Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone know the history behind the changin body shapes over the years? Some seem wider & flatter than others & some have fat or thin horns... Got an opportunity to pick up a 1968 4001 but not sure I like the shape as much as my 79 4001.

The 68 4001 is horrible compared to the 70's 4001.
If you pass on it, please forward the contact info. I may buy it.
Welcome to the forum Saul.

The 68 is definitely a little odd looking...
Any ideas what $ these should be fetching today?
No photos but it's had tuners replaced but originals included. other than that it's completely original & fully working. Few paint scrapes & chips but certainly not abused. Fireglow with Checker binding, large scratch & toaster + horseshoe

Well, Saul, if I had the kind of money late '60s Rickenbacker basses are going for these days I certainly would not let the one at issue slip by. And I can't think of that noticeable a difference in shape between a '68 and '79 4001.
Welcome to the forum, by the way.

I definitely would not pass on a 68. But if you don't like it, I'm sure myself and other forumites would be in a dogpile on it...

They're asking GBP5000
I'm sure it would drop a bit for cash or be part ex above market for trading in a 79 4001 but it's hard to know how off the mark it might be when I haven't ever seen another. I guess in my head I'm pricing it like a pre CBS Jazz.
Anyone ever seen one go on ebay?

What's that...$9000 and some change?..Too much money!

To the 'unaided' eye, a 68 body looks thinner in the horns than say a '79. I have never actually measured them for comparison, but(it looks like) at some point in the 70s more meat was added to the body wings.

The horns narrower and the inside points are more pronounced.
It does have checkers and sparkles as well as a toaster and
depending on whatever, a horse shoe.
As for the debate on the price-
If you don't like it, try to find another.
Playfully sarcastic on the last sentence

Priced like a Pre-CBS Jazz?
I paid $350.00 for mine. Now if I can find a '68 4001 for that price!

The 68 may be slightly lighter than the 79. My 68 is noticeably lighter than all my other basses. The main visual difference is that the C/B and toaster and horseshoes plus an aged Fireglo make for one spectacular bass!

That's $9500 USD, which is a lot though...

I sold my "68" for $2000.00 USD, 2 years ago..

It did have some "issues".

All in all the differences are pretty subtle and some are difficult to spot. The widening of the horns through the 70's could have been due to template wear. Other than the early 4000s, I would be loathe to call any generation of the 4000 series body shape unattractive or even less attractive. I have a 4001/3 from each decade the models were produced. They are all attractive to me.

There is a 68 Voltage Guitars for $3195. It has no horseshoe though.

Here are some from each decade:

'60s


'70s


'80s


'90s


'00s