Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

UGH!!! I am so frustrated right now...I'm trying to buy my first rick and things are not going my way. I had a deal set up with a forum member but it fell though and it's pretty much all my fault (still kicking myself about that one) and then I managed to track down another bass that was in a store in toronto so I call today and it sold yesterday!!! DAMNIT!!! It's like I wasn't meant to have a rick or something. I've been GASing for one for like 5 years and I'm back to square one now. I'm looking for a 74-79 rick 4001 and if there is anyone out there that would like to part with theirs or if anyone knows where I could find one please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated cause I have money to burn and no leads other than eBay.

Hey, sometimes things take time to work...

Just be patient. Having money to burn sometimes is a burden!

a 1974-1979 era ric is not rare ... there are a lot of them out there ...

Matthew, if you don't mind taking on the problems associated with getting one from the U.S., check out mine:

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Matthew, check out ebay!
Here's an AZ:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330033222925&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:PIC&ih=014
Here's a 1973 FG. I don't know if there are forum members among the bidders, so apologies if there are:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110039062970&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:PIC&ih=001

Both in Canada, the AZ is still a decent price. The '73 will probably go fairly high.

thanks for the info guys...I was browsing the bay and the for sale section of the forum but nothing really jumped out at me that I could afford...The two basses I lost out on were both '74 burgandyglo's with 1/2" pickup spacing which was pretty much my ideal bass...I don't know what I'm going to do...maybe I should just give up on getting one this year, save my money and wait till next year...then I could get a '72 or '73 with the extra goodies.

What are your parameters, as far as condition, year, color, etc?
I'll keep an eye out. I check ebay Canada (with worldwide searches) on a daily basis.
There are not many really good deals that show up lately, though. It seems everyone thinks every bass is collectible.
If it's the 1/2" spacing your after, the prices on those are rising steadily. The mid years are still reasonable as there isn't really any distinguishing factors from one year to the next.

I have a '77 White (SnotGlo), but it probably doesn't fit the bill of what you're after.

Matt, not interested at all in a newer bass? I've got a pickguard with 1/2" spacing that will fit perfectly on a new 4003, all you'd need to do is some minor routing to fit the neck pickup in.

The new 4003's are really great, especially with the VTS and the new neck profile.

Yeah, dude... your first Rick? Get what you want, but I think you can get something that will be much easier to find, and still be really really fun to play.

I think the late 70's 4001's sound great, they really cut through and have plenty of bottom also. They're clear enough to use flatwounds on them ad still get a nice defined sound. I've got very old GHS light gauge bright flats on a 79 mapleglo and this bass really rocks.

I'm just coming back to playing bass due to tendinitis - I would have smashed my Ric to be able to play for the last 3 months.

oh wait..

hey guys

John-I am not interested at all in a newer bass.
I just know I would want a 4001 even after I got a newer 4003 so I figure why not go directly for the 4001 but thanks anyways.

Kevin-Is your bass a black on white or white on white? I might be able to live with a black on white 4001 as long as it isn't to badly faded into that cream color. My favorite colors are Burgandyglo, Jetglo and White. I prefer the look of 1/2" spacing but I could settle with 1". And I'm not really that picky about condition...it doesn't need to be mint, I'm not going to hang it up on my wall.

Keep doing your PT exercises Chris, or that wrist will hurt again.

Mine's a white with black binding & plastic. Very much light banana yellow.
Here's a pic:

The only way I'd sell it is to a forum member so I could buy a new 4003.
It seems like you're really more interested in an earlier one. If that's your preference, I'd say be patient, you'll find one yet.

Oh, the SD neck pup is now replaced with the original pup which Sergio kindly rewound for me.
The cap is gone, pots have been replaced, all wiring works (ROS).
That is a scratch from the bridge pup surround to the tailpiece, & there is some flaking of the surround chrome.
I haven't been able to procure a replacement yet.