Another "Rickenfaker" on eBay

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri May 16, 2003 9:55 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2531675734&category=41439

I guess one should be thankful that it wasn't advertised as a "325 4-string bass"! I already sent the seller a message about it.

tim4003 · Post by **tim4003** » Sat May 17, 2003 7:43 am

Me thinks somebody makea da BooBoo!

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Sat May 17, 2003 2:28 pm

Here's the title of the ad:

RICKENBACKER ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR

I didn't look closely at the pics last night and failed to notice that it was actually a regular 6-string, not a bass. Gee, the seller can't even get THAT much right!

I got this in the reply from the seller:

PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS IS A FAKE. SO I CAN CORRECT THE INFORMATION.

Well, wish me luck, I think I'll need it on this task!

aristeas · Post by **aristeas** » Sat May 17, 2003 9:11 pm

You could start with the nut - its white and should be black - and the trapeze - which is a ridiculous piece of nonsense I've seen all over the place - it must be the 'Rickenfaker' standard issue..

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun May 18, 2003 4:05 am

This 4001 obviously is not a fake, but it was not made in 1971, either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2531802232&category=4713

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun May 18, 2003 4:13 am

I can't make out the letters on the jackplate, but everything on the above 4001 screams early 1975! And I wish it had not been converted to fretless.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun May 18, 2003 1:03 pm

I think you are right Sergio, the first letter looks like O to me, and I don't see any 71 features really, except for the bass pickups' position. It would have been a nice bass though if it hadn't been converted. I'm going to ask them what the first letter is.

dougp · Post by **dougp** » Mon May 19, 2003 2:56 pm

The trapeze on that "325" looks exactly like the one on the short-lived Jay Turser Ric copies; I hope someone isn't trying to pass off one of THOSE as the real thing! Fortunately, it looks like the date for the '75 4001 has been corrected.

I just hope that no one accuses my '78 4001 of being a fake because it has a non-original (brass, in this case) nut ...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed May 21, 2003 3:06 am

Bingo! The above-discussed 4001 bears the serial number OC 1555 (March 1975). God, I'm good.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed May 21, 2003 5:10 am

Yes you are.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed May 21, 2003 10:07 am

We ought to hold some sort of contest in this vein once in a while, i.e. trying and identifying down to the year & month a 4001 or 4003 in a picture submitted by any one of us. The jackplate on said bass would not be shown, of course. I'll leave it up to you to come up with ideas re prizes for the winners.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 21, 2003 11:08 am

I'm even better, I saw the 0 haha. (or my screen is better), as far as prizes how about the bass? Unfortunately I could not submit any basses for inspection though.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed May 21, 2003 12:19 pm

Well, I believe that the fact that I've guessed the year of manufacture of that particular 4001 without seeing the actual serial number/letters makes me a worthier winner. Right, guys?
Hey, I'm only kidding. Well, I wouldn't go as far as suggesting giving the actual instrument away as a prize. How about some parts, a pickup and the like instead?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu May 22, 2003 12:54 pm

Yeah, seriously that was good guessing on your part, I had a 75 with many old style parts on it, I probably would have been puzzled by that bass. If you hadn't have pointed out the year in the first place I might not have noticed the 0. I like the idea of a contest though, I wish I had still had the 75, it looked like a 73.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Fri May 23, 2003 7:33 pm

I'm interested in what Rickenbacker has to say about these knockoff 4001 bodies on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2533657341&category=4713