Rickenbacker 4001 ('76) for sale, but with work to do!

[tjoepatjoep]

I would like to ask your opinion about this bass. A friend of mine wants to buy it, but he has doubts about it.






And the other pics (Please look at these too!):
crack
overview

As you can see, it's got a few remarks.
- The most interesting point is the neck-body issue. There's a pretty big crack there.
- Also, the bridge pup was replaced by a S-D one, but the original (which needs to be rewound) comes with it, as well as the bridge pup cover.
- He says the pots need some cleaning...(there's a bit of noise coming out of them at the moment)
- No case

His price: 1050 Euro's.
- Is it worth it?
- What will it cost to solve the crack?
- Buy this one or wait for another Ric?
- Will the crack affect his choice for Strings?

[johnallg]

In the right hands, that crack shouldn't be that hard to glue up, as long as the finish crack is acceptable after. Otherwise a refin would be needed. The other "issues" are due to age and can be easily overcome. Sergio can rewind the original pup. Let's hope Paul wades on on this.

[doctorwho]

With any bass (or guitar) having a neck-through design, a separation of a body wing should have no affect on string selection. (No string tension is transmited through the wings.)

[tjoepatjoep]

So what will it cost to glue the body and (eventually) a refinish?

Will this still be worth his 1050 euro's?

[tjoepatjoep]

Anybody?

[jingle_jangle]

OK, first the crack...look at the neck wood by the heel and crack...see the corduroy-look it has under the JG?

That will tell you that it's soaked up some water sometime, and this has swelled the wood and probably led to the crack. So the wood will be warped. And a warp there, however slight, will keep things from gluing up properly. But if the crack has stabilized, it's still a player.

The pots being scratchy is also probably due to some heavy moisture, and you can bet on some corrosion in the wiring under the guard. But, the parts like the switch and jack are quality parts with stainless leaves, so they should be OK.

I think the price is about 30% high...It's a $750.00 player with lots more required to bring it to like new condition. So, don't restore it, just pay and play it.

IMO.

[johnallg]

Thanks Paul.

[tjoepatjoep]

OK! Thanks Paul, that information sounds very plausible! I'll pass it through to him!