Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

they're hard to find in abused / damaged condition. Found an early 70's MG on Reverb for $1100, with CB binding and stripped of all it's hardware. There's another on ebay for $1500. By the time I find all the pieces to complete an instrument AND restore the bare carcass of a 4001, I will have spent more $'s for a project than purchasing an all original 4001 in good condition. Seeing these basses on the web stripped of all their hardware and electronics just to make more money, is really frustrating. So now I begin the waiting process for a decent deal on a 4001 that needs to be brought back to life.

They're out there, so you have the right idea: patience.

Indeed. I've just taken over a '60s 4001 restoration from another forumite; it won't be cheap but will be considerably cheaper than a complete original, which would have been way out of my league.

There was a late 70's 4001 on the bay.....complete wiith oem pups and a kahler trem. Didn't have the funds for it at that time. Timing is everything.

I'm not sure I would take on a project that has been that cut up (routing for a vibrato), but as we have seen here, others have and made great instruments out of them.

jps wrote:I'm not sure I would take on a project that has been that cut up (routing for a vibrato), but as we have seen here, others have and made great instruments out of them.

I really don't mind the extra effort, I have the tools needed for extensive work. Been building my own instruments since i was a teen.

Well, you have a deeper understanding, then.

Since I haven't bought anything on ebay since about 2003, I'm wondering what the deal is over there now. I see these stripped basses, with a "Buy it Now" or best offer listing on it.
Most of the "Buy it Now" prices are pretty optimistic, in my view. I'm wondering if there are people here who have contacted the seller and made a counter offer, and if so does that ever work? I could see buying some of these stripped bodies out there if the seller is willing to negotiate on price, if not most appear to be way too expensive. Anymore, ebay appears to be dealers with VERY overpriced guitars and basses just trolling for an ignorant buyer with too much money his his/her pocket...

Try searching off ebay to avoid dealers. And patience is key! I found a 4000 project a year ago, but was just too late and had to wait a year to find for a new one.

59jazz wrote:There was a late 70's 4001 on the bay.....complete wiith oem pups and a kahler trem. Didn't have the funds for it at that time. Timing is everything.

That was Kenny Howes bass I think... He decided to keep it I thought after it didn't sell.

My "2 cents". Restoring a classic instrument is a blast! The thrill of the hunt in finding the correct parts is both fun as well as frustrating. Getting the project assembled is awesome!! I've been very involved in restoring three vintage Rickenbackers. It's easy to get in over your head. Oh and they never sell for what you have into them so don't do it for the investment aspect!!

Sepp

Kopfjaeger wrote:My "2 cents". Restoring a classic instrument is a blast! The thrill of the hunt in finding the correct parts is both fun as well as frustrating. Getting the project assembled is awesome!! I've been very involved in restoring three vintage Rickenbackers. It's easy to get in over your head. Oh and they never sell for what you have into them so don't do it for the investment aspect!!

Sepp

You are correct sir...not doing this for profit, just want a nice older instrument in my collection, one that I brought back to life.......a '77 burgandy glo would look good on my wall.

Kopfjaeger wrote:My "2 cents". Restoring a classic instrument is a blast! The thrill of the hunt in finding the correct parts is both fun as well as frustrating. Getting the project assembled is awesome!! I've been very involved in restoring three vintage Rickenbackers. It's easy to get in over your head. Oh and they never sell for what you have into them so don't do it for the investment aspect!!

Sepp

Very true. Mine probably won't get original period parts (haven't got the funds) and will be a refin but it'll hopefully be brought back to life and will be played out again, which to me is the most important thing.

henry5 wrote:Mine probably won't get original period parts (haven't got the funds) and will be a refin but it'll hopefully be brought back to life and will be played out again, which to me is the most important thing.

You have the best idea, there, IMO. Also, IMO, it is a sport for the reasonably rich to really and truly restore an instrument, properly. I'd rather have a great playing one than a trophy case queen.

Not that a queen can't be a great player, too...........

I bought a beat up 4000 carcass and sourced as many original parts as possible, it had an old refinish too but once I put it all together it played really well and has become my main bass. Fortunately the TR cover was still present as was the serial number on the jack plate, other than a solitary wavy Grover the rest of the hardware had gone AWOL years ago. It was a relatively simple project as the neck and frets were fine, I contemplated a new paint job but I've grown to like the look of it.
Similarly I restored a 3000 short scale but was lucky enough to find original parts and a NOS pickup. I'm currently looking for an original scratchplate as the one on it is a homemade job.
Great fun and very rewarding as I've ended up with two nice vintage players for a relatively small outlay.

I've attached a low res pic but you get the idea!