rod systems or v2 bridges).

DON'T GET ME WRONG! If you're patient, take lots of clear pictures to keep minds at ease, and post it everywhere you can, I would expect you could get that inflation number or better. It's a beautiful bass with MANY examples of the same mod. FWIW as a point of reference, my 75 with a repaired neck crack (it's solid, not going anywhere, but a modded structural issue), and a swapped out bridge cost me about $600 canadian last year.

[Isaac]

My experience was more pleasant, if more expensive. I dealt with Toad Music, a legendary music store in Ashland, Oregon. They got the bass, informed me that the nut was miscut (not an unusual occurrence - I have a 1986 MB 4003 with a bad nut) and we discussed mods. As delivered to me, it had a brass nut, hand-made active electronics, a Hi-A pickup in the neck position, and a Badass bridge. The bridge was too high, so they routed out a space and inserted a block of rosewood. Unfortunately, they miscalculated where it needed to be. Looks pretty shítty up close, but doesn't affect the sound or playability.

I gigged with that bass for a few years, making my living with it. Eventually, the electronics failed. That happened while I was in the Navy, so it just sat for years. Eventually, I pulled the preamp out and wired it passive. Since then, I have replaced the Ric bridge pickup and Hi-A neck pickup with a Seymour Duncan set and the 3-way switch with a six position rotary switch. The intent was to give me all six possible pickup combinations. I botched the wiring a bit, so the combinations aren't in the intended positions, but they're all there. Now, at least one of the old pots is going bad, so I'll need to fix that. I guess it's time; it's been 45 years or so.

A miscut nut is not uncommon on a $2200 instrument? I expect that on a $100 Rogue, not a Ric. The shop where I bought (wish I could remember more details) did me no favors and were out of business pretty fast. I did replace the neck p'up a few years back. But that came straight from Rickenbacker. And I kept the original. Recently, I thought the bridge p'up had gone out, but it was just corrosion on the 3 way switch. A shot of DeoxIT cleared that right up. It might work for your pot as well. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

If not for the customization on day 1 this could've been a solid collectible. I can't imagine many 18 year olds would have that goal in mind. I just wanted the discontinued 4001S. Rickenbacker wanted me to buy the 4003, after teasing me with Paul's freebie for over a decade.

Well, I've had nine or ten Ric basses over the years, and two of them have had miscut nuts. I'd say that qualifies as not uncommon. I agree that two in ten is far too high. One in ten would be far too high. But that is my personal experience, and what I was told by the Ric dealer I bought from. Whether or not it's representative, I can't say.

[doctorwho]

RIC actually made 4001S basses that probably had the same route that was done by your music store tech back in the day. The aftermarket tailpiece replacement sticks out like a sore thumb though, so I'd find a more recent, stable casting to replace it with.

For the record, here is the factory rout of a 1975 4001S:

[cjj]

If it had a miscut brass nut then whoever installed that did a poor job. The factory never shipped brass nuts...

[doctorwho]

No brass nut on mine.

Note that it had a "Model 4000" TRC from the factory, too.

[Renfield]

If it had a miscut brass nut then whoever installed that did a poor job. The factory never shipped brass nuts...

Hmmm... I didn't read it that way. I think he was saying that the factory (plastic?) nut was mis-cut. It was replaced with a properly cut brass nut. I've seen them on eBay in brass, specifically for the Ric. It likely would not be a common eBay item unless there is a problem with Ric nuts. Not cool at all for this price point.

[Renfield]

For the record, here is the factory rout of a 1975 4001S:

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Thank you, Gary. Not at all what mine looks like. The shop used a drill and chisel. They removed more material than necessary. The neck p'up only intrudes about 10mm. My "bubba" route is closer to 15mm, with spots as deep as 19mm. They must've been on crack. Did we even have crack in '76?

First gig with my new Rickenbacker. Still haven't removed the bridge p'up cover.

The Horror...

[jps]

Impressive!

[Isaac]

If it had a miscut brass nut then whoever installed that did a poor job. The factory never shipped brass nuts...

The brass nut was a replacement for the miscut factory nut.

[Isaac]

If it had a miscut brass nut then whoever installed that did a poor job. The factory never shipped brass nuts...

Hmmm... I didn't read it that way. I think he was saying that the factory (plastic?) nut was mis-cut. It was replaced with a properly cut brass nut. I've seen them on eBay in brass, specifically for the Ric. It likely would not be a common eBay item unless there is a problem with Ric nuts. Not cool at all for this price point.

This is correct. Of course, not all brass nuts replace miscut factory nuts. I remember brass everything being all the rage back in the 70s. Brass nuts, brass bridges, even brass blocks being set into the body, all to allegedly increase the sustain. Frankly, I don't notice any difference having a brass nut. My thought on the matter is that the nut has little to no effect even on open notes, as long as it's cut properly, and even less on fretted notes.