Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It's funny how we get a "thing" for certain rick models, I'm just the (sort of) opposite of Elys, I don't want anything older than Jan 73 or without checker binding when it comes to 4001's. So I'm left with a six month window and it seems like these are getting scarce, even though this period produced more basses than earlier(I think).

EUR 3,565.00
(Approximately US $4,819.88)

I set a snipe for $4000.00 or so but the auction was already above my price by the time my snipe was to go off.

Thanks for cheering me on Elys. In the end I wasn't willing to pay $4800.00 for this cool Rick. No biggie, I've got plenty O Ricks to keep me happy.

I can't believe these are going for close to 5 grand. A few months ago I bought a FG 4001 made 8 months later than this MG one for $899.00! Sure it has no sparkly inlays, but I betcha 50 bux that it sounds as good as this one!

$899 is a steal, it seems to me!
Way to go!

You are correct in that the 4001 experienced an increase in production along about this time, bolstered by Yes/Squire wannabee demand after the debut of Yes Fragile in the US in the spring of 1973.

I remember looking at all these kids in the other area clubs around our gigs in New Orleans at the time, thinking that I bought and have been playing one of these two years before they suddenly became cool, and now you are only dressing in the fad because you want to be like CS

Elys, I started playing my first 73 4001 in 1978 and didn't know anything about them. Someone I knew pointed out that mine had checkered binding and the new ones didn't, and that I should hang on to it because "it will be worth something some day". Of course I sold it a couple of years later for $500.

...and to think, back then I wanted a 4001 in '73 and ended up with my...



...instead!

Oh well, you live and learn.

Tch tch, Jeffrey, too bad! I am so sorry that this happened to you

Tell you what, I will make it all better, that's the kinda guy I am. I have a nice Oct 1973 JG 4001, and I will go so far as to generously offer you an even swap for that old thing....

Finally, you can realize your lifelong dream!!

I finally realized it when I got this in '03.



Now if you had say a, nice '64 4001...

Not too many of them '64's about...

Unfortunately Elys, you and I both like basses from the same period and with the same features. And we both know who is going to win any bidding on such basses!

I'm hoping that my schedua striped bass is going to sound ok, because apart from the aesthetics I tend to prefer the sound of the earlier non-skunk striped basses. Because of the way I play the later basses often sound a bit nasal; fingers crossed. In terms of features, the first Ric I ever saw (well certainly the first Ric I ever saw being used) was the same as my 72 with the walnut wings, checkered binding etc. My lust for such basses didn't really kick in until I got my 72 though. Compared to the 76 I had at the time I just thought it looked so much more elegant. Of course the fact that it both played and sounded much nicer didn't hurt either. Then I saw someone (I seem to remember it was some old Roxy Music gig on German tv but I could be wrong) on tv playing an Azure bass with the full width crushed pearl etc, and that was it (I've always had a thing about Azure anyway, thanks to Gaye Advert of all people).

Hi guys,
I am the lucky bidder for this guitar, I had a rare opportunity to bring it with me as I was in Vienna for business and I simply drove to Munich and took it with me back home.

The guitar is in excellent condition except for the "D" grover head which simply popped out when I loosened the tension...

Welcome to the 72 4001 Club, Gil!

The D-tuner thing can be easily fixed. The small pins in the back of the sealed Grovers tend to loosen over time. Re-swaging the pins with a small hammer and a sharpened nailset always works, and is the original way to fix a loose pin. You will have to remove the tuner from the guitar, place it on a hard flat surface with a layer of something to protect the nice shiny zinc surfaces, assemble the tuner, then center the sharpened nailset on the center of the visible ends of each of the four pins in turn, and tap lightly until the pin is held firmly. Reinstall the tuner on the bass, restring, and it should not fall off anymore when string tension is released.

Even if you do not want to do this, as soon as the string is tensioned again, a loose tuner casing will temporarily cinch itself back in place as soon as the shear force is applied by the tension on the casing. The danger there is possibly losing a pin. Once you've lost a vintage pin, you will never find a true vintage replacement. You will have to buy new drawn rod stock of exactly the right diameter, and cut your own pins to length.

Thanks for the warm welcome.
I am "missing" a pin, however - it seems broken and not missing... there is no "hole" on the cover to indicate a missing pin.
Can't it survive with only 3 pins holding it?

Hmmm-if Gil completed the sale and has the bass in his posession, then I guess that means that this "Second Chance" email must be bogus:

"Second Chance Offer from keyboardsvint ([email protected])


Item: Rickenbacker 4001 Stereo, Mapleglo, November 1972 !! - 330139131311


The winner had some problems and could not continue, if you are still interested let me know.


I will send you a legal second chance offer through eBay once I have your agreement.


Reply me directly at : [email protected]

PS: I will be away for the next two days and I will be checking my e-mail only. Use my address above instead of using eBay messaging system, if you want a prompt response."

Congrats, Gil!