Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Theres a guy trying to sell me a 4001. He swears it is 1962, and he was sold it that way by his local music shop. The jackplate with the all important serial number is missing, there are no other photos, and he is not willing to pot-date it for me in case he "damages the bass". Bah!
As you can see by the picture, the following issues are apparent: it is mapleglo (impossible for '62 unless refinished) square pickup surround with black pickup and no horseshoe, short pickguard doesnt meet with pickup ring, silver knobs, non slotted bridge, no finger rest or remaining holes, looks like plain white binding, the list goes on.
Having said that, its interesting that its got walnut head wings and a dot neck! Its properly bound, so its not a modded 4001-s. Hmm, anyone got any thoughts on this odd bass? Is it a leftover 60's body that was fitted up and sold in the early 1970s maybe? or is it a knockoff?

Nope. It's not a '62. I'm not sure what it is, to be honest....we need better pics, for sure. It's had some stuff replaced on it. Late '70s---early '80s IMO.....

Ask to see what's under the truss rod cover. Let's see how many rods it has.

It has walnut head wings ... these came on 60's bass and on 4001cs and on 4001v63 and on 4001c64 basses.

It has dot marked fret board ... this came on s models. But is also has binding which doesn't come on s models.

It has a post 1975 pickguard ... I'd like to see the bridge and count the number of screws and see what kind of truss rod system it has. Also what kind of mute does it have.

Also a 60's bass would have cloth insulated wires and a modern bass would have plastic/rubber coated wires

It has a 1970 or later bridge pickup.

Is it neck through? What shape is the heel of the neck? is it stereo? How slim is the neck? Is it a Rickenfaker? Has it been refretted? What kind of strap buttons does it have?

Why is "mapleglo" an impossible finish unless it was refinished? The first Rick 4000 was a mapleglo finish...ok maple whateveh
And the headstock doesn't look right for a late 70s early 80s bass, looks pretty vintage there anyway... Definitely a strange bird and I'd like to see better pics too...

I'm not taking this guys side, dedgoat, I don't have a dog in this fight, just honest questions I had...
I can't help thinking what a cool thing it would be to see a "transition" '62 or '63 4001...

The jackplate with the all important serial number is missing, there are no other photos, and he is not willing to pot-date it for me in case he "damages the bass".

That tells you everything you need to know. He has something to hide. Whatever it is, you can bet it's not what he claims it is. RUN AWAY.

Sorry double post!

That's what I would say too. We tend to be a little particular and skeptical of most things here, wanting to prove them to be correct or not, but without a RIC jackplate and serial number and a camera in hand to take detailed pictures, or seeing it in person, there is no way I would drop the shillings he must be asking for it.

look close at the tailpiece ... that is not a 60's tailpiece ...

offer the guy $600 for it

The hardware has to be discounted. Everything including the pots could have been changed out. Some items are a little harder to find, such as the nickel klusons with slotted heads, and similar securing screws, but you can,t be certain...It does have the wings and a dark board a la 60, though...You HAVE to open it up...let,s see the routs, the rods and go from there....

Yeah, its odd enough. I say "impossible" for mapleglo, as I was under the impression that all stock *4001* basses (not 4000) were Fireglow until around 1965 when mapleglo was offered as a color option. The guy seems uninterested in details and I think he is genuinely unaware as to what he has, he is going purely on what the shop told him when he bought it, and is taking that as gospel. He had to ask me where the serial was located, and when I told him he said I must be wrong because there wasnt one there. I think he's been ripped off, but he refuses to believe otherwise, preferring to believe the original seller, not a Rick fan. Oh, and yes, its very expensive. I am not interested, especially at the price he wants, but if I wasnt 800 miles away, I would love to view it and get some photos, then establish exactly what this is, those walnut wings are bugging me...

are those painted on walnut head wings?

is that a replacement fret board?

Sorry, Motoryeshead, I got you confused with dedgoat there, I was having some browser troubles. But yeah, I can guarantee you that Mapleglo basses were available very early on because there is a 1963 4001 pictured in the Rickenbacker book by Richard Smith that has that finish. I had the same frustration with a "reputable" dealer in Vintage Guitar magazine that claimed he had a mapleglo 1966 bass for sale. He told me that I needed to send him $10 to see some pictures (this was years ago, before internet pics were very common) to separate the serious buyers from the "Lookyloos". Like a true idiot, I sent him the money, and I'm still awaiting the pics!