Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So after much farting around looking for a 4001 to add to the 4003, I see a listing on Craigslist for one. The guy needs money for recording and he needs to move it fast. Off to the place he rehearses at that night, see it and get it for $700. The neck is straight, and the action is good, despite being fitted with roundwounds. The sound is good and everything works so it's kind of a steal at that price.

The only thing is that it really needs refinishing. Because of the help that I got here, I think that the bass was originally a vintage white color with black binding, pickguard and TRC. The serial number places it as early 1979. I took a few pictures this morning (a little dark I think), so if anyone wants to confirm that I'm right about the original finish or not, chime in with your 2c. I'm thinking a nice antique white is going to look real nice on this one.

Looks like it was originally white to me from the pics, although the bottom two look like it could even be silver(is it metallic at all?). I'd kinda hate to see the luftwaffe knights cross go, but it sounds like a good candidate for a refin...
How does it play and sound? Roundwounds won't necessarily be a problem on a bass from that era, I own a '73 that has always had rounds on it, and I've owned or played many 4001 s that handled roundwounds with no problems...
Good catch, and good luck with it if you refinish, let us see some "after" pics!

That mottled look is actually how it looks in the light. It seems like a dirty white/cream color, and the there doesn't seem to be much of that left on the headstock.

The bass plays and sounds great. It's really set up nicely and plays every bit as well as the 97 4003. There's a definable difference between the two sounds though. The 4001 is slightly warmer in the low end than the 4003, and the neck is slightly faster. The 4003 has a more aggressive sound. I love 'em both though. Now I need to find someone to play with !

Can you tell that the guy I bought it off was a huge Lemmy fan ?

Early 79 4001's lost the skunk stripe already?

Does look like a nice bass though.

Nice score! Looks like the typical 70s white-turned-yellow to me. I'm on the lookout for my first real bass from when I was a kid. A white, '79 4001, s/n SC 1420. Anybody seen it?

You really should offer that up to Phlemmy!
Sounds like it has already been customized for him!

My white on white on white '77 4001 is now that same snotglo color.

http://www.pbase.com/alanz01/rickenbacker_4001

"Early 79 4001's lost the skunk stripe already?"

my March '79 has the skunk stripe. maybe Gareth's is one of the first few without it?

I have a Dec. 79 mapleglo 4001 with a skunkstripe. There were few clear cut transition points with Rics.

My 4001 has serial number SB1102, which puts it as February 1979 I believe.

Transition period items of anything are hard to nail down for specs. Anyone who has a Harley from 1983-84 can tell you that. You'll see a lot of strange hybrids out there as old stock gets cleared onto production.

Yes, oh your bass is/was definitely white. I had one that turned yellow like that. I think it's the clear coat they used to use.