• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

REALLY STRANGE RICKENBACKER

A

AlexDMoney

May 16, 2018
33
20
#1
Hi everyone. First real post here. I was offered a trade for an “experimental 4001”. The guy offering said he got it from someone’s friend, a retired employee of rickenbacker. So, perhaps I could employ a few rick detectives to help. I have never owned a Rick so any insight is greatly appreciated. A link to the album can be found here:



It should be noted: the bass does NOT have a serial number on the input jack. Upon zooming in on the photos, the dual truss rods are visible near the heel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ed morgan
#11
Hmmm..... very interesting. No back-rout. I'm not sure how a person could plug a hole that big.
Secondly (and not to be condescending) but do you understand what I mean by the "Sharp" edges especially around the horns? If I'm not mistaken, these should be radiused on a Laredo. Also, I think the heel shape is different than a Laredo.

We talked about this bass some time ago in the Rickenbacker thread but for the life of me I cannot remember what final consensus was reached if any. Maybe someone with a better memory than me will weigh in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2 and AlexDMoney
#12
Guzzi Toad said:
Hmmm..... very interesting. No back-rout. I'm not sure how a person could plug a hole that big.
Secondly (and not to be condescending) but do you understand what I mean by the "Sharp" edges especially around the horns? If I'm not mistaken, these should be radiused on a Laredo. Also, I think the heel shape is different than a Laredo.

We talked about this bass some time ago in the Rickenbacker thread but for the life of me I cannot remember what final consensus was reached if any. Maybe someone with a better memory than me will weigh in.
Click to expand...
Ahhhh okay I see. Not super familiar with rickenbackers as a whole, but thought talkbass would be the perfect place to get some info!! I appreciate the insight. Perhaps I’ll post this in a rickenbacker thread somewhere and see if anyone remembers it. Thanks!!
 
#13
AlexDMoney said:
Hi everyone. First real post here. I was offered a trade for an “experimental 4001”. The guy offering said he got it from someone’s friend, a retired employee of rickenbacker. So, perhaps I could employ a few rick detectives to help. I have never owned a Rick so any insight is greatly appreciated. A link to the album can be found here:



It should be noted: the bass does NOT have a serial number on the input jack. Upon zooming in on the photos, the dual truss rods are visible near the heel.
Click to expand...


I think I have seen that bass before …

The tailpiece is Allparts and not Rickenbacker
The body looks like a 4001v63 except for the bridge pickup route
It is not a Laredo body
The pickguard looks like a replica of a 4005
the toasters look real
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2 and AlexDMoney
#15
Ric5 said:
I think I have seen that bass before …

The tailpiece is Allparts and not Rickenbacker
The body looks like a 4001v63 except for the bridge pickup route
It is not a Laredo body
The pickguard looks like a replica of a 4005
the toasters look real
Click to expand...

It’s certainly a frankenbass, that’s for sure. Would the missing serial number be a big red flag for you?
 
#16
Here is what Sterling told me. I don’t know if this is the same bass, if there’s more than one.

>>>That JPJ tribute was originally a stock 4004L in Jetglo. After seeing a picture of the 4001S prototype that John Paul Jones used, I was inspired to convert the 4004 into something special. So, I made extensive use of a Forstner bit in a drill press and put a 4001v63 bridge on it along with 4005 tone and volume controls. It's such a unique sound. Unmistakably Rickenbacker but also something new, with the toaster against the fretboard as it is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9mmMike, the harp unstrung, Guzzi Toad and 1 other person
#17
Guzzi Toad said:
Hmmm..... very interesting. No back-rout. I'm not sure how a person could plug a hole that big.
Secondly (and not to be condescending) but do you understand what I mean by the "Sharp" edges especially around the horns? If I'm not mistaken, these should be radiused on a Laredo. Also, I think the heel shape is different than a Laredo.

We talked about this bass some time ago in the Rickenbacker thread but for the life of me I cannot remember what final consensus was reached if any. Maybe someone with a better memory than me will weigh in.
Click to expand...


I was the one that brought this one up in the Rick thread. I don’t remember the conclusion either :laugh:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guzzi Toad and AlexDMoney
#20
davelowell2 said:
Here is what Sterling told me. I don’t know if this is the same bass, if there’s more than one.

>>>That JPJ tribute was originally a stock 4004L in Jetglo. After seeing a picture of the 4001S prototype that John Paul Jones used, I was inspired to convert the 4004 into something special. So, I made extensive use of a Forstner bit in a drill press and put a 4001v63 bridge on it along with 4005 tone and volume controls. It's such a unique sound. Unmistakably Rickenbacker but also something new, with the toaster against the fretboard as it is.
Click to expand...

The Sterling bass has a gap-tooth bridge and a slightly different pickguard shape. I think its a different bass than this one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlexDMoney

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back