Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK,

I'm sure it's been covered here a number of times so I apologize in advance, but when did RIC START and STOP using the wavy tuners?

I've seen them on earlier 4001's, then I see this on Ebay....a 1982 4001 with WAVY tuners...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Very-Nice-1982-Rickenbacker-4001-Bass-Guitar-with-Case_W0QQitemZ120066325214QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Were these original or added on at a later date?

BUT, compared to a 1980 4003, which being OLDER I'd ASSume it would have them too, but it doesn't have them....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140061635350&rd=1&rd=1

Were they ONLY a 4001 option or did they ever come on a 4003? Then to confuse things more, I've seen 1980-1982 4001's without the wavy tuners...

Was it one of those things where the factory was just using them up similar to what they are doing now with the old neck vs. new neck profile stock?

THANKS! Just trying to improve my RIC education...

As far as I know the grovers appeared on Ric bass in the early 70s then went away in the mid and late 70s and showed up again in the 80s and only on 4001 basses ... also there seem to be periods when they produced basses with both kinds of tuners at the same time ...

They also seem to be standard issue on the 4080 & 4080/12.

The black lefty 4003-S that was on ebay was from about 1982-83, and had factory wavy Grovers.

The non-wavy variety first appeared sometime in 1969 I believe, while the wavy-head Grovers showed up around early 1972, based on examples I've seen.

From what I've seen the wavy Grovers were used on 4001's through 1974, then disappeared until about 1982, where they reappeared on both 4001's and 4003's through 1984 (I have a 1984 4003 with wavies).

I've seen the first version on a late '69 too.

I've seen factory installed Grovers as late as 1986. I may not have the story exactly right but I recall something about Grovers being used as backup for the standard tuners. The factory used them when the others were not available. The use of Grovers does appear to be spotty and random so maybe that is true.

I believe Ted's correct.

This would be nice to nail down for Paul's book.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

MUCH appreciated.

Amazing how much information is on this forum.

Thanks again.

Ted said:
"I've seen factory installed Grovers as late as 1986. I may not have the story exactly right but I recall something about Grovers being used as backup for the standard tuners. The factory used them when the others were not available. The use of Grovers does appear to be spotty and random so maybe that is true."

JH has said something along those lines here before, it's definitely true and in the long lost archives someplace.