Up for sale, a 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 fretless bass in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This is a rare factory example of a vintage fretless Rickenbacker, and a particularly clean example with a rich black nitro lacquer Jetglo finish. Strung with groudwound strings and featuring a gloss finished rosewood fretboard, this bass has a very rich and nuanced tone, with the smooth midrange, great sustain, and classic growl associated with a vintage Rickenbacker bass. The neck through design yields an acoustic presence and sustain that few other basses can match, and everything from more focused sinewy snap to mellow, round fundamental thump is available between the two stock pickups. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this bass has comfortable action and solid intonation, weighing in at 9lbs 6oz.
The neck has a well rounded medium C profile that fills the palm with a smooth gloss finish. The bound rosewood fretboard is unlined and sports pearloid dot position markers, with side dots on the binding for each individual fret. This visual aid ensures spot on intonation and serves as a helpful reference. The fretboard itself is a gorgeous piece of rosewood, and the lacquer on the board is still has a gloss sheen, with only a few faint scuff marks beneath the strings and zero wear into the board itself. The headstock sports the original Rickenbacker logo on the truss rod cover, and the stock tuning machines turn very smoothly, holding pitch as they should.
All of the electronics work as they should and have untouched solder joints, with original CTS pots that date all the way back to late '74. All of the original hardware is in fantastic shape, with a great chrome sheen on the bridge pickup surround and bridge. Even the original pickup cover is still intact, and the original (although now rather crusty) mute foam is present on the adjustable mute just forward of the bridge saddles. The original pickguard is particularly clean as well, and the minty knobs all have their stock aluminum cap inserts. The Rick-o-Sound stereo jackplate has a PH prefix on the date code, which translates to August of 1976. Cosmetically, this is a very well cared for and clean instrument, especially considering that it turned 40 this year! There are a few small chips in the finish, mostly along the back lower bout edge near the rear strap button, and aside from some light finish scratches in the clear coat of the nitro lacquer (mostly on the back) and some wear on the text on the jack plate, this is about as nice a vintage fretless Rickenbacker as you're likely to find.
The original black hardshell case is included and in fantastic shape, with clean black tolex, working latches, and blue crushed velvet interior.
