Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Whilst searching for a 4001/3 to buy I spotted this on eBay. Nice bass bar the finish which is unusually distressed. Seller says "as you can see from the pictures the Nitro cellulose finish has come off in places (as is usual with Nitro)". Is this "usual" and is it likely to deteriorate further or does it just indicate that it has been badly treated?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Super-Rare-Rickenbacker-4001S-Bass-McCartney-Squire_W0QQitemZ300120273280QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks like some serious mistreatment/left out in a monsoon type action happening there.

Rick finishes are about the the toughest in the biz, if I'm not mistaken.

Seller says it was "made in the UK".

We have a knowledge dearth here.

Only significant wear seems to be on the bottom, where it is significant indeed. Would water damage take on that appearance? If it were standing, say, in a flooded basement once upon a time?

Or was it used as a shovel? Strange bruise...

Look at the back guys!
Thats 4000 set-neck thats had a second pick up installed.
Could be unaware of his mistake but these days who can you trust?
Should I contact ebay uk or the seller or both?
I dont like the way he implies its got the rarity associated with the RM either.

Judging by the complete lack of knowledge most people here in the UK seem to have about Rics, even many of those who own them, my guess is he just doesn't really know any of this stuff, although I could be wrong. I have 2 friends who play Rics and when I talk about different models, features etc, they just start to glaze over
I was considered a Ric anorak by those who know me before I came on this Forum, and even now I don't know half of what many on here know.

Nice bass BTW, I like it! It's got Mojo.

There is a (not so) fine line between mojo and abuse!

I've got an '82 jetglo 4001S purchased new in 1984. The finish on my bass is fine, except for some minor sweat damage from me and a small chip near the bridge pickup where the wood shows through. The streaks of missing finish look to be damage caused by mistreatment.
I have haven't seen many fireglo 4001S models from this period. It was my second favorite at the time after jetglo. I finally got a fireglo 4003 from ebay last summer.

Couldn't that damage be caused by rapid heat/cool cycles that lifted the finish/CV off the wood? If it were water damage, there would be discoloration or even mold on the maple.

Hey, I love Jaco's basses. What can I say?

just noticed this one myself, any ideas on what it should go for ? any other issues apart from the paint.

Hi Paul, its obviously a modded 4000 and I kind of agree that it has a certain mojo so long as the paint doesn't deteriorate further. I decided against buying it as I spotted a 1980 4001FG in good condition on eBay today for much the same price and dived in. I did contact the seller of the modded 4000 and he said his reserve is £895.

thanks mark

Mark, I'm not so sure it is a modded 4000. Yeah, it says 4000 in the control cavity, but my '82 4001S just has the manufacture date there. The 4000 is also the base type for that model and the two pick-up 4001S.
The cutout for the neck pickup and the cable routing channel look just like my "confirmed" 4001S so based on mine (built just 1 year later) I say 4001S.

I suppose other things could cause that kind of finish failure but that does look like moisture damage to me. Not the end of the world or anything but worth noting.