Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sorry Don't have access to appraisals and I need to know!

I know the word is over used but I tell you this bass is truly MINT. Not a scratch and the binding is barely yellowing, no checking no nothing. I tell you it’s so clean it makes me wonder. No pitting of the chrome - I think you know what I mean! It comes with Grovers, high gain pickups maple headstock as oppose to the walnut wings it has the walnut stripe down the center and has no finger rest. Sorry no pictures available right now.

Please advise of the value.

Cheers,

Andy

What's the basses serial number and what finish (colour) is it? The first two letters will tell the year and month. 73 was the transition year for the 4001. If the bass has most of the 60's features on it, then it will be worth far more than without them. The 60's features include a toaster pickup, checkered body binding, full width crushed mother of pearl inlay neck position markers, split tailpiece, Grover tuners.
I've seen 4001's from 73 made up to April of 73 with these features. I've also seen many that were made in September through to December that didn't have any of these features except for the Grover tuners. The point is, that they were manufactured in 1973. And all very different. So determining a value is difficult without knowing what features the bass has.
If you haven't already, you should check out the thread "73 the Transition Year". It's got alot of great info in it.
Cheers,

It is a MG - dose not have a toaster. It has solid white binding not checkered and was mfr in May of 73. Not sure about the inlays and the bridge. Based on what I've told you - what are your thoughts?

That's interesting. So it appears that the changeover began in May of 73. I have a friend with a 73 4001 from April and it has all of the 60's features mentioned above.
Mapleglo has always been a very common finish. So the colour of the finish won't necessarily add to the value, like Burgundyglo would. But the fact that the bass is "truly mint" in your words gives the bass extra value compared to one that has been well used and shows it.
The inlays will either stretch the full width of the neck from side to side (old style) or will be the newer style that are about 1/4" short of both outsides of the neck.
As for the tailpiece, if it's a vintage one it will have a vertical split in it. The split is located between the A and the D strings.
Take a close look at a Ric 4001V63 tailpiece and you will see what I mean.
Cheers,

Determining the month by the second letter of the serial code, is not always very accurate. I know this because my '98 340 was shipped to Australia, and arrived on my doorstep 3 months before the serial number (T1 -> July '98) suggested it would be made. Add to this final finishing, packaging, and shipping time, and it is possible to account for about 4 months before the supposed manufacturing date. It's been said a million times before, but date coded pots and serial numbered jack plates are pre-purchased in bulk, and then plucked randomly from a box, not neccessarily in exact chronological order.

OK - so can someone give me an idea of what it's worth?

In mint condition? Certainly $850. or more. To someone that is looking for this exact bass, they might pay more. Keep in mind that that Rickenbacker made a ton of these 4001s in the '70s.