Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm thinking of putting my late 1973 4001 up on eBay. I've seen many similar models in prisine condition fetching tidy sums, but I'm not quite sure what the condition/value of mine would be, as it has been modified with updated tuning pegs and straplock studs, and it has a good deal of visible wear. Here are some pics (if I do this right):






Any input as to what the condition should be listed as and how much I should be looking to get out of it woud be greatly appreciated.

A little buckle rash, huh? Did you by chance play country music and wear a big buckle? Just kidding. It's got finish wear, but is structurally sound, right? The tuners are a reversible mod. I don't think it should devalue it a whole lot, right? But I don't really know much about estimating the value of these instruments. I'd be interested in it, but it's not a financially viable option for me right now.

No country has been played on this since I've owned it. It is structurally sound, stays in tune very well, sounds and feels great. I've simply moved to playing drums exclusively, and I can't stand to see it just lying around, not being played. 90% of the buckle rash and neck wear were there when I bought it in '01.

Welcome Zack,

Late '73 4001s are great players but are mmuch ore similar to '74 and early '75 4001s than the "classic" early '73s, which have full width inlays, checkerboard binding, toaster neck pickup, gap-tooth tailpiece and wavy Grovers (though yours may well have had the Grovers - the pop up on 4001s well into '74). It's these features that give the early '73s their extra value. A late '73 in Jetglo in excellent + condition is probably worth around $1600 to $1800. Given the wear and tear and the tuners on yours, I'd venture $1200 to $1500. Of course, selling into Japan and Europe could get you $100 to $200 more.

Welcome Zack,

Evan pretty much nails it there with that post. I'd be happy with $1500 for this bass, but a couple hundred less wouldn't be too bad either.

Good luck.

welcome Zack. Good luck with the sale of your 4003.

It's one of those rare JG/MG hybrids