Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi guys.
I really want to bring another rick back home with me on this business trip.
I found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.de/RICKENBACKER-USA-BAS ... dZViewItem

I checked, and I will probably be able to pick it back on my way back, how much do you think it worth, is it seriously overpriced?
Also - how is the neck of these years? is it comparable to the amazingly thin neck of my 72' 4001?

Thanks!

Hey Gil,

I'm not sure WHAT year it is...could be a 1976 (a typo possibly) or mid to late 70's looking at the bridge surround.

I'm not the best one to quote you years and such, but IF it is a 70's bass, the necks were hit and miss. Some were thin and some weren't. IF it is a mid 80's bass, odds are it has a thin neck!

IF in fact it is a 1986, that is a 4003. Get the serial number and check the http://www.rickenbacker.com site to make sure what you are dealing with.

What is confusing me is that the tailpiece LOOKS like a mid 80's with the two extra screws in it. Of course, they COULD have been added on later on.

IF so, they didn't make 4001's in 1986, I think the last ones were 1985? BUT, you REALLY need to check that serial number.

It sure it a BEAUTY! Those strings look like the ORIGINAL RIC strings made in the 70's.

I have to admit, I LOVE the mid 80's necks. I've never palyed anything older than a 1973 4001, but.....I've owned a LOT of 80's & 90's 4003's.

MY favorite PLAYING basses are my 1988 V63 and my 1984 4003S. BY FAR, they have the thinnest necks of the 25 or so post '73 models I've compared them to.

The price is high IMHO IF it is a 4003, but you don't see too many FL's available ANYWHERE. POSSIBLY, you could talk him down a bit.

I just paid $1100.00US for a BRAND NEW 4003FL AFG. IMHO, these 80's 4003's are only going to increase in price. I'm sure there aren't TOO many fretless RIC's over in Europe.

Bottom line, it is PROBABLY has a sweet neck IF IT IS A MID 80's model, ( I like them thin too), the rarity of being a fretless in great condition, but TRY TO CHEW the seller down on the price.

Let us know how you make out!

Tony

$2,800 for an '86 is about $1,400 too much IMHO. That's the "fat horns" period, and the 7-bolt tailpiece also places it in the mid-80's. So the 4001 TRC could be a replacement. You can swap out tailpieces and nameplates etc., but the body shape is more '86 than '76.

As for the neck, if all '86 necks are shaped the same, than it should be a great neck - my Sept. '86 Shadow has a fast, thin neck, thinner than my '73, thinner than Marc L's v63 and c64, and I think (but I'm not sure) it's as thin as your drop-dead gorgeous '72 which I had the pleasure to try.

Thanks guys,
I asked the seller for the serial number - it is ZG, so it IS from 86, does it mean it is 4003 for sure? how can one distignuish between a 4001 and a 4003?? (except for the nameplate).

Rickbeat.com cited John Hall:

"The 4001 ended sometime during 1980, maybe even '81. That overlaps too, but that's the difference between the catalog or price list dates which reflect inventory, and actual production dates. Without a doubt there are even a few 4001's with later serial number dates, which would been 'stragglers' through the production process or 'clear off the shelf' goods."
(http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/4001/4001.htm)

Could it be that this one is one of the rare 4001 that were released after the model was discontinued? could it be that it's not only a fretless 4001 - but a super rare one?

The seller offered it for 1800 euro.
I told him that my counter offer is 1500 euro
He said no

EUR 1,500 is about $2,100. He declined a very generous offer.

That's certainly a 4003. Maybe they cleared the nameplate bin at RIC and an old one came up, but more possibly that is a replacement TRC that was installed by the owner for some reason. The best way to tell the difference between a 4001 and a 4003 is the truss rods. If you can see the acorn nuts from the body end of the neck (pickguard removed), then it's the modern type, and that's a Model 4003.

The first 4003's ('80-'81) had split pickguards, and the truss rods were adjusted from the body end, not the headstock. There was an overlap of models but I don't think it was more than one year, maybe two.

You'll find a nicer one for much less, I'm sure.

I've seen a few 86 4001's on ebay, they were left overs from the late 70's, but came out of the factory with a jack plate of whatever year they were finished. I've seen several, looks like a nice bass. I don't think that 4003 with a 4001 pick guard, they don't fit each other at all and it would be very noticeable. I had an 84 4001FL that looked just like that.
They made split pick guards until at least 1984, I had several of them.

I stand corrected then.