Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What would the period correct tuners be for a June '73 4001??

Probably Grover slimlines, I think they started putting the reverse tuners on around then too or maybe 74, but it would be more likely the Grovers. They're hard to find and expensive when you do find them, but I like them on the appropriate bass. You'll see them on Ebay once in a while. They've also been called wavy tuners, potato chip tuners and a few other names. Grover Slimlines is the correct name. If you measure the holes I have a bass with them on it, and also basses with reverse tuners, I can tell you which are the correct ones. The holes for the Slimlines are much closer together than the reverse, especially the top two holes.

Bob - Ok....for comparisons sake

My Feb. '73 tuners look like this:

are these what you call the 'slimlines'...??

My June '73 has these obvious replacements:


My March '74 has these, which LOOK to be original...they have "Rickenbacker" on them though:


What's pretty cool is since these 3 are only 12 months apart, you can see the gradual changes....

The Feb.'73 has checkered binding, toaster, split bridge , full length mop inlays, wavy tuners...

The June '73 has checkered binding, toaster, non-split bridge, current style inlays,...

The March '74 has solid binding, high gain p/u's, non-split bridge, current style inlays...

...the "Schallers" on the June '73 don't have the "s" on them like my others....are these fakes?

The ones that say "Rickenbacker" on them are Schaller made Kluson close replicas.Original Kluson bass gears aren't stamped with any name at all, unlike the Kluson guitar gears.

Original Kluson tuners on a 4001.

Both my April 74 and my June 74 4001 have Grover tuners. My 1970 21 fret 4001 has 1st version Grovers (non-wavy buttons).

ahhhh...!!!

Thanks for the info fellas!!

....the search for the correct tuners is ON!!

The headstock holes for the Gotoh tuners are 9/16" and I am pretty sure the Grovers are 1/2", so you will have to fill in the holes or get custom bushings made. If you want a better drop-in replacement, the Hipshot Ultralite tuners are a direct fit for Gotohs.

Hi Chris, Yes you need Grover slimlines and your Feb. 73 has them. If you are like me, you'll want the Grovers, they are hard to find and have a bad rep, but they look cool and are the original tuners. When I see extras for sale I usually buy them just in case, but I've had no trouble with them although when I got my currect 72, I had to buy a set as two of them had bit the dust. I also had them on a 75 4001 and had no trouble with them.
I have some of those (Gotohs?)on a non-Ric bass and I think they are terrible. One little screw isn't enough to withstand all the tension from my strings.

"One little screw isn't enough to withstand all the tension from my strings."

Actually, the tension is supported by the very strong threaded bushing and the screw on the back is just to prevent the tuner from rotating. This is the same design used by Schaller for the M4 and a host of other tuners by them and other manufacturers. The problem with Gotoh is that they are sloppy feeling. The Hipshot Ultralites are very well made with a higher tuning ratio to aid in tuning.