Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Up on Ebay at the moment. I'm suprised at all you guys for not commenting on this one.
Toaster, early high gain. I'd love to play it. Rare enough too.

toaster early high gain

Haha, Gerry, you noticed her too.
I've been watching the auction closely and wish to bid in the last minute hopefully for a good deal.
The mute pad adj. thumb screws on that bass was replaced with black hex ones.

Look at the short toggle switch.
Is it correct for a '72 4001?

Looks like that has been replaced with a Gibson style switch.
I'm out of the running unfortunately, being outside the US. From the current price it looks like everyone is waiting until the last moment. Good luck.

The toggle switch cap definitely is not a Rick part. Ditto for the mute thumb screws. Plus, the handrest is not period-correct.

Absolutely not factory original mute thumb screws. Looks like industrial bulk hex-head bolts.

Look carefully. The mute assembly has probably been removed. The bridge pickup cover has been installed above the springs instead of below them against the pickup base giving it an "incorrect" look. Just the same, I'd take it any day!

A closer look from a different perspective.

Sorry, Dane, but I have to disagree with you. Look closer. That's not an early 70s handrest FOR SURE. And it hasn't been installed the way you say. Even if you were to install a period-correct handrest the way you say, it wouldn't look that tall.

Paul: I wish you will become the proud owner of this rare fretless 4001. I can supply two original thumb screws for the mute baseplate. Can't help with the handrest and the toggle switch cap, though.
Go for it!

Once again you rule, Sergio!

Wish me luck.

The baby is mine!

I'll order a RIC toggle switch for her.
The incorrect treble pickup cover is fine by me.

Thank you Sergio and Gerry for wishing me luck.

My very first Rickenbacker bass was a 2nd hand 1972 4001FG.(Picked it up in October 1979, let it go in early 1986). I distinctly remember the letters on the jackplate: LL. It was totally stock except for the tuners (brand unknown - they looked like Schallers), the toggle switch cap, which was white, and the mute pad, which had been removed. It was in pretty good condition. It had a toaster p.u. in the bass position and a 'button-top' high-gain p.u. in the treble position. Since neither was particularly hot, in early '82 I put both away and fitted the bass with two of my own pickups instead. Though not perfect (I had started making pickups in April '81) these performed better than the originals. Before selling the bass in 1986 I re-installed these.

Just read your post, Paul. Wow! I'm sure happy you snapped it up! Do let us know your impressions on that baby at your earliest convenience. It certainly is rare - back in 1972 fretless 4001s were special order items, and hence quite scarce.
Congratulations on your new purchase!

Hey thanks!!!

Honestly, I can't believe I've bought 2 RIC basses in less than 9 months....Talk about RIC basses coming into my current phase of life!

Actually, it was mainly the checkered binding and the number "1972" that made me get this one. It would be even better if this bass is in Fireglo or Jetglo, but this one is precious enough!

Now a great part of the money in my little piggy is spent on this 1972 fretless, gotta keep on feeding it for the future/possible purchases of a 21-fret 4001 and a 4003 "Shadow" (my favorite Jetglo finished RIC bass).

Sergio, I'll let you know how her pickups sound when she arrives in my hands.