Does this Rickenbacker 4001S look legit?

[kcole4001]

So the thing most troubling me now is the tuners. Does anyone else have an opinion/confirmation on them being original or real?

While they're not right for a mid to late 1970s bass, they do look OK for an early 1970s example.
My 4000 is a 1976 and has the standard Phillips tuner screws.
The slot screws were used earlier.
I've never seen a lefty S model from the early 1970s, but if Mr. Boyer says it looks ok, you can rest easy.

Again, I'd run the serial number to get the exact production date.
I'd bet on '74-'75.
If it doesn't work at all, it's a fake, but it looks pretty authentic, though quite uncommon, thus the high asking price.

 

[FranF]

Tuner posts are too big. Not original. The treble pickup is from the 90s or later too.

 

[woodyng]

Probably not the original tuners,but if they work ok,you shouldn't let that deter you. I think it's probably the real mccoy,but like a lot of 30-40 year old guitars,it has been modded to suit its owner's needs. And the price is the same as new,but left hand models tend to be priced even higher because of their scarcity. Personally i really like the color!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Outside of the non-original tuners and finish, it does look quite real. Note the TRC is incorrect for a lefty, as it has a righty TRC on it; most likely the original one got damaged or went missing (perhaps by some luthier/repair tech ). The finish is pretty cool as far as the color goes so I'd leave it unless from personal inspection it does not look good from a physical standpoint. Price may be a bit high but as noted above, lefties do command a bit of a premium, so if the OP is okay with that, then all is good.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Funny how many Rick copies are floating around.

And the price is insane. Looking on line, new 2014's seem to be going for about $2K - there has to be a lefty out there a few years old for ya that is... well... real and un-refinished.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Funny how many Rick copies are floating around.

And the price is insane. Looking on line, new 2014's seem to be going for about $2K - there has to be a lefty out there a few years old for ya that is... well... real and un-refinished.

A new Rick is $1610 to your door (in America) if you know who to deal with. I don't know if there is an upcharge for lefty.

 

[Ric5]

It looks like a real 4001s lefty with replacement tuners ... maybe it had the old grovers which were prone to falling apart.

All "s" models should have dot inlays.

It could be a 4000 converted into a 4001.

 

[kcole4001]

A new Rick is $1610 to your door (in America) if you know who to deal with. I don't know if there is an upcharge for lefty.

The last time I saw it mentioned it was an extra $100 for the left handed option.
Then they suspended production when the backlog was really heavy.
They may be back in production, I haven't seen any notices about it.

Even when LH basses are being built, there are always very few made.
That makes LH Rick basses (or guitars) rare, in that they never make very many.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

A new Rick is $1610 to your door (in America) if you know who to deal with. I don't know if there is an upcharge for lefty.

There it is. And I quite like those new walnut models.... yum!

 

[Rickenjosh]

Well I agree that the front of the tuners look a little weird the backs look identical to the ones on my 4001s I think the white fuerul makes the post look bigger maybe? set neck looks right, everything about it looks correct to easy ways to tell are the input jack and the routing for the pick ups. If its a true 4001s it will have a single input jack with the serial number stamped on, as well as the routing under the pickgaurd will be done with a drill bit and will not be smooth. The finish is definitely not original and the price is a bit high if it was a standard 4001, but the 4001s are very rare and it is a lefty....

 

[Jeff Scott]

...the routing under the pickgaurd will be done with a drill bit and will not be smooth.

To be technically correct the routing was done with a Forstner bit.

 

[Rickenjosh]

"To be technically correct the routing was done with a Forstner bit."

I don't think Forstner was working at Rickenbacker in the 70's

 

[mapleglo]

I don't like that the head stock and body edges have clearly been rounded over. A refinish is one thing, an alteration is something else.

 

[Rickenjosh]

The body is rounded on a 4001s, or at least more rounded than the regular 4001s.

 

[mapleglo]

The body is rounded on a 4001s, or at least more rounded than the regular 4001s.

Yes, but looking through the pictures in Paul's book, it seems pretty clear to me that the "refinisher" took some liberties with the round overs, especially on the headstock.

 

[ReverseFender94]

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm playing the waiting game now until the seller gets back to me. I'll keep this updated with how it turns out

 

[woodyng]

Let me just also say that set-neck 4000's and 4001s's have GREAT feeling 3-piece necks,are generally a bit lighter,and sound and feel fab. I've had my 4000 for over 10 years now,and have had the experience of playing 2 others belonging to members of the RRF club,and they all share those qualities.

 

[ReverseFender94]

Update: I just got a call from the seller. I'm going to see the bass probably this Tuesday. He said it has dual truss rods and there is a serial number on the jackplate, but it's hard to make out all of it due to scuffs and scratches. He said he thinks the first letter of the serial is an L. Does this sound right?

 

[PortlandBass77]

I doubt the nut is original. Also shouldn't it have the Ric-O-Sound stereo output? From the photos it looks like it just has one output. With the refinish it isn't worth anything near $1700. I would pay more than $900 for it.

 

[ReverseFender94]

AFAIK, the 4001s basses were mono output.