Rickenbacker 4002 Bass Companion Video

[nixdad]

Just watched! That was fun and now I want one!

Was fortunate to play Jeff Thomas' 4002 way back during "RIO" and it had a wonderful neck profile.

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, teeder! Thanks for watching, and I appreciate your kind comments!
Chris

[Filthyphil]

Excellent video, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Love my ‘81 4002. Pity they don’t offer the pups and pick guard styling today, even on a more standard finish 4003 platform.

[teeder]

Schwing!

[iiipopes]

My 10-piece party band, including a Chicago-style horn section, retired December 27, 2025. I had just gotten my 4002 when I was asked to join the band as their first bass player 33 years ago. Changes in bands, changes in careers, two failed marriages, a leave of absence of some years to raise my son, travels to different countries, have all come and gone since then, including completely wearing out my frets and having a skilled luthier sensitive to the differences with Rickenbacker basses performing a complete re-fret and a couple of finish touch-ups. Being the first bass (and at the time, the only bass I owned) I played with this group, I brought it out for the Farewell Concert, playing the last set with it, hence letting me sing Get Back. Here are two pix of the bass in action with me singing the Beatles' Get Back with it.

Get Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #2.jpg (166.55 KiB) Viewed 8728 times

Get Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #1.jpg (221.68 KiB) Viewed 8728 times

[Filthyphil]

That's a lovely piece of kit!

[iiipopes]

That's a lovely piece of kit!

Thanks.

[teeder]

Very nice!

Unfortunately, our band played it's last gig without us knowing it was our last.

[nixdad]

Excellent video, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Love my ‘81 4002. Pity they don’t offer the pups and pick guard styling today, even on a more standard finish 4003 platform.

Thanks for your kind comments, Filthyphil! Yep, there was far more backstory behind this bass than I ever imagined before I dove into the project.

BTW, the Birdseye maple on your bass is fantastic! That's certainly one of the nicest Mapleglo 4002 basses I ever seen. What type of bridge is on your bass?

Chris

[nixdad]

My 10-piece party band, including a Chicago-style horn section, retired December 27, 2025. I had just gotten my 4002 when I was asked to join the band as their first bass player 33 years ago. Changes in bands, changes in careers, two failed marriages, a leave of absence of some years to raise my son, travels to different countries, have all come and gone since then, including completely wearing out my frets and having a skilled luthier sensitive to the differences with Rickenbacker basses performing a complete re-fret and a couple of finish touch-ups. Being the first bass (and at the time, the only bass I owned) I played with this group, I brought it out for the Farewell Concert, playing the last set with it, hence letting me sing Get Back. Here are two pix of the bass in action with me singing the Beatles' Get Back with it. Get Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #2.jpgGet Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #1.jpg

Hey Scott -
Thanks for sharing your story, and for your contribution to the 4002 video! Man, your bass has some of the nicest (non-birdseye) figured maple on a 4002 which I've come across. So glad you brought this baby out for the band's retirement concert.

Be well!
Chris

[iiipopes]

My 10-piece party band, including a Chicago-style horn section, retired December 27, 2025. I had just gotten my 4002 when I was asked to join the band as their first bass player 33 years ago. Changes in bands, changes in careers, two failed marriages, a leave of absence of some years to raise my son, travels to different countries, have all come and gone since then, including completely wearing out my frets and having a skilled luthier sensitive to the differences with Rickenbacker basses performing a complete re-fret and a couple of finish touch-ups. Being the first bass (and at the time, the only bass I owned) I played with this group, I brought it out for the Farewell Concert, playing the last set with it, hence letting me sing Get Back. Here are two pix of the bass in action with me singing the Beatles' Get Back with it. Get Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #2.jpgGet Back M-Dock Farewell 2025-12-27 #1.jpg

Hey Scott -
Thanks for sharing your story, and for your contribution to the 4002 video! Man, your bass has some of the nicest (non-birdseye) figured maple on a 4002 which I've come across. So glad you brought this baby out for the band's retirement concert.

Be well!
Chris

Thanks.

[Filthyphil]

Thanks, Chris!

The bridge is a Starz Guitars bridge. Story is that this bass was given by Geddy Lee to his keyboard tech. As well as the bridge it is modded for through-body stringing. I did try it with the stock bridge but I prefer the action with the Starz.

[nixdad]

Thanks, Chris!

The bridge is a Starz Guitars bridge. Story is that this bass was given by Geddy Lee to his keyboard tech. As well as the bridge it is modded for through-body stringing. I did try it with the stock bridge but I prefer the action with the Starz.

Thanks for sharing! Your bass has far more figuring than Geddy's 4002. His is actually quite plain.

Chris