Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I took a peak under my 72 4001 pickguard and in the controls cavity I saw "4001-U" in large black lettering and "Dick" in pencil below it. In the neck pickup cavity there was "VHT" in pencil.

I figure it is all builder graffiti but I was wondering if anyone else has similar markings in their early 70's bases (like a builder name).

p.s. how well does your 4001 balance?

They all do.

Balance... excellent. My '77 sits on my shoulders much more evenly than either of my 4003's did.

As for the graffiti... I named my bass Rosa in her honor.

my 4003 balances better than my 4001. But the 72 is missing the mute assembly, and pickup cover at the moment (not that they would change things much).

Ken, what signatures do your's have... Mine is June 72, it would be interesting to see if a few of us have the same signatures.

John, are you gonna name your '72 "Dick", then?

LJ11** - Nancy...

I had a '65 4005 and the graffiti in the cavity said 4001 bass.
Guess they hadn't gotten around to naming it yet.

Or numbering it correctly...

Oddly enough Dick (Dixon) is my Grandfather's name, and the middle name for both me and my father.

On the other hand I agree with the guy who sold me his 4003... rics are too pretty to not be female.

I will have to double check the writing in my 4003... there was something there also.

A Girl Named Dick! Johnny Cash would approve...

My '65 4005 also had "4001" written in the control cavity.

I have Rosa in my 73 and a certain Mr Arnquist in my 72....

I have both Greg King and Raul in my '73 4001, JH in my '67 4005WB, Claudia in my '03 4004Cii. I don't recall what may be in my others.

Just checked my Nov. 72.....4001-CC in the p/g cavity, under the controls. The bass p/u cavity was routed out for some ******, fake hi-gain p/u...so we'll never know , I guess....

I 've recently had my '75 4001 open to put on my new Pickguardian pickguard, I really couldn't make out the name.
All of my Rick basses balance very well.