Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

You are looking at a "deluxe" 4001, with checkered body binding and sparkle inlays, as opposed to the former style of unbound body and dot neck. According to The Bass Book by Bacon and Moorhouse, RIC production of this model started in 1961. This style continued throughout the '60s until 1973, when several features were changed. The earliest example I could find on the Register is from 1962.

The unbound body and dot neck continued through the '60s with the Rick basses exported to Rose Morris in the UK. The Rose Morris version was designated as model 1999.

libratune,

Thanks for the informative reply, but I meant to ask if anybody on the forum happens to know when the two basses in the photo were built. The Gallery only places them in the '60s as far as I can tell.


Sorry for the confusion,
bluewhale

bluewhale wrote: Thanks for the informative reply, but I meant to ask if anybody on the forum happens to know when the two basses in the photo were built. The Gallery only places them in the '60s as far as I can tell.

Based on features, those would have been produced between 1965 and 1968. A 4001 with those exact specifications is not only beyond rare, but probably the most desired deluxe variant of the 4001. Nice 4005, too!

John is correct. The 4005 appeared in 1965, so that's the earliest for the photo. Some features on the 4001 changed after 1968 (treble pickup went to high-gain, surround shape changed, pickguard shape changed, etc.), so the photo would have been '65-'68.

Thanks bassduke49 and sloop_john_b. The 4001 in the pic jumped to mind on reading the OP. That is my "Bucket List" Rick. At least it is today.

Does this have to be a model currently/formerly in production? If so, I would take a 360 WB in Fireglo with Rick humbuckers.

If I can create a "fantasy" Rickenbacker, then here goes:

380 Laguna with maple body in transparent emerald green (similar to the green on the 4004 basses). The neck, fingerboard, hardware and electronics would remain the same as any other 380L, except the hardware on my guitar would be chrome instead of gold. Mine would also have a white two-tier pickguard (like on a 360) with a matching white nameplate. I would have the all-black vintage style knobs on mine instead of the metal knobs the 380L normally comes with. This would be the last guitar I would buy, ever,simply because there wouldn't be any point in playing anything else.

First generation 4004 Ci

bottom4 wrote:First generation 4004 Ci

Andy, you just missed one that was at a Tenn. dealer and went for $1200. Cheap. I'll sell you mine for $5000...

Sorry..............

I own my 'bucket list' Rickenbacker right now, the left-handed '69 4001.

Frankly, since I bought the bass I have had no interest in owning anything else along those lines. It is the one.

leftybass wrote:I own my 'bucket list' Rickenbacker right now, the left-handed '69 4001.

Frankly, since I bought the bass I have had no interest in owning anything else along those lines. It is the one.

I just found a '66 4001 lefty in my attic, I suppose you have no interest in that, eh?

jps wrote:

leftybass wrote:I own my 'bucket list' Rickenbacker right now, the left-handed '69 4001.

Frankly, since I bought the bass I have had no interest in owning anything else along those lines. It is the one.

I just found a '66 4001 lefty in my attic, I suppose you have no interest in that, eh?

I'll be in Cleveland by morning......

I guess my 'bucket list' would be a 4002. Plain & simple. However, I used to own one of the first - maybe prototype - 4005's. Ordinarily I'd consider it a 'bucket list' guitar. Unfortunately, I never liked playing it. I guess I'm a player first & foremost so I guess the REAL answer for me is a Ric that fits my playing to a tea. My current 68 and 4003 seem to fit the bill. Guess I'm lucky that way.

johnallg wrote:

bottom4 wrote:First generation 4004 Ci

Andy, you just missed one that was at a Tenn. dealer and went for $1200. Cheap. I'll sell you mine for $5000...

Sorry..............

ops, sorry, John! I guess I meant a 2nd gen. I want the maple top, walnut back Ci

bottom4 wrote:

johnallg wrote:

bottom4 wrote:First generation 4004 Ci

Andy, you just missed one that was at a Tenn. dealer and went for $1200. Cheap. I'll sell you mine for $5000...

Sorry..............

ops, sorry, John! I guess I meant a 2nd gen. I want the maple top, walnut back Ci

One of the quilted ones! Don't we all!

A '64 RM1999. Maybe a '68 360F/12. (maybe? )