Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

http://cgi.ebay.ca/RICKENBACKER-4001-BA ... dZViewItem
a little pricey no?

I'm looking around to replace mine that got stolen and not sure how much I feel like waiting for one to pop up in one of the used stores

That bass look awfully familiar - hasn't it been up on evilbay several times already, or was that its twin?

I'd like to see a shot of under the TRC to see whether the rods have been abused.

Given the wear and the current market, I'd say the starting price is a little high, though one never knows with an early '73...

A new 4003 will have full width inlays, a fast neck and will save you lots of cash...and that can't be a bad thing

Ooh, and sorry for my rudeness - welcome Alex!

Welcome Alex,

These first generation BG basses with CB are highly sought after, and have sold for more than $4K. A 71 sold for over $5K last year. This seller seems to know what he's got, but no one has bit at the high opening bid.

You don't see many in this color, and he's probably thinking eventually someone will bite....

I have one from the same month...
viewtopic.php?p=463675#p463675

Welcome, Alex!

I'm selling a mapleglo '73 from just a couple months later, for significantly less (also on eBay) ... don't know if you're looking to replace a '73 or specifically a burgundy '73. What exactly are you looking for?

The market's down on these a bit, but there still aren't that many up for sale at any time.

Wints,

Your bass is soooo much nicer than the one on the bay. If you had yours up with the same BIN, you'd lose it within minutes!

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=383650&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=d

it has been up a few times so far on the bay

antipodean wrote:Wints,

Your bass is soooo much nicer than the one on the bay. If you had yours up with the same BIN, you'd lose it within minutes!

Thanks Evan. I have to again thank John Williams for that one...

When I got it, I took off the old 45-105 strings and put on some new 40-95 D' Addario's. It just didn't feel or sound right. I adjusted the bridge and put it back away in the case. That was a couple of months ago. It didn't come out again until this weekend at JDog's, where upon it felt and sounded completely different. It had settled down nicely, and sounded real bright. It's great to look at too....

The 73BG on the bay has some structural issues as well as cosmetic.
To fix these, you'd have some seems showing, or it would require a refin.
Given the work load on our resident Rick-o-doctors, you might be waiting a while
before you were to play it.

Yup, there's a reason this one's been hanging around so long, price is too high for the condition. John is dead on about the doctor situation, two of my 73's are at two different doctors. One has been gone 19 months the other 8 months. Good thing I have five other 73's to play in the meantime ... .

thanks for all your replies!

I'm looking to replace with a jetglo as I had, but preferably a burgundy, nothing else appeals to me that much besides a Walnut finish I saw in toronto recently but my insurance check wasn't in yet and now it's gone =/

I thought there would be cosmetic issues, and the fact that he's selling *as is* due to the age. the price seemed a little high for a '73 that wasn't in a little better condition.

that eggplant glo you posted i beautiful! that's sort of what i'm looking for..I'm not in a big rush either, and I'm not too keen on the Ebay. Most likely I'm going to wait until this store in Toronto get sone I like in cause they get them every once in awhile, all they have now is an azureglo and well..I'm picky heh

and I'm not really considering a newer 4003 at all, and besides even if I wanted to out and buy one right away I couldn't. the dealers here never have them and waiting 1-2 years for an order is not really convenient to replace something I need as soon as I can get it. but thanks for the mention, cause yea it would save me some cash but it's insurance money so I don't mind so much!

Also, I'm sure some people are with me when I say I almost despise the feel of a new instrument even if it is a rickie

alexcairncross wrote:Also, I'm sure some people are with me when I say I almost despise the feel of a new instrument even if it is a rickie

Hello fellow Ottawan! Welcome to the forum Alex. Doesn't sound like you're too interested in a new 4003, but you should know that I once ordered one from the Long and McQuade on Alta Vista Dr. and--despite being told of the usual 24 month waiting list--the bass came in after 3 months.

I'm one of those who can't understand the affinity people have for old basses, while throwing out all the other old stuff they have lying around the house. Let me assure you that my 2005 4003 makes my 1974 4001 look like a Tawainese clone by comparison. Rickenbacker has learned quite a lot about making even better instruments in the last half-century. I get the "collectable" factor, but the (far more important IMHO) "playability" factor is crucial for me.

Were there no such thing as subjective value influenced by collectors and vintage market factors, (i.e. were I living in a complete vacuum), I would probably be willing to pay $400-$500 for an early '70s 4001 and $2,000 for a brand new 4003. To me, it's like buying a house: you expect the value of any house to appreciate over time, but I'm sure as heck not paying more for a 40-year old house than a brand new one, just because the house is 40 years old! (And yes, I anticipate the argument that some new houses are built with cheaper and less durable materials than old ones--I live in a 110-year old farmhouse myself--but I think we can all agree that all Ricks are the metaphorical equivilant of a VERY well-built house!)

Just my opinion, folks!

Seeing Canada is part of the NA sales area, a new 4003 with all the latest goodies could be had in a few days with a little watching of shipments and making phone calls. 4003JG basses ship all the time.

4stringnosing wrote:

alexcairncross wrote:Also, I'm sure some people are with me when I say I almost despise the feel of a new instrument even if it is a rickie

Hello fellow Ottawan! Welcome to the forum Alex. Doesn't sound like you're too interested in a new 4003, but you should know that I once ordered one from the Long and McQuade on Alta Vista Dr. and--despite being told of the usual 24 month waiting list--the bass came in after 3 months.

I'm one of those who can't understand the affinity people have for old basses, while throwing out all the other old stuff they have lying around the house. Let me assure you that my 2005 4003 makes my 1974 4001 look like a Tawainese clone by comparison. Rickenbacker has learned quite a lot about making even better instruments in the last half-century. I get the "collectable" factor, but the (far more important IMHO) "playability" factor is crucial for me.

Were there no such thing as subjective value influenced by collectors and vintage market factors, (i.e. were I living in a complete vacuum), I would probably be willing to pay $400-$500 for an early '70s 4001 and $2,000 for a brand new 4003. To me, it's like buying a house: you expect the value of any house to appreciate over time, but I'm sure as heck not paying more for a 40-year old house than a brand new one, just because the house is 40 years old! (And yes, I anticipate the argument that some new houses are built with cheaper and less durable materials than old ones--I live in a 110-year old farmhouse myself--but I think we can all agree that all Ricks are the metaphorical equivilant of a VERY well-built house!)

Just my opinion, folks!

The problem I have with the newer ones is the sound. They sound great, but to my ears (so far at least) the best of the older 4001s just sound better. I've never played a bass that sounds better than my '72; no 4003 has come close. I live in hope though...

FWIW, I really like that '73, wear and all. But then wear never bothered me...

henry5 wrote:The problem I have with the newer ones is the sound. They sound great, but to my ears (so far at least) the best of the older 4001s just sound better. I've never played a bass that sounds better than my '72; no 4003 has come close. I live in hope though...

Shaun, though I love my '04 4003 and the other 4003 basses and even my V63, I have to agree when it comes to my '75 4001. None of the others come close to its tone and "rightness" of sound.