Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Do you remember the first time you saw a Rickenbacker 4001 in real life?

For me it was a double whammy: a jetglo and a mapleglo on a rack behind the counter at CV Lloyd's in Champaign/Urbana. Would have been around 1971 during a layover between busses on the trip between my parent's homes.

The main thing I remember, besides the shock of just seeing them, is the thrill of how thin and space-aged they looked from the side. The next impression is of the checkerboard binding contrasting with the maple. Then the logo truss rod cover and all the chrome! I'd just begun playing bass and was always knocked out by the famous picture of McCartney and the Beatles playing I Am the Walrus in the Magical Mystery Tour album. Another important image was the cover of the live Kinks album where Quaiffe had his Ric tucked up under his arm pit. Then there was a James Bond movie that included a scene in which the hotel band's bass player is slingin' one really low.

But to see one in person is forever etched, etc...

It was probably in Sam Moss's guitar shop in Winston-Salem, NC. I was is middle school. I was looking for a practice amp or something for Christmas; my mom was there. She wouldn't spring for a Rick. Heck, she wouldn't even let me try one out

Then there was a James Bond movie that included a scene in which the hotel band's bass player is slingin' one really low.

Which one is that?

I was in 8th grade. A jazz group gave an instructional concert in my school's gym hall. The bass player had a pre-73 Azureglo. To this day this is my favorite Ric color.

April 1972, at the Adelbert Gymnasium on the Case Western Reserve University campus. Mike Rutherford playing his RM1999 with Genesis during their first ever tour in the United States of America! First song - Watcher Of The Skies; the first time any of us have heard (and seen ) such a band. They were the opening act for It's A Beautiful Day, who they thoroughly blew of the stage.

Yep. RUSH. When they were doing the Farewell to Kings tour. Believe it was 1977 or somewhere around then I was 15 and wow I had to have . So I got one about 6 years later and for some stupid reason I sold it after only having it for a couple of years. Bought brand new from Steve's Music in Toronto. Jetglo. Oh well now I'm older and I think wiser.

For me it was the summer of '69 when my neighbor had bought a new 4001JG. He then took me to store to buy the 4000JG he had ordered. He wasn't sure which one he wanted so he ordered both. I happily traded in my '62/3 (can't remember now) P-bass.

I think the first time i saw one "live" in person was at a Yes concert at the mid-south Coliseum in Memphis,tn,may 1972. I had my own 4000 about 6 monthes later. Wish i could say i still had that bass,but i have owned a few since then.

In 74 I joined a band to be the lead singer. We couldn't find a bass player so I was elected. I wasn't happy about it. We went to Guitar Showcase in San Jose to get me an amp. I asked the guitar player to get me a bass to try the amp we picked out. He brought me a brand new Pearlescent white 4001. I fell in love & couldn't let go of it so I bought it. Still needed an amp though!!!

I've been trying to figure out which Bond movie it's in. Roger Moore is Bond and I think the scene in question takes place in the Caribbean.

Kiddwad57 wrote:I've been trying to figure out which Bond movie it's in. Roger Moore is Bond and I think the scene in question takes place in the Caribbean.

That describes a few!

Moonraker, perhaps?

My childhood friend David Harbour was 4 years older than me an dplayed bass. He introduced me to Rush and Rickenbacker basses. He was my influence and I will never forget his JG and MG 4001's. It had to be somewhere in 80 or 81.

The first time I saw a Rickenbacker in person was at a Sweeny Todd concert in Chilliwack,BC early to mid 70s. Bass player was a guy named Bud Marr,it was when Roxy Roller was on the charts.Strange that I would still remember that.

As it is the case for a lot of us, seing Geddy Lee playing one hooked me good on the 4000 serie. But the first time I saw a real 4001 was at Ital-Mélodie in Montreal. if I recall correctly, that was in 1982.

I already had a Mann 4001 copy at that time but Rickenbackers were not anywhere to be found in Quebec City. So technically, the first time I saw a real Rickenbacker was there, over the counter. With a price tag of $650 (used) that but it out of my reach...

I guess I am now over compensating for my teenage frustrations...

The Steinberger L2 and an Alembic were the other objects of lust I wanted bad. I got the L2 but it turned out to be a disapointment. So I still have the Alembic box to tick...

First one I ever saw was a yellowed white 70ies 4001 BT, at a music fair.
I didn't even dare to touch it. I was very impressed by it, almost to the point it felt like being sacred.
I remember thinking the body was very thin, compared to other basses.
Years later, when I was at StLucas (art school) I had to do a project on my favourite colour and I named that 4001yellow.
Nobody understood where that came from, but that's how impressed I was.
And now, more than 25 years later I'm still impressed by these basses, day after day.