Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Guitar Center's Vintage Guitar website has a left-handed '79 4001 Rick listed with a canary yellow finish. I've never heard of this finish, and I can find no record of it in Rick's color timeline. Could this be a custom color from Rick, or is it more likely a refinish? I e-mailed Guitar Center, and they naturally didn't respond. Check it out:

http://www.vintageguitars.net

IMO its more likely a factory white guitar that has yellowed, if the finish is original. It looks at some angles that the finish takes on a whiter appearance, especially on the back of the headstock....it looks cool, though. Most white 4001's you see have the black accents rather than white.

I see your point. The finish does look a bit uneven in certain spots. It really does look yellow though. I'm used to seeing whites yellow to more of a cream like on fender's stuff.

Yep...I agree. There are many posts on this site that deal with the yellowing of the white finish on Rickenbackers from this and other time periods, so the may provide more info to you on this matter. It would be really neat if the finish IS original, and NOT white. It would be a real oddity. Have you had a response from Guitar Ctr. yet???

i have a lefty 4003 in mapleglow that i must sell,it is in new condition with case,there is not one scratch on finish or fret!!! ihave not played it for more than two hours after i set it up.i have tooooo many lefty basses,this ones up for sale.
$900.00 plus shipping. frank
e-mail [email protected]

I just went to see the 'canary' bass - although the picture is pretty bad and harshly lit, it looks like about the same shade of yellowing than my ex-white 360 (1990-to refinishing next week) : slightly lighter around some edges and back of the neck, same hue on the headstock. A better lit picture would help, though...
axel

or maybe a refinish indeed...

Well here is a closer look.

From the picture it looks as though it was lit from an angle....the back has kind of a 'nicotine' appearance. Maybe a special order white bass with 'reverse' white/chrome accessories...

In my view this is a "white" finish on its way to yellow and eventually a brown tone. Too much sunlight or stored in a foam case in which their has been a sulphur reaction from the foam with the finish. I agree with Axel. Here is a look at Axel's Model 360 White.

I have a 1977 4001s in factory canary yellow. The finish has faded a bit to a Chris Squire like "creme", but it is definitely not white which has been affected by light, etc. The finish is actually much more yellow under the pick guard and truss rod cover than it is on "exposed" areas of the bass.

Lowell: Would you please post a photo or have one sent through [email protected] for posting.

We have indeed done some yellow instruments. The last ones were done in the early 90's for the German market. Some of these had brushed stainless steel pickguards too. These were pretty futuristic looking instruments.

Many of our color codes are two letters, ending in "G", such as "MG" for MapleGlo. The color code for these yellow ones was "HG"; those of you that speak German might be able to figure that one out after a couple of beers.

Here is a link to some pics of my '77. You can see the original yellow paint under the pickguard (compare the color to the white guard). You can also see how the exposed finish is becoming very more ivory/creme looking.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1 ... 0&res=high

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1 ... 0&res=high

Hope this helps... and THANKS for having me!

Thanks Lowell. The photos are most interesting. A small version of these photos is posted below. Canary yellow is an interesting color.