rick-sn.jpg

For sale Rickenbacker 4001 - 1980

Sold
$1,500.00
Strings
4
Status
This item has been sold and is no longer available!

Details

I have a Rickenbacker 4001, 1980. It is Azure Glo Blue.
I think I am probably the second owner, I purchased it in 84.

It has some scratches and skuffs, but not bad. The worst thing about it is a couple cracks in the finish. Took it to a luthier about refinishing it and he thought that it would probably not increase the value. I don't know?

I have switched completely to 5 string and am moving more toward fretless. I am thinking about parting with the Rick in trade for a nice fretless 5 string bass.



OK, some photos. First The Serial Number:
rick-sn.jpg

The flash picked up lots of scratches there. Many of the screws look like this from corrosion. Years of being in Ohio.

Rickenbacker says it was made in February of 1980, earlier than I remembered.
serial-no.jpg


Here is a photo of the Rick in the case:
Rick-in-case.jpg


Head Stock
Rick-Headstock.jpg


There is some paint scratched off the end of the headstock. There is some tarnish on the tuners, but they work fine. Needs some TLC.
Rick-Headstock-Scratch.jpg


Here is the back. Not many buckle scratches here
Rick-Back.jpg

Rick-Back-Vertical.jpg

Rick-back-2.jpg


Body - There are some finish cracks that I found were very difficult to capture on the camera.
Rick-top-1.jpg

It currently has flatwounds on it. I had it loaned out to a Hillbilly Baptist Evangelist that did country/gospel music and he had it set up like he liked it. The strings are too high and I hate flats on the Rick. Thought he was going to buy it, but he is broke like most Hillbilly Baptist Evangelists.
Rick-top-2.jpg


Here is a photo that I cranked up the contrast in Photoshop to show the finish cracks. I drew red arrows to where they are.
Rick-finish-cracks.jpg


Control knobs - missing two stickers, I have a set of Allparts replacements, but they are not on there yet. You can see some of the corrosion around the screw heads.
Rick-knobs.jpg


Here is the bridge pickup. I ordered a pickup cover for it in 1984 because I liked the way it looked with the cover on better and the previous owner had taken it off and lost it. There are some scratches and pitting.
Rick-bridgepickup.jpg


I have the original Rickenbacker case. Shows a lot of wear.
Rick-Case.jpg


I this bass just had its 35'th birthday and shows some signs of age.

Comments

Apr 22, 2011
10,392
21,886
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I have a Rickenbacker 4001, 1980. It is Azure Glo Blue.
I think I am probably the second owner, I purchased it in 84.

It has some scratches and skuffs, but not bad. The worst thing about it is a couple cracks in the finish. Took it to a luthier about refinishing it and he thought that it would probably not increase the value. I don't know?

I have switched completely to 5 string and am moving more toward fretless. I am thinking about parting with the Rick in trade for a nice fretless 5 string bass.



OK, some photos. First The Serial Number:
rick-sn.jpg

The flash picked up lots of scratches there. Many of the screws look like this from corrosion. Years of being in Ohio.

Rickenbacker says it was made in February of 1980, earlier than I remembered.
serial-no.jpg


Here is a photo of the Rick in the case:
Rick-in-case.jpg


Head Stock
Rick-Headstock.jpg


There is some paint scratched off the end of the headstock. There is some tarnish on the tuners, but they work fine. Needs some TLC.
Rick-Headstock-Scratch.jpg


Here is the back. Not many buckle scratches here
Rick-Back.jpg

Rick-Back-Vertical.jpg

Rick-back-2.jpg


Body - There are some finish cracks that I found were very difficult to capture on the camera.
Rick-top-1.jpg

It currently has flatwounds on it. I had it loaned out to a Hillbilly Baptist Evangelist that did country/gospel music and he had it set up like he liked it. The strings are too high and I hate flats on the Rick. Thought he was going to buy it, but he is broke like most Hillbilly Baptist Evangelists.
Rick-top-2.jpg


Here is a photo that I cranked up the contrast in Photoshop to show the finish cracks. I drew red arrows to where they are.
Rick-finish-cracks.jpg


Control knobs - missing two stickers, I have a set of Allparts replacements, but they are not on there yet. You can see some of the corrosion around the screw heads.
Rick-knobs.jpg


Here is the bridge pickup. I ordered a pickup cover for it in 1984 because I liked the way it looked with the cover on better and the previous owner had taken it off and lost it. There are some scratches and pitting.
Rick-bridgepickup.jpg


I have the original Rickenbacker case. Shows a lot of wear.
Rick-Case.jpg


I this bass just had its 35'th birthday and shows some signs of age.

Hot damn that's sexy. Makes me miss my burgundyglo 1980 4001 that I sold a few months ago. :(

GLWYS!!!
 

kirkdickinson

Supporting Member
Feb 25, 2012
4,045
10,731
Belmont County, Ohio - USA
Price Drop. $1600 - > $1500

Probably going to get this out and do a fresh setup on it this week. I hate the flatwounds on it. I think it sounds terrible with them on it. Rotos are magic on a Rick.
 

kirkdickinson

Supporting Member
Feb 25, 2012
4,045
10,731
Belmont County, Ohio - USA
Fretless and Jaco sounds good, but I am really a 5 string player now and don't think I will be happy with a 4 again. You could send me some photos though.
 
Nov 29, 2003
429
164
colorado
Is the neck straight and can the action be lowered? Does the truss rod function properly? Can you post accurate weight of the bass? Thx-cool bass
 

kirkdickinson

Supporting Member
Feb 25, 2012
4,045
10,731
Belmont County, Ohio - USA
The neck is straight. The action is fairly low and can go lower. The truss rods (both of them) function properly. I will try to get a good weight posted. It currently has flats on it and I don't like them. If I put rounds on it, I will do a complete setup and reset the action as low as it can go. I prefer a low action myself.
 

kirkdickinson

Supporting Member
Feb 25, 2012
4,045
10,731
Belmont County, Ohio - USA
Someone asked for a weight. It is 9.9 lbs. I didn't realize, but I guess there is quite a bit of variety on these basses with some under 8 lbs and some over 10. Surprised me to find that out. Every 4001 I ever picked up felt very similar to this one. Bet the sub 8lb 4001 is a rarity.
 

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For Sale: Bass Guitars
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