1979 Rickenbacker 4001 - Think I Bought a Refin

[Kingofrock43]

Hey TB people…Need your advice. I recently picked up a 1979 Rickenbacker 4001. Met the guy in person from a Reverb listing. In that listing, he said it was original except for a replaced bridge - No big deal. He also said he got it from Chicago Music Exchange a few years ago. Not looking for an investment, just a cool Ric w mojo (at a good price). Played it, really liked it, bought it. I had checked out the serial # prior to meeting up and all checked out.

So I see other 70’s Rics and notice that the all have thicker binding than mine. In fact it’s barely noticeable (see pics). It started to bug me and I started looking online. Found a forum with someone asking like me about their thin binding, and the reply was that it was probably a refin.

The good news (I think) is that it’s real. It came up on the Rickenbacker registry at RickResourse. Same serial and same buckle rash on the back. It listing said it’s not a refin, but I can’t think of any other reason for the appearance of the binding. You can see the worn spot in back has the line down the middle, so I’m thinking it was a Mapleglo originally. If anyone is curious, here’s the RickResource link: Link


Any Ric experts out there that can chime in? I got it for $2050 and would not be bummed it it was a refin, since I play it and it looks cool. Thanks!!

 

[Jeff Scott]

The most compelling piece of evidence is within the photo of the back of the bass. Bare feet and a classical guitar footstool! Beyond that key piece of information, the other areas where the finish is coming off looks like a flat black paint undercoat. I don't recall ever seeing such as normally when I've seen the finish coming off from "buckle rash" it would just be the whole layer of paint/finish that goes down to the wood as seen in the middle of that photo; no undercoat, as this shows.

Pretty sure this is a refin and the white binding is painted over.

 

[billiard]

If it is a refin, and if it would b ok to ditch the paint, that wood grain is absolutely stunning and I think it would be gorgeous in a natural grain finish using an amber shellac.
It a beautiful bass.

 

[farace]

Have you looked in the control cavity? If you’re lucky, and if it hasn’t been painted over, you might find some markings inside giving hints about the original finish.

I’m having a hard time seeing clearly, but is there any chance there might be a double layer of binding? My ‘83 has black over white binding. Rarely seen, but apparently not unheard of.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I don’t have any photos of mine handy, but it has a very similar bit of buckle rash on the back, and looks nothing like yours. As @Jeff Scott points out, there should be no undercoat; the black paint came off in a single layer. I get back from Mexico tmrw, and I can snap a pic of my bass (an ‘84 Jetglo) if you want to see what that paint wear *should* look like.

Listen, while all this is can certainly be put down as annoying (I assume the seller was unaware of the facts, rather than anything more sinister, and yeah that’s an oddly thin binding), if the bass feels/plays and sounds great to you, that’s the most important bit to me; is it a dealbreaker if it’s a refin? If not, just rock the eff outta that bass

 

[MrAB4003]

Look at the bright side OP. This could be an opportunity for you to get a custom refin in whatever finish you want.

 

[burgerdj]

Strip it, strip it, strip it! I’m a sucker for a mapleglo Ric and by strong indications, that’s a refinish. If it plays well and sounds great, you’ve still landed a great bass.

 

[JC BASS 91]

I always wanted a JetGlo...until I found my '74 MapleGlo. I instantly fell in love with the natural finish. For the price you paid, I'd be thrilled to death. I paid...significantly more...for my '74 with the original hard case.

If you determine that it is a refin, if it was me, I'd strip it and do as @billiard suggested and do a shellac over the top and then rock it. I can't imagine refinishing a refinish is going to affect the value any more than the original refinish did. But, what do I know? Stranger things have happened in this crazy world.

​

 

[BassicJazzy]

Definitely a refin, and looks like it wasn't very well done either. That's a pretty wavy topside, uneven sanding before the paint was applied. I do not have any pics of my '72 4001 in natural maroon stain finish, but the surface was perfect on the original 4001s. One comment, Chris Squire said in an interview that he had his Rick repainted a couple times and then shop told him on the third attempt that any further refinishing would affect the sound. I guess they are thin and sensitive to sanding off too much material? So have it done at a shop that has experience with refinishing Ricks.

 

[GypsyBilly]

...One comment, Chris Squire said in an interview that he had his Rick repainted a couple times and then shop told him on the third attempt that any further refinishing would affect the sound. I guess they are thin and sensitive to sanding off too much material? So have it done at a shop that has experience with refinishing Ricks.

Seems strange they would need to sand down the wood to refinish it, unless it had deep gashes through the original finish into the wood.

 

[mikecd1]

In 1971 I ordered a Mapleglo 4001 and received a Fireglo 4001 the following year and was told I could wait another year if I still wanted Mapleglo. Played it for about 25 years and had a Jetglo as well along the way which looked nothing like the photos here. As others have suggested if you like it I'd strip it and just put a sealer on it to protect the wood and play the heck out it! For now, I wouldn't mind seeing the control cavity and truss rod cavity - more clues may be lurking. If you bought on Reverb you might be able to return if any of this is not to your liking, but the price for that vintage and condition sounds reasonable.

 

[Kingofrock43]

Thanks TB world! You are all the best! Here are the pics.

Appreciate the advice to strip it downs but I’m not quite the Mapleglo type - no offense.

I am curious on what a refin would cost (since I’m even worse at being a luthier/wood worker than I am at spotting refinished Rics).

 

[farace]

Is there any writing under the pots? It looks like there is a spot of unpainted wood there.

 

[MrAB4003]

Thanks TB world! You are all the best! Here are the pics.

Appreciate the advice to strip it downs but I’m not quite the Mapleglo type - no offense.

I am curious on what a refin would cost (since I’m even worse at being a luthier/wood worker than I am at spotting refinished Rics).

View attachment 7272135

Here's some inspiration for you. You can go to these websites and request a quote.
Studio California - these are some of the nicest Ric refinishes I've ever seen. But he's based in Italy.
Pat Wilkins

You can also ask about refinishes at The Rickenbacker Club. Some of the other Ric experts over there might know even more than I do.

 

[Matt O]

I’d rock that as is. Looks cool with the thin binding, imo.

 

[Kingofrock43]

I’d rock that as is. Looks cool with the thin binding, imo.

Yep, I have a 70s Ric that looks like it’s seen some $h1t lol…Gonna keep it as is and not gonna worry if it gets beat up, bumped, scratched etc.

 

[farace]

Here you can see why I’m asking if you might by any chance have a double layer of binding. This is my ‘83 4003, and you can see how the black-over-white double binding leaves just a thin white line close to the edge around the perimeter. It wouldn’t be so obvious on Jetglo, but on Walnutglo like this it’s quite clear.

 

[sunbeast]

Seems strange they would need to sand down the wood to refinish it, unless it had deep gashes through the original finish into the wood.

Apparently he covered it in psychedelic wallpaper in the hippie years, then had that removed and replaced it with some other wallpaper, which he then had removed again before having it painted cream. Depending on what he applied the wallpaper with someone may have just taken an electric sander to it to get through the mess

 

[Kingofrock43]

Here you can see why I’m asking if you might by any chance have a double layer of binding. This is my ‘83 4003, and you can see how the black-over-white double binding leaves just a thin white line close to the edge around the perimeter. It wouldn’t be so obvious on Jetglo, but on Walnutglo like this it’s quite clear.

View attachment 7272228

Hmmm, interesting. I put everything back together and will look again when I’m not feeling lazy

 

[Aceonbass]

I was at a local RIC dealer back in '79 and saw a new 4001 in jetglow with that same style double binding, so that part is stock. I'm not convinced this is a refin though.