Question about Rickenbackers back in the day

[Lobsterdeth]

I just realized that back in the 70s/80s just about every band had a Rickenbacker bass, especially punk bands.

My question is; how much did a Rick bass cost back then? I can't imagine punk kids going and spending 1400+ bucks on a bass, so yeah, I'm left wondering.

 

[pringlw]

I bought a near mint 1980 4001 in 1984 for $700 Canadian. Probably about $600 US at the time.

Still have it.




So the way I figure it, if I had done that 10,000 times or so, I'd be retired.

 

[Jools4001]

Rics were always expensive. I bought mine in 1976 for £275, but I was only earning £28 per week, so the equivalent of 10 weeks wages.

The average house price in the UK in 1976 was £12,704. Average house price today £224,000 so nearly 20 times the price.

If Rics had kept pace with house price inflation they'd be around £5,500 today so at their actual average of around £1400 they're a bargain

 

[dunamis]

I bought a brand new 4003 in either 79 or 80 (can't remember exactly when but then again it's tough to remember much about those days, know what I mean?). I think I paid between $900 and $1,000.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

I paid $880.00 CDN for my 4001 jetglo Ricky! that was around 1978, I ended up selling it in 1984, BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!!!! Man I miss that bass.

 

[lawsonman]

Seems like I paid around $700 for my 78 4001.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I'm gonna pi*s all you guys off....

there's a locally owned store near my town, this store is paid for and has been for years. It's a bluegrass hangout kinda place. The owner honestly doesn't care if he makes a lotta money off sales. He just likes having a place to put on shows (stage and bleachers in back) and talk about the "good ole days" w/ a bunch of old farts.

Anyways back in '92, I wanted a white Rick, and I knew he sold Rick 6 and 12 string guitars there. I'd seen a used Rick bass at another store for a lot of $$. But, I figured I'd ask anyways. I was blown away when he said he'd order me one w/ the tolex plush blue-lined case for $775 total!!! I shoulda got a loan and bought 3 or 4 just for the investment potential!! Anyways, that bass played like butta and I've not found another Rick yet that sounded quite as good. The store owner quit selling Ricks and Gibsons a few years later 'cause "they wouldn't let <him> sell them as cheap as <he> wanted too". I know because I went back to try to get 3 or 4 LOL!


Well, he still sells Fenders dirt cheap.....

 

[JimB52]

Used Rics have been generally undervalued until about 3-4 years ago.
The '60 and '70s models are in line with a Fender from the same era or a bit cheaper.

 

[Thornton Davis]

The first "new" 4001 that I bought was in the summer of 1975. I paid $450.00 Cdn dollars for it in Toronto.

The second "new" RIC I bought was in the Spring of 1985. It was a 4001v63 and I paid $950.00 Cdn for it from the same store.

In 2000, I ordered and bought a "new" RIC 4003s5 for $1150.00 Cdn. It had some serious issues, so I returned it for a full credit.

TD

 

[Relic]

My first bass ever, was a used burgundy-glo '75 Rick that I bought in 1984 for $325.
Later ('85 or so) a bought a brand new one for about $700.

 

[Rob Martinez]

My first bass I bought in 1978 was a Rickenbacker 4000 ('74) model in Burgundyglo. I got it for $300 including a HC.

I still have it in excellent condition, I think it would sell today for a little bit more!

 

[ausf]

Exactly $369 for my 4001 (including the hardcase) at SamAsh on 48th back in the end of '78. It was a week before Christmas, I paid half, the other half was my gift from my parents. It was still wrapped in craft paper inside the case when they opened it in the store. The only downside was I had to suffer through dinner while it sat in the trunk during a cold winter night.

Considering entry level basses (mine was a Sekova J copy) were going for at least $150 back them, a Rick was not a huge investment and quite a few guys I knew had them. A buddy picked up a fretless for around $500 and it was considered outrageous.

I dumped mine with no hesitation when I went fretless (hate the feel of the fretless Rick) thinking they'd be easy to get again new if necessary.

Pretty stupid, I know. When I recently got back into playing, my first instinct was to grab a Rick, until I saw what the deal is now.

 

[woodyng]

way back when,i purchased and re-sold a 4000,4005,and 4001,all 70's models for usually about $300-400 each..........hmmm,about 11 grand worth on the current market.......

 

[DW1969]

I got my 83 4003 used in 85 for $350. New I think they were $700 back then.

 

[daveman50]

I think I paid $350 in 1973 for a new 4001 with HSC, purchased at Terminal Music on 48th St. in NYC. That probably included tax. It was a lot of money for me at the time. I was a 16-y.o. punk (before punk was a style of music).

 

[sturmvogel]

My brand new 1985 4003 was $750 including the hardshell case---I think I was quoted $680 without the case. Got it from Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center.

 

[bassmanrocke]

I bought a clean, used Fireglo 4003 in '85 for $150. Never liked it. Fenders were considered "the bass" even more then than now. Sold it a year later for $250. May not have been a wise move, but I have never missed it.

 

[donstrenz]

Paid $350 for a new black 4003 in 1973 without a case. It had scalloped binding, btw, and haven't seen that on newer ones.

 

[sturmvogel]

I bought a clean, used Fireglo 4003 in '85 for $150. Never liked it. Fenders were considered "the bass" even more then than now. Sold it a year later for $250. May not have been a wise move, but I have never missed it.

I loved the Rick---nothing else could get that piano string sound I was looking for. I never cared for Fenders---had a Jazz back in 1969---just didn't feel good.

 

[mikezimmerman]

I lusted after a black Rick 4001 when I first started playing bass in high school, but never got one. I think they were about $700 new in '81.

I got my first Rick 4001 used in about '83 for $350. Got the second one (used of course) in about '86 for $250 and traded even it for a used Ibanez Musician (dumb move).

Mike