Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My first post to the bass side of the forum. My 12 year old agreed to learn to play bass for his friend's band - one of those strange twists of fate stories: his friend's dad and I played together back in the 80's and 90's. Anyway, I borrowed a friend's 4001 for him to learn on. Might as well learn on the best, I figured. On to the question: I have a vague knowledge of Rickenbacker bass keywinds working "backwards". Has this always been the case? Do the current models work this way? (This is a March of 1981 model - Jetglo, and in fairly rough condition, but otherwise all original). If it was "just a phase", what period and which models exhibited this phenomenon? I'm sure this must have been covered in previous threads. Forgive my laziness for not wanting to search and sift. Thanks!

The reverse keys are common on 60's and early 70's basses. Every now and then I find them on a late 70's 4001 though. I think the current 4001C64 has them but the standard 4003 has the normal type.

Thanks for the info Ted. Anyone else have an early 80's bass with reverse keys?

I am not sure about 60's basses that is more Teds area but they became common after the Grover period which ended for the most part around 1973-74, they put them on until at least the early 80s. Some basses had Grovers during this later period but are far and few between. They were on mid 70's to early 80s basses, probably about a ten year period. I have 78 and 79 4001's and an 81 4003 and all three have them. I also had a 77 at one time with them. I like them, they're easier to turn, and cool because they're odd to most young players. Some old Fenders also had them.
They're usually called reverse tuners.

Thanks for that info Bob. My 75 4080 has them - left me a bit bewildered at first as I hadn't seen anything about them here until after I got it.

My '63 and my '80 have them.

My '79 4001 has them as well as my c64

My '81 4003S has them.

Never seemed "reversed" to me...but my 4001 stays at my guitarists house (where we rehearse), and I once asked him to re-string it. He's into that tech ****...I hate re-stringing a guitar or bass.

He was LOST! I had to start him on it...

I'll have to break out the 4001 the next time I'm there and compare it with my Laredo. I've never noticed that they are different, but they could well be. I just just turn the key in whatever direction I need - don't really pay attention to what I'm doing physically, just what happens to the pitch.

BTW the 4001 is a 75.

Ingnorance??? No such thing on this forum.

Welcome and be educated.