Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all

Unfortunately, the time has come to sell my March 1982 4001 fretless - photos here. It's a great player but, since I bought my 4001 "Shadow" fretless, I hardly play this one, and it deserves to be played rather than be a case-queen! Since those shots were taken, I've re-installed the original hi-gain pups and had some work done to the fingerboard, which is now superb!

Unfortunately I'm finding it difficult to put a price on it as my understanding of the current market for fretless Ricks is non-existent, and I'm unsure as to what a realistic price to ask for it would be. Suggestions anyone?

Thanks

Ash

That looks very clean, so maybe I'm underselling it thinking $1500 USD?

I haven't bought a Rick in over a decade, so I maybe woefully out of the loop.

edski wrote:That looks very clean, so maybe I'm underselling it thinking $1500 USD?

I haven't bought a Rick in over a decade, so I maybe woefully out of the loop.

It IS clean, including all the metalwork, but the usual tendency for white-finished Ricks to yellow over time hasn't happened consistently with this bass - it's occurred in patches rather than all over the body.

Ash

I think the patchiness is a pretty normal thing,unfortunately. My white '74 looks good from a few feet away,but there is a lot of splotchiness in the color distribution. I think $1500 is A good baseline price for 4001's from the 80's,being in good shape,and a fretless may add a couple hundred more.

Thanks Ed and Woody - that gives me a starting point.

Ash

Beautiful bass. I used to have a '75 white with white trim 4001FL. Mine was on the heavy side, had to refin the fingerboard- to much chewed away over the yrs. GLWTS

Thanks Sam!

Sorry I don't know the value but I wish to say it is beautiful and I would desire it very much! Alas I am unable to make you a sensible offer from over here in Australia

Ash - that looks really nice. That finish wouldn't bother me at all! You might do a better than $1500 on the Bay. Include a couple of pictures of the pic guard out, and you'll have a really nice set of pictures that would satisfy just about any nut!

Thanks William, but I'd rather offer it to forum members first - as you suggest, I'll take some shots with the pg off, then will place an ad on the For Sale forum.

Interested?

Ash

I paid $1400.00 for my 2010 a couple of years ago. There must be a market…RIC fretlesses sound so natural!

Here is a recording of my old '04 4003FL using just the bridge toaster pickup.

Thanks for sharing that Jeffrey - very nice piece, and very nice tone from that toaster!

Ash

Nice playing there Jeff! Especially nice buildup towards the end the guitar solo. Good luck with your prospecting there Ash. There aren't that many RIC fretlesses out there, and the people who want them know what they're after.

That should be one hot little fretless with those HB-1s in it.