Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've noticed that some Mapleglo and Fireglo finished 4001 basses have a stripe running through the middle of the neck and body (what seems to be rosewood), and some don't.

Is this something that is a random feature or is it something that occured during specific years?

The 4003's that I've seen with these finishes, as well as Montezuma Brown, don't have the stripe either, or are there ones that do?

70's 4001's have stripe - even basses that are jetglo black. 4003's dont.

Right Owen. The wood is walnut and is on all neck thru 70's 4001 painted or otherwise, not the S models. This feature is not on 4003.

Thanks guys..

That was something i'd wondered about but didn't know where to ask until now.

S models?... excuse my ignorance,but are these the ones that have standard dot inlays and no binding?

Along about 1970 Rickenbacker redesigned the neck of the 4001 to be stronger. They made it thicker and laminated several pieces of wood together. The stripe is walnut with two pieces of maple on either side, and then the fretboard is glued on top. The 70's necks are stronger and more stable than the 60's necks. The two truss rods straddle the walnut stripe.

But you have to love the look of the neck through walnut stripe ...

Hey, I know that stripe!

here's another one ...

Here's mine.....triplets!

Yet another!

My '72.

I believe the stripe came in sometime in late '71 or '72 becuase my Feb '71 hasn't got one. I've found a rule that seems to apply: If it has walnut headstock wings, it won't have a stripe. The only exception I can think of is the 21 fret bass that has that wiiiiiiddddee stripe down it. But John Hall says that one is't really a Rick anyway...

You'll also note that most of these instruments had Shedua stripes, rather than Walnut. It's a Walnut lookalike but is more prone to stay straight.

I know better than to say "never" but instruments with Walnut head wings usually also have Walnut stripes. Shedua and Walnut weren't supposed to be mixed.

I'm also wondering why Paul Yan is sitting on his bass.

If John is right, I hope those are leather pants... god willing.

Holy %@#$! Is that what that is?!

Alas, no.