Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here's a 1976 4001S that sold yesterday on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1976-Rickenbacker-4000-4001-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ170039627136QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It has some very nicely figured maple on the body as well as on the neck.



So how did it get walnut wings? Those puppies aren't stained maple. Did somebody do a conversion on it?

Definitely walnut wings. I'm not positive, but it almost looks like the TRC says Model 4004? But it's hard to read. Not that it would help explain anything.
My vote is "modded". Looks cool anyway!

Its a set neck 4000 that has been modded to a 4001 with the addition of the neck pickup and electronics.

I cant account for the walnut wings and "shedua" stripe down the neck though.

I have seen a couple of headstocks like that though,, the bass player for Dave Brubeck has one.

And of course the 4002 looks similar.

A definate one off.

What's that in the neck position? A Bartolini?

Good eye as usual, Sergio.

This looks like a 4001S to me. If you look carefully at the neck pickup, you can see the pole pieces so I'd say it's a standard hi-gain. The walnut headstock wings are very interesting though. That and the nice flame on the neck made this bass a very good deal.

Thats a Bart in the neck position Dane . Sweet bass though . Wonder if a forumite scarfed it up ?

Walnut was added after the factory - look at the neck edge of the lower one in the above pic - there is a step where it meets the maple. You can just see it from the front in that pic also.

Also interesting is the bleached out spot on the stripe.

Is the toggle missing?

At least the knob part (black or white).

That neck has some killer flame going on, and the walnut wings are always classy. I can't wait to get the wings on my Laredo exposed, why is the C.S. model the only solid finish w/wings exposed, it doesn't seem right to cover them up.

Probably because of the neck repair done in the factory years ago and he asked for the Vermilion wings - the CS model would also have that.

1970's 4000 models had the stripe. No walnut wings, of course.

The wings look okay John, it is just a trick of light and shadow.