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79 Rickenbacker 4001 - should I or should't I and how much?

F

FeS2

Jun 8, 2010
39
0
Chicago
www.mattgold.com
#1
Hi

Looking for advice. I'm negotiating on an instrument.

Its a 1979 Rickenbacker 4001 Jetglo. Is in reasonably fair shape. Plays well.

Concerns are:

1) Replaced pickgaurd
2) Replaced tuners (nice grovers but still replaced)
3) Missing pick-up dust cover
4) Missing mute mechanism
5) Sizable paint chip in back
6) Bit of a bow which causes intonation to slip a bit at extreme high end - probably can be fixed with proper adjustment/set-up

The concerns really are just cosmetic, as it plays well and is a tool I will use. I have some work that it would sound great on and will use it a lot and enjoy it. Never the less the concerns affect the price.

So what do you think? Should I? What is the most you think I should pay? I've looked at comps and auction houses and see a wide range.

Any ideas are appreciated.
 
#2
pictures attached
 

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#5
Well, I'm kinda surprise for SUCH pricing 4 Ricks in your part of the globe O_o
For me a fair price would be 1 800.
That's not my point.

Just a question -
did you or did you not play Rick?
Believe me, it sounds realy SPECIAL (and not the good kind of special).

I'd strongly recomend 4 U 2 play real Ricl 4 once and define 4 yourself whever you need it.
PEACE!
 
#6
Thanks Mike. I appreciate the feedback.

I played it for several hours. Played many others too from many decades. I think each one is unique and plays/feels/sounds a little different.

I liked the feel of this one and it played well. Most of concerns were purely cosmetic. The only real concern was the slight bow which affected the intonation on the top end. This should be corrected with a set up. I'm not looking to put it in a trophy case. Its going to be a working instrument. A tool.

Matt
 
#7
1800 is too much for a Rick with replacement parts and needing a setup (my opinion). You can get a new one in that range with original parts, no damage, and possibly not requiring a setup. 1200 would be a good deal, less would be better, but 1400 might not be unreasonable. From Mike's comment about Ricks sounding SPECIAL I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he's biased. Then again, maybe damaged Ricks with replacement parts and bowed necks go for 1800 where he lives, what do I know?
 
#8
Webtroll said:
1800 is too much for a Rick with replacement parts and needing a setup (my opinion). You can get a new one in that range with original parts, no damage, and possibly not requiring a setup. 1200 would be a good deal, less would be better, but 1400 might not be unreasonable. From Mike's comment about Ricks sounding SPECIAL I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he's biased. Then again, maybe damaged Ricks with replacement parts and bowed necks go for 1800 where he lives, what do I know?
Click to expand...

+1

Long time RIC player (and lover) here. I agree that $1,800 is too much. Hell, new Rics can be had for $1,600.

If it were completely original and in reasonable shape - $1,400 might not be out of the ball park but in it's present condition I would be hard pressed to go $1,000

Just my opinion and, as always, YMMV

Good luck though!! :D
 
#9
Missing p-up cover, mute, tuners & pickguard can be replaced with correct parts, but seriously devalue this bass as replacing them will not be cheap and should be fair negotiation points...unless the seller can include the original parts with the purchase.

I'd be more concerned with the bow. As long as the truss rods aren't broken / stripped, given its overall condition, in my opinion $1000 would be a fair price for this instrument.

As others have said, a few dollars more & you might as well go new (which would include a warranty with the unmolested instrument).

Not anti-Ric at all. Proud owner myself ('77 Fireglow). Just find people seriously overestimate the value of their equipment pretty frequently.
 
#11
Agree with above posts.

Personally I wouldn't go over $1000 on an old Rick, unless it was just PERFECT and had everything I wanted (ie: checker binding, original case, pristine, etc....but full disclosure I'm not the type to go gagah over Ricks in general).

New Ricks (4003's at least) are marketed just exactly for folks who like the old ones, but without having to roll the dice on a used instrument.

New Ricks have a warranty, good necks, good frets, etc, so I would gage any used Rick on how far it falls short condition wise of the $1500 street price of a new one and price accordingly.

Good luck! :)
 
#12
I got mine used for $1500, and it was missing the p'up cover and foam mute pads. The pads cost pennies to replace, and I have no need of the p'up cover (totally gets in the way of playing). I don't love the look of those replacement tuners, but if they do the job that's all that matters. I didn't realize it at the time, but mine came with wavy grover tuners, which fetch a rather pretty penny on the used market (somewhat offsets the 'high' price I paid for it). As is pretty much always the case, after scouting out my bass for a while and then finally pulling the trigger, a bunch came up at a lower price point...:scowl:

In the $1000 dollar range, I think you're doing really well.

With regards to adjusting the neck bow, make sure that whoever is doing the work knows how to adjust the truss rods; being from 1979 it will have the old-style rods which *cannot* be adjusted like a standard TR. The fingerboard will come right off the bass if done like that!!
 
#13
I appreciate all the feedback.

I just found a new 4003 at a price I could not refuse - total set up, strings, case, tax , out the door. I have always bought vintage instruments but decided all things considered I could not pass on this new deal.

The 79 is on Chicago Craigslist. The owner is a wonderful person and the bass sounds great and plays well. You will not go wrong dealing with this man.

Matt
 
#15
FeS2 said:
I appreciate all the feedback.

I just found a new 4003 at a price I could not refuse - total set up, strings, case, tax , out the door. I have always bought vintage instruments but decided all things considered I could not pass on this new deal.

The 79 is on Chicago Craigslist. The owner is a wonderful person and the bass sounds great and plays well. You will not go wrong dealing with this man.

Matt
Click to expand...


Good for you!! Hope you enjoy it for years and years to come!! :D
 
#16
FeS2 said:
I appreciate all the feedback.

I just found a new 4003 at a price I could not refuse - total set up, strings, case, tax , out the door. I have always bought vintage instruments but decided all things considered I could not pass on this new deal.

The 79 is on Chicago Craigslist. The owner is a wonderful person and the bass sounds great and plays well. You will not go wrong dealing with this man.

Matt
Click to expand...

Good move on getting a new one. If you want a Rick that's really the way to go. :cool:
 

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