Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

4001 or 4003?

Owner says it was bought in 1975, thinks it is a 4002 which it is obviously not. Hoping to get a serial # off him.

http://www.netfox.ca/ricken1.jpg

http://www.netfox.ca/ricken2.jpg

http://www.netfox.ca/ricken3.jpg

I don't know what year the 4003 went into production, otherwise I may have been able to answer my own question. This one looks to be in good shape, any ideas as to what it might be worth?

Hi Dave,

The 4003 was introduced in 1980, so anything prior will be a 4001. The problem is that the 4003 and 4001 overlapped - the transition was from 1980 to around 1985.

Thankfully, the early 4003s have a two-piece 'guard as the truss rods adjust at the body end of the neck rather than under the TRC, and for transparent finishes, the 4001 has the Shedua neck stripe, which is not present on the 4003.

Even if your man is incorrect in the date of the bass, the stripe says "4001".

For valuation, mid to high $1k assuming total structural integrity. You will want to check under the TRC for damaged rods.

That is a '75 or '76 4001 in Fireglo. It appears to be completely original except for the case. The shedua stripe tells you it is a post '71 4001. The 1" space on the neck pickup put it mid-year '75 or later and the parallel control knobs places it before '77.

antipodean wrote:Hi Dave,

The 4003 was introduced in 1980, so anything prior will be a 4001. The problem is that the 4003 and 4001 overlapped - the transition was from 1980 to around 1985.

Thankfully, the early 4003s have a two-piece 'guard as the truss rods adjust at the body end of the neck rather than under the TRC, and for transparent finishes, the 4001 has the Shedua neck stripe, which is not present on the 4003.

Even if your man is incorrect in the date of the bass, the stripe says "4001".

For valuation, mid to high $1k assuming total structural integrity. You will want to check under the TRC for damaged rods.

+1. It's definately a 4001, beautiful bass too!

+2, but I really have nothing to add here, just increasing my post count on this one!

Thanks everyone! He has it advertised as a 4002 so I immediately responded with a request for pictures but unfortunately it's not what he thinks it is. I didn't know if older 4001's commanded much of a price or not which is why I asked. Looks like the answer is they're worth around the same as any 4003 model....

...not necessarily. Early 4001s with the desirable feature set are worth more, sometimes much more, than most 4003s.

The model number is on the truss rod cover - down near the nut. That should convince him.

Yes I already told him to have a looky there....

jps wrote:...not necessarily. Early 4001s with the desirable feature set are worth more, sometimes much more, than most 4003s.

Yes indeed...

The ramp up seems to start with late '73s - with toaster and Grovers a few $100 more than a '74 with higain and Klusons, then mid '73 - add checkerboard binding another few $100, then early '73 - add full width inlays and a gap-tooth tailpiece and a few more $100, earlier-yet '73 - the inlays are sparkly - add another few $100, late '72 - add clear tug bar and quite a few more $100, '71 lose the skunk stripe, gain a bigger pickguard and add a whole lotta $100. From here on back features such as original Horseshoe treble pup ('68) will crop up and the price will get more and more astronomical.

However, unless it comes in a really cool colour (burgundyglo or azureglo) or is a brilliant fireglo or has a load of figuring in the maple, a 4001 from '74 on will come at a similar level to a 4003 - there may be a bit of a premium here and there but not the sort of thing that make your eyes water.