Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently saw a model 4000 on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=892346876
The owner says it's a 70's model but it certainly looks older to me...ie, thumbrest and horseshoe.. I wrote for a serial number but haven't received a reply yet. the gruhn guide (which is known to be wrong from time to time0 says that the horseshoe was discontinued in 1964 but the rickenbacker catalog for 1968 shows both the 4000 and 4001 with horshoe pickups. What year did they really stop installing the HSPU on ric basses?

I recently saw a model 4000 on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=892346876
The owner says it's a 70's model but it certainly looks older to me...ie, thumbrest and horseshoe.. I wrote for a serial number but haven't received a reply yet. the gruhn guide (which is known to be wrong from time to time) says that the horseshoe was discontinued in 1964 but the rickenbacker catalog for 1968 shows both the 4000 and 4001 with horseshoe pickups. What year did they really stop installing the HSPU on ric basses?

I'm certain that that's a sixties 4000 bass, given the walnut headstock wings, lack of a shedua "skunk stripe", and plexi finger-rest.

Now, if ah was yew, son, I'd a-quit fussin' and commence to biddin' on that thur purty bass, 'cuz that seller has no clue what he's got!

Garry

AND, the strings look like Pyramids!

I'm certain that that's a sixties 4000 bass, given the walnut headstock wings, lack of a shedua "skunk stripe", and plexi finger-rest.

Garry, the skunkstripe was Not shedua till '73 or so.They were walnut before that.

It's a goodun'...The owner says it has a Fender case with it, but Rickenbacker used the 'Fullerton' style cases from time to time; the only difference is that they didn't have a Fender logo on the outside. My '72 4001LH has a case just like this one...

Thanks for the input. I still haven't received a reply on the serial # so I can't determine how much I'm willing to bid and I'm pretty sure it's going to go out of my price range soon because I just bought a 76 4001 a month ago and my funds are pretty limited which is one of the reasons I posted it here. Maybe one of you will snatch it up. But nobody has answered my question yet. What year did they dis-continue the Horseshoe? Was it 69-70-71-72?

David: You have asked a most interesting question. While not definitive, I will go out on a limb and suggest that the horseshoe was replaced on the 4001 around 1971. I will be interested to see what others have to say as individial models may reveal variability around this date. Pearhaps John Hall may be able to offer some precision (no pun intended) with repect to this issue.

Peter and David: Most people say 1969-70. The 1968 Catalog has a Jetglo 4001 with a horseshoe, but the cover has no taper on the front flange. The first basses to have the under string style were from late '68 or early '69, and the total swtich had taken place by late 1970, which was pretty much within Peter's estimate; As the Rick 12 Dr. says: 'Your mileage may vary..."

Thanks John. These dates are often difficult to pinpoint with certainty. Your comments are much appreciated.

Right, late 1970. My 21-fret 4001 from November 1970 seems to confirm that the horseshoe pickup indeed was discontinued at this point in time. Its treble pickup is what I would call a transitional version: screws, not rivets, as polepieces, an unsprayed bobbin somewhat larger than that of the 'button top' version eventually adopted, and a narrower rubberized magnet.

The seller just posted the CJ serial# on the 4000 bass mentioned above. He says 1961 but according to my sources It's an Oct. 1963!!!! Wow, wish I had more bidding money!

Is it just my eyes or does the headstock look as if the 'hook' has been cut off? That is a Fender case, BTW.

Ack! The hook has been amputated! Terrible.

What a shame. Nevertheless, it is still neat.