Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

No, not that kind of talk, but rather relate a bit about its history.

Back in 1977 I bought a used white Rickenbacker 4001 from Bananas At Large in San Rafael, CA. It is a 1974 with black binding and pickguard, and a toaster in the neck position. The sales guy couldn't find the case that belonged to it so he gave me a new, non-Rickenbacker one. The bass had a bit of buckle rash and light other wear, so it didn't spend its first three years in its case.

I've had this bass for just over 35 years now, yet I still wonder about the previous owner(s). Where did they purchase the bass? When? What kinds of music did they play? Why did they sell it (or was it a trade in)? I sure wish I could have these questions answered.

I've typed up a page of info to include with this bass after I'm gone so that the next owner will know a bit about the bass and how much a part of my life it was. I know it sounds maudlin but it really isn't. There might be someone for whom that would be very interesting.

Does anyone else feel this way about your instruments?

I know the exact history of all but one of mine...



Though it would be cool to find out about that one...

I'm not sure I want to know this any more than I want to know about my wife's ex-boyfriends.

ilan wrote:'m not sure I want to know this any more than I want to know about my wife's ex-boyfriends.

Arrrrrrgh. Spoilsport. Makes me wonder what you do with your basses.

I don't place my instruments higher than the people in my life, but they do come in top of the list of just about all my possessions (my neat stuff).

I'm actually more interested in whats happened through the years to my 1st 2 rics. A 4001 I bought in 74 & sold around 80 & a 4000 I bought in 80 & sold in the late 80s. They were both sold on consignment so I don't even know who got them. The 4001 went through a lot of stupid changes while I owned it & ended up with a pickguard that covered up most of the front. So young & dumb. I wonder if it still exists?

If my bass could talk, it would say the following as it lies in its case:

I wanna get out of here
I wanna get out of here
I- I've gotta- I've gotta get out of here
I- I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of here
They gotta let me out of here
Let me out of here
I gotta get out of here
Let me out of here
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here

Interesting topic. Luckily I know my '76 4001 original owner and how it spent it's first four years behind his couch in the case. My new 4003 was made six months ago and won't be changing owners for many, many moons.

Interesting question!

I'd totally love to know where my '77 has been over the years. I know the previous owner had it for a couple of years, after buying it on E-bay.

It's only been with me for about 4 months, but we've been pretty busy together since then.

I've had a good number of Rics over my time as a player, and now she's my only one. This bass gives me the tone and feel I've searched for all along.

But where was it for 33 of its 35 years? I'd really like to know!

My bass guitars talking?
Is this an idea for a new Twilight Zone episode?

Having your bass or guitar talk is one great benefit of the Register. Providing details under the comments section allows this historical information to be passed on to new owners.

I'd like to know where the one I had stolen in 1980 is so I could date it and remember it more accurately. I got it used in '73 so I know it was at least that old.
FG with checkerboard binding and ROS jack and a warped neck.
Sent it back to the factory and they fixed it and refinished it so when I got it back it looked brand new.
Memory is somewhat shot but it seems they either did all of this for free or it was a ridiculously cheap amount.

I hope whoever has it now has treated it well and enjoyed it.

Badanovski wrote:I'm actually more interested in whats happened through the years to my 1st 2 rics. A 4001 I bought in 74 & sold around 80 & a 4000 I bought in 80 & sold in the late 80s. They were both sold on consignment so I don't even know who got them. The 4001 went through a lot of stupid changes while I owned it & ended up with a pickguard that covered up most of the front. So young & dumb. I wonder if it still exists?

This is where things can become disappointing. I had a nice 1979 Thunderbird bass (I bought it new) that I ended up trading in in the early 1980s to get my Rickenbacker 4005. Thunderbird was in fantastic shape and had the chrome tailpiece and forward pickup covers installed when I gave it up. It was in excellent shape but for two distinctive dings on the top that were made from a solid buckle on a strap. No way I could ever make a mistake about those two small dents.

Years later, I saw the Thunderbird hanging on the wall in an S.F. area Guitar Center. I recognized the small dings immediately. Somewhere along the line, an owner had removed the the tailpiece and pickup covers, replaced the tuners, removed those fantastic sounding chrome-housed Thunderbird humbuckers, routed the body, and installed two sets of P-bass pickups, as well as separating the case from the bass. I wish I hadn't seen that.

I know where my 362/12 and 4005 are, but I'd love to see timeline of the history of a '63 Jazzmaster I once owned.

admin wrote:Having your bass or guitar talk is one great benefit of the Register. Providing details under the comments section allows this historical information to be passed on to new owners.

Sort of like there is a label fixed on the back of the headstock of my '73 4001 Jetglo. I'm assuming that's the store that originally sold it, since the store was in the mid west and I had bought it used from someone in NY, who I'm also assuming is was at least the second owner. I'll never remove that label. It's part of the life of that 4001. Helps tell it's story/history.

dr_wahnsinn wrote:This is where things can become disappointing...

Yeah, I'd love to know what became of my '74 4001MG I had to sell to pay the bills, but then again, maybe it's better that I don't know...


Of course, if I ever see it again and it's not trashed, I'll scrape up the money to buy it back...