Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

looks like I've got a few hours of fun ahead with this one - bought cheap off ebay, the neck is only partially attached to the wings and the finish is chipped and cracked everywhere. So the plan is to strip it back to the bare wood and start afresh - the metalwork looks like it's going to need some attention too to rid it of what appears to be a brush painted finish .. still, it was cheap

how cheap?

looks like an early 90's 4003 to me, those basses play and sound PERFECT to me.

cost me £400 ($755) including shipping - which may seem pricy by US standards but seeing as everyone wants at least £750 in the UK for just about anything Rickenbacker and I have the tools and know-how to fix it up and refinish it myself I thought it might be a fun winter project ( mind you I have a Gibson Explorer that's been in bits for five years.. )

according to the serial no. it was made in 1980 and was listed as a 4001 (on ebay) though I don't know enough to tell the difference myself


..

now in bits - wonder when it'll go back together

If it is a 4001 you should be able to see the 'skunk' stripe. Hold it at an angle to the light to see if there is one under the finish.

I have seen that kind of body wing "separation" on many 4000 series before. I'l bet it is as solid as Gibratar. I am not so sure it is actually coming apart. I had a '77 JG 4001 back in the early 80's that did that. I sold it in the 90's, the 'cracks' never got longer or deeper the whole time I had it. You can try clamping to see if it will close up. If not, use a little wood filler when you refinish.

can't see any stripe - mind you the finish is pretty thick - I'll see what appears when the finish is removed, but it seems that it may well be a 4003 in that case

there is separation on this one, you can hear it creak when tightening the strings (or even,now the strings are off, by moving it by hand) and see the join moving - shouldn't be too much hassle to glue and clamp though

I never tested one for creaking and movement. The wood of the neck slab is quite thin in the neck pickup route. I suppose the stress from the string load would concentrate there. If the glue joints on the body wings were marginal to begin with, I could see them separating like that. I never thought of that before. The body wings serve to reinforce the neck slab.