Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Guys,

As some may know I picked up a stunningly rare lefty MapleGlow 4001 with checked binding and the happy inlays on eBay some time ago. She's got some interesting stuff going on, and I need a little help from the guys who have original 1961 - 1971 4001 basses to help pin some things down.

1. What is the latest 4001 anyone has with the assymetrical, rounded, square neck heel, where the neck and body wings meet?

2. On a mono bass, what is the distance from the center of the butt end strap bolt to the center of the output jack? (This only sounds dirty, but it isn't.)

3. What is the widest neck at the nut?

4. What is the thinnest neck at the 5th fret? (Fingerboard to back of neck, not including fret height in the number.)

I know I 'used to be the man', so I should know all of this, but I need actual data from those that have, instead of guestimates from those that have not, or have no longer...

I'll make it up to those who help me out, and promise to lay out the whole story as soon as I have it all figured out. C'mon, it'll be fun.

Sj

Scott, search this item number on ebay:

3780273473

You will find an auction for a '71 4001 LH in Mapleglo that was won by a new member here on the Forum. This bass is in near-mint condition, a real beauty. Maybe he can help you with some of the details of your restoration...

Thanks, John.

The seller offered me this bass and then listed it before giving me a price. Beautiful condition. Now that I see the images, what's with the placement of the bridge on this one?



The reason I am asking on my bass is that it has some unusual things going on with it that suggest it is a left over instrument from 1964 - 1966, and I'm trying to pin it down. I own several lefty Ricks with 1971 to 1974 serial numbers that are obviously instruments that were completed long after they were started. The three lefties I bought from John Hall in 1989 were all 1967-era instruments still sitting in boxes in the factory in various states of completion, and were final assembled for me in 1989. This makes getting real stories on the vintage lefties difficult without a little research.

Sj

Hey, that's a 21-fretter! Only lefty I've seen that way. That's why the tailpiece is mounted "higher" on the body, rather than all the way to the "bottom" edge. Gotta be rare!

You're right, 21 frets. I missed that.

Mine has 20 frets and the longer pickguard between the pickups.

Sj

Yes this is a rare Rickenbacker bass, we disucssed it quite a bit when it was up for auction; I think the thread is a memory now...It is probably the only 21-fret Lefty 4001 ever made, and in sweet condition. I had too many irons in the fire at the time and I couldn't shoot for what I wanted to as far as a bid, so it stayed in the UK..the new owner is a good guy.

Scott: As far as this bass is concerned I believe it to be fresh 1970-71 production and not a 60's leftover, due to the 21-fret construction..

Hi John,

I had heard about this bass after the auction. I watch eBay like a hawk for lefties, so I don't know how I missed it.

I emailed Peter regarding the 21 fret bass to get more info. A real nice guy.

His was quite likely a custom order, not pulled from stock. I've asked him for a few measurements to get a better idea of the differences between his 21 fret and my 20 fret. His has a KB serial number, mine a KD.

Another thing I have found on my 20 fret bass is that the two holes drilled for the input jacks are not the same. One of the holes was drilled with either a slightly smaller, or possibly sharper, bit AFTER it went through the spray booth. This is why I'm interested in knowing where the mono models jacks were located on the mid-1960s basses. My thought at this point is that it appears to have been 'upgraded' from mono to Rick-O-Sound before leaving the factory.

I feel I've been abandoned.

Can any of you guys with a mono 4001 measure the distance from the center of the strap bolt to the center of the jack and post it for me?

Thanks in advance.

Scott

Is the output jack of a 4004 the same distance from the strap button as on a 4000?

Hi Joey,

I don't know the answer to that.

I am trying to determine if the bass i have pre-dates it's serial number, which some features suggest. So I would need to know this measurement on an earlier bass than mine, which has an April 1971 serial number.

Thanks for the response though...

Scott

Scott, I have had a busy week but have a 64, 67 and a 68 that I'll measure for you today. I have wondered myself about when the changeover from the square heel to the round. The 64 and 65's I have seen are all square and the two 67's are round.

The only mono jack RICs I have are my '67 4005WB and '98 4001V63. If the V63 measurement will work for you I can measure that?

Hey Scott, post a picture or 3 of the headstock. It's size / shape would help date the bass.

I'll post images later today. My wife is using the photo studio for her stuff at the moment.

Sj

Scott, here are the dimensions on mine. They are pretty much the same with one exception...

64 4001S. 1 & 10/16th's at the nut.
11/16th's at the 5th fret.
6 3/4" centre of jack to strap.

67 4001S. 1 & 11/16th's at the nut.
11/16th's at the 5th fret.
6 1/2" centre of jack to strap.

68 4001. 1 & 11/16th's at nut.
10/16th's at the 5th fret with a noticeably flatter profile to the neck. Almost like an acoustic.
6 3/4" centre of jack to strap.

Hope that helps!