Up for sale, a 1965 Rickenbacker 4001 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a vintage hardshell case. This 4001 is a rare example with an early feature set including checkerboard binding, a horseshoe bridge pickup with tapered surround, and silver reflector top knobs.

Weighing 9lbs 11oz and featuring neck through body construction, this 4001 is strung with roundwound 45-100 strings that accentuate the grind and top end articulation of the instrument. Both pickups are modern genuine Rickenbacker pickups wound to vintage spec (original Toaster cover and Horseshoe bezel are present). The horseshoe bridge pickup offers particularly potent upper-midrange bark and liveliness, with more breadth and depth than later designs, while the Toaster Top neck pickup has a certain bounce and sweetness. This 4001 benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with comfortable action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Maple (modern truss rod)
• Shape: Medium C, measuring .840” 1st fret, .835” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, crushed pearl triangular inlays
• Frets: Slender, moderate wear on frets 1-7
• Scale Length: 33 1/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, Phenolic (replacement, vintage-spec material and shape)
• Headstock: Maple wings, lucite truss rod cover
• Tuners: Kluson 538s

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple
• Pickups: Horseshoe, Toaster Top (modern Ric replacements with original cover/bezel)
• Electronics: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Harness: Allen-Bradley pots (vintage replacement), Ajax blue molded tone caps (original)
• Hardware: Bridge with adjustable mute, long-taper/square-shoulder pickup surround
• Plastics: One-ply plexi pickguard (replacement), silver reflector top knobs
• Serialization: ED-prefix (on jack plate) dates to April, 1965

The gloss Fireglo (advertised in ‘65 as “Fireglow”) finish is 100% original save for the back of the headstock which sports a very closely matched nitro lacquer gloss. The finish retains its darker factory shade beneath the pickguard, while the exposed finish on the face of the bass is somewhat brighter. There is buckle wear on the back and various small dings and scuffs consistent with use. The gloss finish on the neck profile is smooth and inviting to the palm with some palm wear favoring the treble side of the carve and shallow marks worn smooth through play. The bass-side of the fretboard has a small piece of new binding from frets 15-17, and there is a finish chip on the “wave” at the top of the headstock carve.

A circa 1980s black tolex Rickenbacker 4001 hardshell case with blue plush form-fit interior is included.