Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

hi,
i have been lurking for a while now. never had any useful info to give anyone, but i have learned a lot from reading this forum.

anyway, to my question.

i am wanting to know when did Rickenbacker start making the 4000 basses?

thanks,

The first 4000 basses came out in 1957 I believe. They were discontinued in 1985.

I'm thinking 1957.

The first 4000 series bass was the 1957 4000. It was more or less a prototype. The production models were similar in appearance but featured different woods. The '57 had a one piece mahogany neck with maple body wings. After that the necks were walnut until '61. The first 4001 was made in 1961 which is when the 4000 series took on the general look we know today.

Here is an early example. The seller claims it to be a '57 but the features are more consistent with a '58 but details are not so clear from that time.

Here is an early 60's 4001, a '63 to be exact. You can really see how much the series evolved in just a few years.

Welcome Xak! Glad to have you officially on board! Cheers, J

Oh yes, sorry. Where are my manners. Welcome to the forum!

thanx guys.

i put in a "0" instead of a "o" in the rick serial decoder. it said it was a 1954. lol

but it's a '75.

OOPS! Welcome aboard Zack!

I had heard that the 4000's released in 57, 58, and 59 were all made in 57. Is that true?

Welcome, Zack. In a conversation with John Hall in August '05, he stated that the 4000 bass was developed in 1955, but it seems as though production and distribution didn't reach significant numbers (and they may be in the low 10s) until 1957. I haven't had a chance to verify that with JH, but hope to for my forthcoming book on Rick basses. It appears, though, that the bass wasn't illustrated in company literature until 1957. More news as it comes in. Film at 11.

cool.

may i ask who this john hall is.

never mind.

got it.

.....says the newbie

Good recovery.

Heh , I once asked about the cap bypass mod on this forum and John Hall took the time to reply to my post about a thirty year old bass. At first I just thought someone had the same name . It was three or four days later when I realized who had given me the advice.