Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone out there able to act as an authority on the subject of the 4002 bass and fill me in on just how many were made - were they ever run in a small quantity or strictly made on a per-order basis - when they were officially dicontinued - nitty gritty facts like that...

Thanks

They began production in 1977 and were probably made in small groups until '82 or '83. Some were made to order. Ginger has a fretless that she waited a long time to get. As for production numbers, JH says they are as rare as hen's teeth. That is all we know really. I would guess the numbers to be well under 200, possibly under 100. I read either in a Usenet archive or possibly an old forum archive that Rickenbacker had 4002 inventory on hand into the early 90's. They were not fast movers.

A few of us enterprising sneaky-devil types who went on the factory tour for the 75th get together saw the now-legendary pallet o' 4002s that are gathering dust in a lonely corner of RIC in Santa Ana, CA.

I was nearly thrown out of the place for sneaking up to it and taking a few clandestine photos which I have not posted for fear of being kidnapped and tortured by fellow Rickenbacker nerds demanding to know where it is so they can plan some sort of Mission:Impossible-type raid on the factory some sunny Sunday when everyone is out enjoying the SoCal weather.

The fact I know best about the 4002, is I didn't get one when they were available.

Wow... thanks guys. Interesting to know.

Ted - is the pic you posted of your bass? That looks all kinds of sweet and bad-*** at the same time. Are these basses serialized on the 1/4" jackplate like the 4001's?

Alan - if the "Rickenbacker Nerd Posse" is doing any recruiting, I'M DOWN.

Alan, have you considered that you may be kidnapped for not posting the pictures? Stay where you are. People are coming to collect you son.

Rare as hen's teeth for sure. Just as a half-arsed analogy, in my 14 years of being associated one way or another with The Bass Palace, literally many thousand basses have crossed the threshold, and I've owned, seen or played nearly all of them. And of all that, ONE 4002 has been through the joint. And, it had issues besides. I figure I'll never see another. I guess that's rare!

Mine was born on January of 1982. I searched 20 years to find one for sale. This one is the only one that I have ever seen in person.

i heard so far that mine is the third fretless 4002 fretless theyve found..one is in austria , a maple finish a 79..mines ordered in 81 sept 14 my birthday arrived april 13 82..then one other walnut like mine an 84..thi i also heard im the only of the three that is the original owner..i heard there were less than 50 fretted ones..but i dont know how factual this is..

That grain and finish is unbelievable Dave.

Dave's is pretty sweet grain, huh!

mine was / is my main bass..ive been playing as my only source of income professionally now since 1979..so my babee has lotsa..umm..lol..stretch marks..the pick guard is worn from my thumb, finish from under the strings worn..etc..she plays beautifully and the intonation has never been reset..yet its still perfect..

*WHEW* What Peter said. Could we see more pics, Dave? Yours too, Ted & Ginger. And Ginger, I say this with all due respect and admiration, but PLEASE take some pics with something better than your camera/phone! Your bass deserves it! Are you close to NY? I'll do a whole shoot for you for free! I do headshots, but my favorite subjects are guitars, cars & bikes.

xoxo