Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi there,

i saw here and there that some people are searching 1977 4001 Rick basses, there is a particular reason for this ?

Was 1977 a particular year (i know that they changed the pot/knobs disposition, but any change to electronic / pick up type or ohm value ) ?

cangaroo wrote:Hi there,

i saw here and there that some people are searching 1977 4001 Rick basses, there is a particular reason for this ?

Was 1977 a particular year (i know that they changed the pot/knobs disposition, but any change to electronic / pick up type or ohm value ) ?

I have a '76, a '77, a '79, and an '80 and I don't see much difference. They're all good, and they're very hard to tell apart if you're blindfolded (mine are different colors)!

I used to have a mid '70's 4001. It was my first good bass. After about 3 years, I sold it real cheap. Back then, they did not go for very much used. Alembics, Steinbergers and other active basses were in vogue at the time. If I had only kept that bass, it would be worth much, much more now. Same for a 1979 Hofner I had bought. The price back then for the German model was fairly reasonable. Sold it very cheap though. Of course that was 9 years before Macca picked his back up and the value of Hofner basses skyrocketed. I kick myself for selling both so cheaply now now.

rickfan63 wrote:I used to have a mid '70's 4001. It was my first good bass. After about 3 years, I sold it real cheap. Back then, they did not go for very much used. Alembics, Steinbergers and other active basses were in vogue at the time. If I had only kept that bass, it would be worth much, much more now. Same for a 1979 Hofner I had bought. The price back then for the German model was fairly reasonable. Sold it very cheap though. Of course that was 9 years before Macca picked his back up and the value of Hofner basses skyrocketed. I kick myself for selling both so cheaply now now.

That's why I don't sell ANY of my stuff. In addition to the '68 4001 my dad passed on to me, he also had a 1976 Jazz Bass and a 1973 Precision Bass, which unfortunately, he sold to buy some other gear which also was liquidated. I wish my dad had kept those instruments. Oh well, they weren't mine, but still wish I could play those too!

I've owned 2 77 4001 basses. I loved the feel of the necks but they did flex and cause intonation changes. The tone was outstanding !

I have a 74 and a 77, the 77 has a smaller pickguard, can see more of the wood. the neck is a bit fuller then the 74, not wider. but slimmer then 80`s 4001 and later 4003. And they might be popular because they are 10+ to play on.