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Missing link: '62 4000
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:30 am
by bassduke49
Oh my! Paul DiCamillo, a lurking Forumite, has sent me a nice shot of what can be considered the "Lucy" in the evolution of the Rickenbacker bass. This is a 1962 Fireglo 4000. What's so special? Well it combines traits of the early 4000 -- old-style pickguard, sliding mute, and unslotted tuning pegs -- with the "new" style body with the enlarged top horn. I believe the top horn was enlarged for balance purposes, and must have occurred in 1960 or 61 -- the year of the 4001 debut. This is the first I've seen with these transitional features. Also note the interesting shape of the pickup surround. Thanks for the great photo, Paul!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:33 am
by cheyenne
Lap steel Pup maybe?
Nice bass!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:33 am
by wints
Very, very cool!
That pickguard is a true 60's Ric piece!
Tell Paul to decloak and join the fun properly!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:35 am
by bob_atherton
now THAT is a rare bass. Paul, you are very lucky to own that one.
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:41 am
by sloop_john_b
Wow!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:59 am
by jingle_jangle
That is gorgeous, and in incredible condition, too!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:09 am
by s4001
Amazing outstanding bass. Loveliest early 4000 I've seen.
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:02 am
by rickcrazy
I sure would love having that
baby sing just for me...
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:03 am
by lars
Can't say the designers got the pick guard shape right at first attempt... (Ugly, if you ask me...)
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:11 am
by brycycle
"Can't say the designers got the pick guard shape right at first attempt... (Ugly, if you ask me...)"
i wouldn't kick it out of that bed...
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:51 am
by leftybass
Very interesting. What a great bass!
New body shape with old-style tailpiece and bridge as Paul pointed out. Similar silhouette to the bound/deluxe 1960-61 4000 seen at the trade shows, and the 4001 in the Rittor book labeled as a '63, but it sure looks earlier than than that; IMO it was made in '62. This 4000 is a beauty for sure...
I've seen horseshoe p/ups like the lapsteel type on much later basses than this but they were probably replacements for sure. This one is probably the real deal....
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:03 am
by elysrand
My goodness! Made just a year before mine, wow, what a beauty!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:15 am
by ricosound
Where's Ted these days?
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:41 am
by bassduke49
Talked with Ted last night, he's still really busy. His youth baseball team is going into playoffs, so at least he's enjoying things. Ted got pretty discouraged when he lost out on his chance to get a DCM bass from CME, and he just hasn't thought much about musical instruments for a while, but I may have got him interested in a project, so we'll see.
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:50 am
by bassduke49
