Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I bought my first Rickenbacker 4001 brand new at Wurlitzers in Boston, Ma. in 1977. I paid $469.00 with case and I don't think that I got a deal either as they were going like hotcakes (geriatric term) at the time and I was young and didn't know how to bargain. I tried out a Jetglo and complained because it was on the rack! the salesman brought out a Mapleglo (in the shipping container) opened it and said "Here, just like Paul McCartneys'" I took it home and promptly put Rotosounds on it (came with flatwounds) and fell in love. Now I use flats on most of my Rics, strange world.

Man I'm having a major geriatric moment here. I bought my first 4001 in '72 but haven't the foggiest idea what I paid for it. I do know I earned the money delivering papers, working at a Midas muffler warehouse after school and delivering milk before school.

$150 ... in 1973 I bought a 1968 4001 without a case ... I still got it ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/68-ric.htm

Three questions: Robert, do you still have the '72? Jeff, how did you end up with my dream bass? Is the horse shoe identical to the new ones, I mean electrically as well as cosmetically, actually I have more questions, does your bass have the .0047 cap in it, in other words did they put those in in the 60's basses with the horse shoes as well as the 70's with the high gains, and lastly, how does it sound?

that bass is way cool ... I don't gig it any more ... I have the real horseshoe, toaster, and capaciter ...

Right now they are all in a box ... yes I put Ric high gains in it ... I will put the original pickups back in one of these days ...

It sounds great either way ... I have NEVER used flatwound strings ... and the frets are in great shape ... the action is wonderful ... it has a lot of bite and smoothness at the same time ...

I am really into 5 string basses these days ... I play this one a lot ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/90-blue.htm

No I don't have it anymore. But if anyone comes across a 4001 with a late '70s body and neck assembly, and a '72 serial number, electronics and hardware in Mapleglo, it may be my first bass.

It's a long story how the bass came to be as I described, I posted part of it here somewhere in the past. Oh well...

I do have another '72 in Fireglo I bought a few years ago though.

I bought a '75 4001 that had blue flames airbrushed on it about 8 years ago and paid $500 for it.

In the early '80's, I bought a '67 4005 for around $250. Sol Betnun's (in Hollywood), from whom I bought it ordered a case from the factory for me. BTW, it's where I bought my first strat, in the early '70's for about $150. It was a 1964 and I made a great profit off of it about 20 years later. I loved the days before Vintage Fever took over, though I've done well by it.

Jeff, that is one gorgeous bass.

My first RIC bass was an '82 4080/12 FG. I think I paid $1800. for it back in '97. I sold it later that year for $2500.
http://www.homestead.com/aurs/prevdn.html

My 1979 Jetglo 4001LH cost me $375 in 1980, with case...I still have it.

In contrast, the nicest 1959 Les Paul money could buy was only $8500.00....

I paid $300 for this '65 4005 back in the mid 80's, a really nice Bass w/ a great neck,
http://a3.cpimg.com/image/93/CA/11807123-1211-00F6025D-.jpg

$200 for a used '74 4001 w/case in '76. My first new Ric was a '78 4001 that I bought for $277 w/case.

I paid $230 (on consignment) for my '73 480 in early '74.

I had one of those. I bought a '77 480 w/OHSC for $125 in 1986. Sold it for $550 two years ago and got a 620.