Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So, for those who don't know i scored a 1976 3000 and 1979 4001 in a 2-for-1 deal on ebay.

they arrived today - on my birthday...i always buy myself the best presents.

anyways, on both, the truss rod covers are back painted plexi. that is (from surface to underside): clear plexi, rickenbacker logo in black (the 4001 reads "model 4001 made in u.s.a.", the 3000 reads "made in u.s.a.").

is this the way they used to do it? or, are they replacements?

the serial number check out on both basses.

i'll post pics of the innards of both basses, hopefully someone can verify their authenticity for me?

hmm...okay well these are definitely home-made. i took the pickguards off,everything under there looks legit. i would still like to post photos to get the final confirmation.

As old as the guitars are, they probably came that way and those old back-painted ones are better looking than the new molded ones - you lucky devil. If you polish the edges you can even read the label through the edge. Takes about 15 minutes with some wet-sanding paper and polishing compound.

yes! that is exactly what it looks like!

that is actually how they did it?

p.s. the 3000 will probably be going up for sale, as school costs this year aren't going to allow me to keep a bass i won't be playing regularly...details to follow in the 'for sale' section.

That plexi truss rod cover, if original and black, is probably worth about $350 to the right person, at least. They do NOT come up often. I have one original, on my 75 4001. Does it look like this:

I have a trc that appears to be real but it only says Rickenbacker ... it is clear plexi ... it came on my 2050 bass ...

huh,

just got a response from the seller, who owned the 4001 since new and said the plexi trc was there when he bought it new and has always been there.i had no idea they used to do it that way.

the 4001 is in incredible shape, with this mystery solved, it's a very happy birthday!

They were made that way until what, 1973 or so? My '68 4000 and '73 4001 both have the clear plexi trc's.

Oops, I just re-read what year your 4001 is. I guess they were being used much later than 1973, huh?

AFAIK, white Plexi TRC's were replaced by raised-letter TRC's in 1974. Black Plexi TRC's were used until '75 or so, and the ones I've seen (including mine) don't have model numbers, just MADE IN USA. '79 Rics definitely came with raised letter TRC's. Yours either came from an older Ric or was home-made.

hmmm...well that goes against what the seller told me, can anyone else confirm these were the dates for the 'white' plexi trcs?

oh - and i just noticed i entitled this thread "Trust" not "Truss" rod covers. a freudian slip in relation to my fears of getting ripped off?

There were some uses of the plexi TRCs later than '74 so what you have can very well be original or possibly replacements but they are most likely legit.