Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey all,

I'm Chris from Chicago. I recently bought a '78 Rickenbacker 4001 bass from eBay after searching for just the "right fit", so to speak. I fell in love with her the minute I laid eyes on her and won for $1,120! On top of that, the guy I got it from sent me back $100 after we had conversed a while back and forth - VERY cool!

Well, my inquiry to your collective expertise is this: she has some "bumps and bruises" but nothing at all catastrophic. I was wondering if it would be worth my while to refinish her (which I'd like to steer clear of since she's vintage) or simply touch up the nicks here and there. Can anyone sort of guide me as to how to go about it? Any thoughts, observations, are well appreciated! Now that I've joining the Rickenbacker family I'll never go back!!

Cheers!

Welcome to the forum.

Post some photos in the "Curmudgeon" section AFTER you've read up on some of the projects going on in there and see what Paul and the other folks in there think.

Cool, thanks for the welcome and the head's up!

Hey Chris,
Welcome to the Forum ...

What colour is your new baby ... Fireglo ???

Keep her as she is!

I agree with Peter...whatever the "damage" it's usually not a good idea to be doing refinishes. If something pushing 30 years old is still playing good and is essentially all-original, it's getting worthwhile to keep it as original as possible.

If the finish is waaaaaaaayyyyyy bad news and/or it's already been savaged, then anything might be better. But again, if it plays/sounds nice I'd go no further-a bad refinish might just do something that gives the instrument a great sound and/or feel...

Chris, welcome, and keep her mojo intact!

Welcome! It sounds like you got a good deal.
If you can, please post pics. We love seeing new finds.

Welcome Chris!

I will not refinish my two vintage Ricks as they would lose their mojo!

Welcome Chris, to echo what has been said - unless the finish is in really bad shape, keep it at is. It just adds to the character of the bass. It plays well just leave it.

Hey all, thanks for the welcome...I'm going to post some pics of her tonight for you to check her out!

http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rickenbackerwl6.jpg][img]http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4240/rickenbackerwl6.th.jpg[/img][/URL]http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5c12sbxs7.jpg][img]http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3638/5c12sbxs7.th.jpg[/img][/URL]http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=9c12sdp5.jpg][img]http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1870/9c12sdp5.th.jpg[/img][/URL]http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b112szy4.jpg][img]http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/59/b112szy4.th.jpg[/img][/URL]http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d212siq9.jpg][img]http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6562/d212siq9.th.jpg[/img][/URL]

Here's the description from eBay I got:

THIS IS A 78 MODEL 4001 SERIES RICKENBACKER BASS . IT HAS BEEN USED OVER THE YEARS AND IT HAS THE USUAL BUMPS AND DINGS ON IT BUT IT IS STILL A REALLY NICE BASS. IT COMES WITH IT'S ORIGNAL CASE WHICH IS IN GREAT SHAPE. THIS BASS IS A PLAYER AND I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT TWENTY YEARS. IT DID HAVE THE NECK REPAIRED ON IT ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO BUT IT IS GOOD AND STRONG NOW . I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER ONE THAT IS BLACK ON BLACK AND I BOUGHT IT FROM THE ORIGNAL OWNER SO I ASSUME IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY. THIS IS A USED GUITAR AND I AM SELLING AS IS SO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU BID. I REALLY HATE SELLING IT BUT I HAVE WAY TO MANY BASS GUITARS NOW AND I HAVE TO HAVE ROOM. I ONLY TAKE PAYPAL AND RIGHT NOW I CAN ONLY SELL IN THE U.S. THANK YOU AND HAPPY BIDDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys all seem great!! Thanks for welcoming me in!

Chris

Hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like this one has the "pinstripe" binding.

Indeed it does!

Chris, Sweet looking - congrats!! Play away and enjoy!!!

Welcome Chris, and so you know, pics can be uploaded as you post but are limited to 35kb and no larger than 500 pixels wide or high. Nice looking bass!