First introduced in 1961, the Rickenbacker 4001 is one of the most iconic bass guitar in the history of popular music. The Rickenbacker 4001 was the companies flagship bass throughout the '60s and '70s, famously popularised by Paul McCartney, John Entwistle and many, many more players.
This 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 is an exceptional example from this period, when the 4001 model was at the height of its popularity. Constructed from a bound Maple body with a Maple neck through design, this bass is finished in the sleek Jetglo colourway, with a nice amount of lacquer checking and patina acquired over the years. This 4001 also features the desirable checkerboard body binding, phased out on the 4001 by the end of 1973.
The body is fitted with a 'Toaster' pickup in the neck, and a hotter output non horshoe magnet lead pickup in the bridge, covering everything from warm, subby sounds to punchy top end with a chunky attack. The lacquered Rosewood neck has a low profile neck that is comfortable to play, and is finished with the shark fin pearloid fret inlays only found on these models, along with the Rick-O-Sound stereo jack output and Wavy Grover tuners.
This guitar is in very good condition, with plenty of lacquer checking and some small areas of play wear to the rear of the body. The original pots date to the 1st and 12th weeks of 1973, and the pickups and wiring are original and intact. All hardware is original, with the only change being a replacement brass saddle. This guitar has been given a full service and appraisal by our luthiers at the Vintage Instrument Workshop, and includes a 3 year warranty and its original case.
