Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I came across this bass and initially thought it was a 4001S. Then realized it was an early 4001SB! Made in November of 1981, it must be one of the earliest examples (only example out there these days?) of the B series bass before they switched over to the 4003 platform. Anyhow, here are some pictures and specs to Oo and Ah over!

- Reverse Kluson tuners
- Set neck with skunk stripe
- Toaster measures 7.5k ohms, bridge high gain measures 7.8k ohms
- Mono output
- Silver top knobs
- Has .0047 capacitor
- Original Mapleglo finish
- And as John Hall would say, yep, it sure isn’t very accurate to Paul’s at all! Good call making the 4001V63. In the meantime it makes this guy a collectible relic!

wow! that is cool... thanks for sharing!

Welcome!
Looks great!
What exactly makes it a "B" and not a "4001S"?
My memory is getting rusty.

The toaster pickup actually is all. But looking under the hood, it’s evident the pickup was not swapped (soldier looks good).

I cover the abortive B model in the book. It was an interesting attempt to make a "vintage" model, and while a perfectly serviceable instrument, it really missed the true "vintage" vibe. That's when John Hall bought the company, ditched the B series, and started up the 4001V63 bass. I heard (or read) somewhere that the B series was the first attempt by ANY guitar manufacturer to try marketing a "vintage" instrument. I think Fender and others with their "relic" series came later.

bassduke49 wrote: Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:40 am I cover the abortive B model in the book. It was an interesting attempt to make a "vintage" model, and while a perfectly serviceable instrument, it really missed the true "vintage" vibe. That's when John Hall bought the company, ditched the B series, and started up the 4001V63 bass. I heard (or read) somewhere that the B series was the first attempt by ANY guitar manufacturer to try marketing a "vintage" instrument. I think Fender and others with their "relic" series came later.

I read that chapter twice to learn about them, Paul. You did great research! It indeed was a terrible attempt at making a McCartney bass on so many levels, though I figured it’s a collector piece. I did some scouring on the internet and I’ve only found two other examples of a 4001 version of the B series. They seem to have switched to the 4003 platform shortly afterward.

What, a disrupted skunk stripe?????
That is truly unique, have not seen that before, way cool, it looks in great shape.

Dirk wrote: Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:17 pm What, a disrupted skunk stripe?????
That is truly unique, have not seen that before, way cool, it looks in great shape.

When the 4000 became a set-neck bass in the early '70s that was what they were like; shedua strip in the neck but not in the body.

Dirk wrote: Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:17 pm What, a disrupted skunk stripe?????
That is truly unique, have not seen that before, way cool, it looks in great shape.

Yep, set neck 4000's, 4001S's and this 4001SB all had skunk stripe on neck but not body. An interesting phenomenon!

Dirk wrote: Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:17 pm What, a disrupted skunk stripe?????
That is truly unique, have not seen that before, way cool, it looks in great shape.

Not at all "unique." As others have stated, all of the set neck 4000 and 4001S from '73 (or thereabouts) to the end of their production (in the early '80s) had this feature. Also, the set necks of the 4005 built in this time frame and bolt-on necks of the 3001 were made this way.

bassduke49 wrote: Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:40 am I heard (or read) somewhere that the B series was the first attempt by ANY guitar manufacturer to try marketing a "vintage" instrument. I think Fender and others with their "relic" series came later.

Not quite. Gibson released their “Heritage” Les Paul in 1980; Fender’s “American Vintage” series debuted in 1982 (and I believe was announced at the 1980 or 1981 NAMM show).

Good! Thanks, John!