Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob, I couldn't shut up I already blew it to make a lame Rush joke. No biggie...

Quote:

"All 72 had checkerboard binding,skunk stripe,toaster,w/high gain,MOP wide inlays and slit in bridge this went on up until mid 73.

I have never seen or heard of a 72, being any different.Show me one that is and I will show you a bass thats not original.unless its a S"

Ken, I believe L denotes 72, which makes my 4001 a 72 (LB = Feb 72). My 4001 has checkerboard binding, toaster, screw top high gain, crushed MOP wide inlays, NO skunk stripe, but it DOES have walnut wings. It is all original (except for some screws and the fact that it currently harbours one of Sergios treble pickups) and can be traced back to its original owner. I have played 2 other 72s, one from May (as above but with skunk stripe and no walnut wings, and with a button top high gain treble pickup, not a screw top - Neil Brewer's bass, which I believe he had from new and which incidentally weighs twice as much as mine!), and one from December which was exactly the same as mine (even down to the weight) but jetglo (no skunk, walnut wings, screw top high gain).

I also know someone who has another LB, all original, also with walnut wings and no stripe, also with a screw top high gain treble pickup.

My '72, serial # LA 007 is *exactly* the same as shaun's bass above - walnut wings, NO skunk stripe, screw top treble PU, check binding, wide MOP inlays, and thumbrest.

Just goes to show that there are no "absolutes" in Ric-ville.

I've said this before, but when I produce a feature time line for my book, it will probably be a horizontal line chart, and each feature will be have gradual starts and stops. Conventional thinking was that the walnut wings were gone by 1972, but obviously the early '72s had them. Now, with the overlap, I wonder if there were any (besides 4005s) that had the skunk stripe AND the walnut wings. Could be possible.

Actually, I think the walnut wings were gone by the end of 71 the skunk started right around Dec.71.

There were no winged Skunks!

This shows that changes to features had no clear delineation.
In 30 years, I'm sure there will be arguments as to the introduction of walnut wings on the 4003.

pics might help...

"Actually, I think the walnut wings were gone by the end of 71 the skunk started right around Dec.71. "

Ken, not trying to sound like a jerk here, but Shaun and I just posted that we have Jan and Feb 1972 4001's with walnut wings and NO skunk stripe...

Ken, I think maybe we're dealing with 2 different issues here. As stated above, there were certainly walnut winged 4001s issued from the factory dated as 72 basses; I've got one. In fact I've actually seen nearly as many walnut winged basses dated as 72s as I have skunks...never seen a winged skunk though (well, there was this one time when I smoked a funny cigarette...only joking!)

I take it that what you mean is that the walnut winged basses stopped being constructed in 71? That's quite possible I guess. I'm pretty sure John Hall has said before that there was some overlap with these, but whether of the building or the issuing I'm not sure. John, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong -in fact any light you could shed would be most gratefully received.

Look at this, August 1971..

http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-4001-BASS-VINTAGE-1971-FIRE-GLO-BASS-NR_W0QQitemZ7384064251QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just a quick note to say a big THANK YOU to Steve Cooper in the USA, and Plil Harris in the UK.

Between them I have now sorted out a scooped surround for my '72. The bass now plays just the way that I had hoped, and it is without question my favorite RIC, so much so that I will be ebaying a couple of basses that are now not getting played any more.

I played my first gig with her last night and the playability of that bass has to be played to be believed.. thanks agin.

Bob

I recently sold this scooped surround.

Bob, my pleasure, glad I could help get that baby on the road again!