Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What years was the skunk stripe on 4001 basses? Are those necks the thinnest, strongest?

IIRC, sometime mid-ish 1972 through to when the 4001 was discontinued, early '80s.

To me, the term skunk stripe is better suited to describe the dark strip of wood that runs along the back of the neck of some Fender guitars, depending on the year and place of manufacture.
Shedua is the dark wood that runs the length of the neck-through body stock of the 4001 from '72 until the last regular production 4001 was made. The thinness or thickness of the necks varied due to the had made and hand sanding processes.

Not sure when it started but the 1980 4001 mplglo that I had and traded in and was purchased afterword by The Killers bass player had the skunk stripe and the 1977 4001 I currently have has the skunk stripe, Paul Boyer would know more about it I would think..

I knew it was piece of shedua, but I read the term skunk stripe here so many times, I thought it was a fairly neutral term.

coolhandjjl wrote:I knew it was piece of shedua, but I read the term skunk stripe here so many times, I thought it was a fairly neutral term.

It is, I'm just breaking yer chops!

Call it what you will my 1981 Autumnglo 4001 has a shedua stripe in it. I think it is a great feature on that bass. It looks great IMO.

Oops! I am posting in the bass section! Joeys gonna be kicking me out again.

MEDWAY!!

rickenbrother wrote:MEDWAY!!

It might be safe to assume he was Medway between the Rickenbacker Artists and Rickenbacker General forum and just lost his way, Joey.

coolhandjjl wrote:Are those necks the thinnest, strongest?

3-piece laminate like that truly is stronger in most cases, and can be easier to manipulate with truss rods sometimes. My 1976 sure has a thin neck, can't speak for other years. Between the laminations and the old school truss rods these necks can seem as stable as solid graphite!

The "Skunk Stripe" Rick basses were "three piece" neck-through construction on 4001 from early (April?) 1972 through the end of the 4001 production run. Production supposedly ended when the 4003 came in in 1980, but the 4001 was still available (according to price lists) well into the mid 1980s, and even the 4001FL (fretless) was on the price list until 1992. This was likely a case of slowly selling off existing inventory.

The shedua strip was also a feature on the necks of 3001 basses (1975-84), 4002 (1975-85), late production 4005 (1972-83), and the set-neck 4000 and 4001S (1972-1980ish). Probably the eight-string 4008, too (1975-85), although some late 4008 were made like 4003 basses with the 4001 "hairpin" truss rods with adjustment nuts at the body end.

What did I say, Paul would know, he's money in the bank, Thanks Paul, your the man..

Yep, My 77' 3001 has the skunk stripe....

Well, the 70s-80s 4001 may have a "skunk stripe" but they sure don't stink!

Both my '75 4001, and my '78 4001(pictured), have the skunk-stripe.

Lefty4003s8








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