Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've mentioned my Rick journey began back a while ago when I happened upon a "beater" forgotton in the back room of a local music store. I was a big Geddy fan and it was a jetglo 4001 so I bought it for $200 with no nut or strings. I cobbed on a badass bridge and threw away the original and the "dumb" thumb rest. Be aware that I was young and much less informed. Anyway, I was never in love with it because the pickguard, checked binding, and the inlays just didn't "look right" like Geddy's. I also got spooked by everyone telling me that the necks were junk and couldn't be adjusted. So I traded for a import Jazz that is also long gone.

So anyway it's a long ago memory right, but the other day I came across the only photo record I have of it. I do not have a serial number, but many of the cues lead me to think it was pre-71. I need help in identifying the year so that I can properly shoot myself. What do you experts think. The case appeared original. It has the green pickup, and checked binding, full coverage guard, and appeared unmodified (untill I got done). BTW, other that the slight neck bow with roundwounds, it was really nice when I got it. Since joining this forum, I was always afraid I would find these pictures and count 21 frets! Let's not talk about what I did to it. Remember were talking mid eighties here!

Large headstock, full width MOP, long guard, checkerboard binding, thumb rest, high gain treble. It looks like pre '71 / post '68 . No need to kick yourself. We'll do it for you.

It took balls to share that story here.
I absolve you of your sins. Sorta.

Hey, at least you still have the pictures!

Oh you poor thing, Wes. I'd be giving myself a constant beating for that one for the rest of my life.

But then again it was the 80's. Who knows what I would have done with it back then!

I put a Badass on a 4002 (and a bunch of 4001s) back then.

Nice try Ted, but I was still a punk. I will replace it, just at 20 times what it cost the first time!

This might make you feel better...

Jeff Rath took his '68 4001 into a music store in the 80's and offered to trade it straight up for a 4002. The guy said no, but offered him a Kramer something or other in trade. Thankfully Jeff did not bite on that one.

So we've talked alot about the lack of 69-70 deluxe models out there. No one really knows why but it seems there are more '67-68s and '71-72s. My guess for mine has been '71 due to the lack of horseshoe that's why I dreaded the prospect of 21 frets. Were ther pre-71s with out the 'shoes?

All together now, PUNK!

I think the shoes went out near the end of '68.

My Dec 68 which does not have a horseshoe has a green p/up and Jeff's 68 had one too, with the horseshoes, so this could have possibly had horseshoes.

If you make out the tuners to be either Klusons (68) or Grovers (69 on) that would pin it down.

Thats nothing, remind me to tell the one about the Pre-CBS Salmon Pink P-bass I had.

Oh yeah, I stripped it, and spray painted it black. (spray can).

Ouch, Scott!!

Tuners were open.

OMG Scott, that one hurt. Physically.

By the way, not that it will ease the pain, but there was no "Salmon Pink" back then, it was actually faded Fiesta Red.

Have you seen the new Fender Custom Shop Pino Palladino Signature P-bass? Salmon Pink (faded Fiesta Red over Desert Sand), tortoise guard (ugliest ever), 'relic' treatment.

Why can't they make good looking tortoise guards any more?