Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I came across a very yellowed tux, I think a 4001 with 2 output jacks. I dated the bass at the RIC site as 1990. Will any rubbing compound remove the custard yellow. The sharp edges are white, so I'm wondering if there is any hope of maybe offwhite or cream coloring with a little work. Its a player, 1" crack on pickguard, no surround on bridge pu, very yellowed inlays, maybe worth cleaning up, but you gotta like custard.

Jim respectfully thats not a tuxedo,thats a yellowed old 4001or3 when it left he factory it was white.A tuxedo is a model of 4003or1 thats all white including the fretboard.

Rickebacker Tuxedo

The yellowing may be partially reversible. Mine cleaned up a bit with Meguiar's 3 part car finish kit. Your bass will probably always be yellow no matter what you do. It is the nature of the finish, I'm afraid.



The cleaning part took off the outer layer of grunge and left the finish looking whiter.

Ken, thanks for the information. I wasn't aware of the white fretboard.
Ted, nice bass. The one I was looking at was very yellow, but no chips or dings that were noticeable. The owner thought it was a 4001, I'm not sure. Any ideas what a custard ric would fetch?

Vanilla custard? Let's see.....sugar cone or waffle?

Many people like yellowed white Ricks. Mine is yellowed. You just can't tell from that pic. To me it looks more like the color of the 4001CS. Not the same but similar.

A 70's to 80's 4001 in good shape should fetch between $800 and $1000 depending on color. Truly fine examples of rare colors (Burg, Azure, Autumnglo, Walnut) might go as high as $1300.

Hey Ted, call me tomorrow ! Message on your machine.