The Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar, originally designed as a luxury, two-pickup upgrade to Rickenbacker’s 4000 bass, has grown to be a significant model for its extensive roster of prominent players. The 4001 gained popularity among bass players like Lemmy Kilmister, Kim Gordon, Rick James, and Geddy Lee when it was first launched in 1961 and continued to be produced into the very early 1980s. The additional pickup was added to the 4001 to increase the bottom frequency response and expand the range of possible tones.

Bound Maple’s glossy Fireglo finish serves as the body.

Triangle pearl inlays, 20 frets, 33.25″ scale length, bound Maple/Walnut neck with a Rosewood fingerboard.

Two single coil pickups, two volume controls, two tone controls, a three-way pickup selector, Rick-O-Sound jacks, a single-ply white pickguard, and open gear tuning keys make up the pickups and hardware (replacements).

This bass is in excellent cosmetic shape. Light surface scratches may be seen all over this bass. It has several dents, nicks, and scratches. The area next to the output jack has several dents and scratches. The frets have some little wear, and the back of the neck has a few very minor indentations. The headstock’s edges show minor signs of wear. There is some buckle rash on the body’s back, but it does not penetrate the finish.

Playability: This guitar has been examined, set up, and restrung with a fresh batch of flat wound strings by our in-house guitar tech. The action has been set up low and comfortably, and the neck is straight. The truss rod is also completely functioning. It plays brilliantly up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out, and the frets are in excellent condition with no significant grooves or divots from wear.

Schaller tuning keys have been used as the tuning keys, and the nut has been modified.

Weight 9.865 pounds

Case: This bass is professionally wrapped, insured, and sent in a hard-shell case.