Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anybody made/seen a timeline of changes on the 4001/4003 models?
I know a few things, like plexi TRC stopped in 75, baby headstock came in 70, checker binding stopped in 73 etc.
I would like to see a comprehensive list over all changes from introduction till this day! What do you think?

That will probably be a feature in my book when its published (at least 1.5 years away), but I'm still learning. One thing is certain: There are very few sharp start/stop dates for any feature. Some changes were spread out over several months, some a year or two. If I were to chart it out, the feature lines would overlap or blend into each other as the changes gradually took place. That's it! A blended bar chart! Now, what color . . . Fireglo?

Good luck, I really look forward to seeing the book!
But could we in the meantime try to make such a timeline? Everyone please contribute, just copy the list and add or change whatever you want and paste it in a new post:

1970: Smaller headstock
1973: Checkerboard binding ends
1973: Toaster ends
1975: Neck p.u. spacing from 1/2 to 1 inch
1975: Plexi TRC ends
1980: 4001 replaced by 4003

Come on!

Here's another one for ya,

Early 1973: Split tailpiece discontinued.

1968: End of the horse shoe pick up.
1973: End of MOP full inlays
1974: Red Neck Dot year
1974: Grover tuners mostly stoped.

82 is first year for 4003 .Grover tuners also reappear in 82 for one year

1968: Horseshoe bridge pickup replaced by a transitional high-gain under string pickup
1971-1973(and sometimes as late as 1975 or so) closed-back wavy Grover tuners used
1971: Walnut wings end, skunk stripe begins a transitional smaller headstock is used
1972: Baby headstock begins
1972: "Tug bar" under string finger rest ends
1973: Checkerboard binding ends
1973: Split tailpiece ends
1973: Toaster ends
1973: Full-width crushed-pearl inlays replaced by smaller, swirly, pearlescent inlays
1974: side dots on neck are red instead of black for this year only
1975: Neck p.u. spacing from 1/2 to 1 inch
1975: Plexi TRC ends
1980: 4001 replaced by 4003(4001 continues production alongside 4003 until 1984 or so)
-Early 4003(until 1985 or so) has split pickguard and truss rods adjust at body side instead of headstock side
-Many early 4003 models built with Grover closed-back tuners again
-4003 models(until 1988?) had 2 extra screws in the tailpeice to keep it from lifting under the higher tension of RW strings
-Early 4003 models(until late 1980s had jumbo frets)
1984: As of September 1st, all Rickenbacker bass guitars manufactured with modern truss rod system
1985: 4001v63 model debut; a re-issue model with 1963 4001S (Rose Morris 1999) features:
-Walnut headstock wings
-Longer headstock
-Split tailpiece
-1/2" neck pickup spacing
-"Toaster top" neck pickup
-Larger pickguard
-Square neck heel
-And the frustrating yet loveable horseshoe bridge pickup(some very early models built with actual magnetized NOS 1960's horseshoe pickups)
1996: 4003S model discontinued
1997: Baby headstock is replaced by mutant "60's looking" headstock on 4003 and V63 models
2002: 4001v63 model replaced by 4001c64 and 4001c64S

One could spend HOURS doing this!

1996 saw the end of the -S line. No more.

Supplementary: Dang, didn't see that Jeff.

Wow, thanks Jeff! What about the infamous "hump" pickguard? When did that start?

mutant "60's looking"

LMAO

I can sure tell you like the 4003S.

I thought this thread was about forumite Paul Alvarez's band.

http://timelinemusic.net/

this is from http://www.main.rickresource.com/

4001 MODELS
4001
This is the deluxe two-pickup version of the 4000 model. The neck pickup was added to give greater tonal flexibility and greater bass response. This bass was originally designed for use with flat-wound strings.
Features: Bound body, bound Padouk fingerboard, triangle inlays, two pickups, separate volume and tone controls, mono-output, truss rods adjust at head. Originally this bass was only available in a Fireglo finish.
1961 - Introduced
1963 - Bridge with under string mutes was added
1965 - Black plastic seven-sided knobs with silver tops replaced all black Bakelite knobs
1965 - Mapleglo finish became optionally available 1965 - Three special six-string 4001 basses were produced
1969 - Ric-O-Sound became standard instead of an optional feature
1969(1971) - High gain single-coil pickup and cover replaced horseshoe bridge pickup.
1969 - Headstock was shortened
(????) - 9th dot inlay position marker was added in between the 18th and 19th frets
(????) - Three special 30 inch scale 4001 basses were produced
1971 - Starr Stowe was featured in the February 1978 issue of Playboy magazine holding an Azureglo 4001 owned by Gene Simmons.
197? - Some set neck basses produced
1971 - Grover sealed back machine heads replaced Schaller open back machine heads
1972 - Maple headstock wings replaced contrasting walnut headstock wings
1972 - Center walnut stripe running the length of the instrument was introduced
1972 - High gain neck single-coil pickup replaced toaster neck pickup
1972 - Clear plastic finger rest was eliminated
1973 - Schaller BMC chrome open back machine heads replaced Grover sealed back machine heads
1973 - Single color (white or black) body binding replaced block binding
1973 - Smaller pearloid fingerboard inlays replaced crushed pearl large triangle inlays
1973 - Pickguard was shortened by moving back from bridge pickup surround
1973 - Large bridge pickup surround was made smaller and more rectangular
1974 - Gap in center raised lip of bridge eliminated
(mid 70's) - Set neck design replaces neck thru design
1974 - Neck pickup was moved 1/2 inch closer toward the bridge pickup
1974 - Pickguard shortened 1/2 inch
1983 - Discontinued

But when was the 4080 series discontinued?

This line doesn't seem correct:
1971 - Starr Stowe was featured in the February 1978 issue of Playboy magazine holding an Azureglo 4001 owned by Gene Simmons.
...I don't think anyone had an advanced copy of a Feb '78 magazine, in 1971. LOL

...and I thought it was late '73 - early '74 that the hi gain started replacing the toaster in the neck position.