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For sale FS: 1968 Incredibly Rare Rickenbacker 4001

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Here's another I might have to let go in order to make some other dreams happen:

In case you aren't aware of how rare these 60's ric basses are- I've seen 2 other pre-1969 basses with this body shape for sale in the past 4 years. A refin fireglo 1969 that went for $8900, and a completely mangled 1964 4000 that was missing all kinds of bits, had fingerpaint all over it and was on craigslist for 10 minutes.

The Good:

1968 Serial plate #HL1756
Original finish
Original wood
Original pickups/electronics
Mostly original hardware
Working truss rods
A bridge pickup that is actually loud enough to use
Intonated, setup /w thomastiks, plays great
Original wound toaster and very early hi-gain /w green bobbin
Original hardshell case included

The Fixed+Restored:

Refretted at some point, no finish on fretboard
Separation from top wing and neck professionally repaired
Newer pickguardian thumbrest
Newer Rick bridge/tailpiece cut to spec
Pickup leads for neck pickup have been replaced
Original pickguard has had a piece repaired on it

The Ugly:
Small rout under tailpiece where another bridge was previously installed


This bass is not a collector's dream, but it is a piece that will continue to appreciate in value. 60's Ricks seem to be the last of the big 3 (Gibson, Fender and Ric) that are starting to gain a real reputation in the vintage collector's world.

With that, I offer this incredible instrument at [DEL]$6500[/DEL] $5500 obo. I am open to trade offers, but I absolutely NEED a fair bit of cash coming out of this instrument, or I'd prefer to keep it.

Now for some pictures! I think they do the talking.... They do call it FireGLO for a reason... the finish on this bass has so much depth and character it's disheartening to put it up for sale. By far the most beautiful finish on an instrument I own.

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My price is well below what others have appraised this bass at, and I have enough other gear on the market to save me from selling this one if other stuff goes first- so if you want it, come and get it.

Cheers,

Kevin

Comments

Nov 7, 2011
290
3
Los Alamitos, CA
Nice looking bass. I have a 1976 fretless, all original parts, that I bought new. I can't imagine ever selling it, but as a matter of intellectual curiosity do you have any thoughts on what it might go for (since you've obviously been looking at the market)?
 

AtomicPunk

Supporting Member
Dec 3, 2007
1,659
458
Detroit Metro, MI USA
It's worth it. Alls I'm saying. The '68 basses have a certain magic. Very nice. Free bump for an all time classic.

The bridge pickup is a magnetic horseshoe pickup, is it not?
 
Sep 19, 2008
1,816
835
Vancouver
It's worth it. Alls I'm saying. The '68 basses have a certain magic. Very nice. Free bump for an all time classic.

The bridge pickup is a magnetic horseshoe pickup, is it not?

1968 was the beginning of the hi-gains, and they were used along with the horseshoes until Rickenbacker ran out of the magnetic horseshoes sometime in 1971. Both bridge pickups appear in the 1968 catalogs and literature. The first-generation hi-gains had the same polepieces and bobbins as the horseshoes.

Now, to the OP..........

What a KILLER looking Rickenbacker! If John Hall and the rest of the Rick cool kids are watching, HERE is your next model to re-issue....does NOT get any better than this!

(...unless it's the lone black 4001 built in 1963...there's a holy grail for ya!).
 

Ric5

Inactive
Jan 29, 2008
29,772
30,452
Colorado
www.3dentourage.com
Disclosures
I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
It's worth it. Alls I'm saying. The '68 basses have a certain magic. Very nice. Free bump for an all time classic.

The bridge pickup is a magnetic horseshoe pickup, is it not?

Nope ...

Towards the end of 1968 Rickenbacker introduced the high gain bridge pickup as an improvement over the weak horseshoe pickup that was notorius for degaussing and going dead.
 

Ric5

Inactive
Jan 29, 2008
29,772
30,452
Colorado
www.3dentourage.com
Disclosures
I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
This was my old 68 that had the horseshoe pickup ...

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Those 1960s basses sound really good with 4003 pickups in them.
 
Dec 12, 2009
382
6
Not to hijack the thread, But the Horsehoe pickup with that top piece : is it an integral part of the p/u design or just a cover ?
 

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