Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have always found the single pickup 4000 model interesting, and managed to find one to try out in a london store last year. (i didnt find out the price)

From what i hear they are quite hard to come by.

If i waited for one on ebay, would it demand a high price due to being somewhat rarer than a 4001 of the same period, or could i get one cheaper due to the fact that they have less features?

Good question, Owen.
Well, I think I would pick this 4000 right up, unless the asking price therefor was way too unrealistic.
Wait for one to crop up on Ebay? Hmm... As I seize it, there's always some risk (= watch out for fakes), however small, in buying a 4000 from Ebay. It's your decision, Owen. Anyone?

If Geddy Lee is having a hard time finding one, you know they are in short supply. (the GC website has an interview in which the G-man expresses his obsession with 4000's. )

Owen, Ive had my 4000 for 20 years now and I still use it at gigs, a lot, in fact I use it more than my 4003jg. Mine is serial# HD734 (April '68) and is mapleglo (or natural if you go by the listing in the Richard Smith book). The guy I bought it from had replaced the original horseshoe with a Schecter active p-style pup. He had routed an extra hole for the battery to reside. I replaced the pup with a vintage horseshoe and the pup surround just covers the hole. About the one you tried out, did it have a neck-through or did it have a set neck ? It was discussed here awhile back about those necks. The neck-throughs were replaced by the set-necks around 1972. I think by having no binding on the body or neck gives the neck a slimmer feel to it and the top groove of the body is rounded, not flat like a 4001 or 4003. I still have to complete my business with Don and get my old pickgaurd sent to him so he can make me a new one. I talked to him last year about doing it, I just never got around to sending him the template.The original has extra holes in for the switches the guy put in for the active pickup. But hey, if you get a chance to get one I highly recommend them, they're great fun to play. I did see one on Ebay awhile back that looked just like mine that sold for $1,600 and it had the cresting wave sawn off the headstock. Good luck. Randy.

I just picked up a modified '73 4000 off ebay for $475. After a refin and a new pickguard it should
turn out quite nice.

Such a deal, Kendall.
Is this 4000 the Azureglo one with the home-made brown (yuck!) pickguard?

Way to go,Kendall.
Rickenbackers seem to have a good survival rate when rescued from the Frankensteins of the world. I recommend a vintage horseshoe, the tone is amazing. When I replaced the p-style pup with the vintage, the first pluck of the string let me know I did the right thing. Even with flat wounds and only one pickup this thing has that Rick tone through and through.

Sergio,
That would be the one, the photos really didn't do it justice, the refin must have looked really good back when it was done, but the wood part I don't understand. It's going back white with white plastic and a horseshoe.

This looks to be a pretty nice '76 that appeared on the bay just now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2530487040&category=4713

you beat me to it! I just noticed that,.....thats what i call a Rick bass!!

A beautiful March 1976 Model 4000.

Gorgeous!

Is this is a set neck?

John: Set neck construction on the Model 4000 Rickenbacker bass was introduced in the mid 1970s. This bass would appear to be a set neck based on the photo on eBay showing the back of the bass. It will be very interesting to see what this bass sells for.

Thanks Pete.

It is beautiful!

Autumnglo?

Here is a pic of my recently acquired '75 4000 MG. Someone, before I got it, installed a badass bridge. It has a set neck, and there is not route behind the pickguard, just a set neck. I always thought possibly there was a route there, for a pickup, for the "4001s" upgrade.