Rickenbacker · 4001 · 1961–mid 1980s
Rickenbacker's first bass, the 4000, got a deluxe two-pickup sibling in November 1961. Roger Rossmeisl added a toaster at the neck beside the horseshoe bridge pickup, plus binding and triangle inlays, all on the neck-through body with twin truss rods. In 1964 came the 4001S, with no binding and dot inlays, and Rose-Morris sold it in Britain as the 1999. That's the bass Paul McCartney took up in 1965, a left-hander Rickenbacker says was built in 1964. Chris Squire's famous bass was a 1964 RM1999, and he said the Kinks' Pete Quaife and John Entwistle bought theirs before him. Later 4001s swapped the horseshoe for a Hi-Gain and, in 1973, the neck toaster too. The 4001 finished the 1970s as Rickenbacker's best seller before the 4003 replaced it. Mind the neck. John Hall says it was designed for flatwound strings and roundwounds pushed many past their limit, so buy one that's straight with a careful setup history, or get a 4003 if you want roundwounds.
Decode the jackplate serial. From 1961 to 1986 the first letter is the year and the second the month, so the DA on McCartney's bass means January 1964. A horseshoe bridge pickup, checkerboard binding and full-width triangles point to before the 1968–1973 changes, and Rickenbacker says a 4001 has small rectangular truss rod holes where a later 4003 has larger round ones.
John Hall says roundwound strings pushed many 4001 necks past their limit, and the old hairpin truss rods are easy to misadjust, which can bow a neck or lift the fingerboard. Bridges pull up at the tail over time. Headstocks are weak at the truss rod access, and Chris Squire's broke off more than once.
Buying guide
Buy a 1970s 4001 from a US seller, like the 1979 titled 100% original with its case at $3,975 delivered, or the 1979 at $2,430 plus shipping if you'd rather spend less. About 58 are listed and most ask $3,275–4,525 delivered, with 1970s basses titled 100% original at $3,975–4,599, 4001V63 reissues at $3,057–5,400, refinished C63 and V63 basses at $4,012–4,190, and checkerboard-bound 1971–73 basses up to $8,190. Run the jackplate serial through Rickenbacker's online decoder, check the truss rod holes are small rectangles (a later 4003 has round ones), and ask the seller to sight down the neck, since roundwound strings pushed many 4001 necks past their limit. Skip the zero-feedback sellers, and treat the 1991 4001V63 #E47531 that three Japanese dealers list at $3,550–4,643 as one bass.
$3,057.00delivered
The lowest delivered 4001 here apart from two copied listings with no year, a 1991 4001V63 reissue. The title says MOD, so ask exactly what's been changed and price it as a player.
Rickenbacker 4001V63 JG Jetglo Made in USA 1991 Solid Electric Bass Guitar MOD
$3,974.99est. delivered
A 1979 titled 100% original with its case, from a US dealer, inside the band. Ask the seller to sight down the neck and photograph the bridge from the side, since 4001 necks and bridges move with age.
1979 Rickenbacker 4001 Vintage Neck Through Bass Mapleglo, 100% Original w/ Case
$2,430.00+ ship
The lowest ask on a 4001 here, a 1979 with a hard case from a US seller, but shipping isn't stated, so get a quote first. 1979 is about when the 4003 arrived, so check for the small rectangular truss rod holes of a 4001.
Rickenbacker 4001 1979 Natural White 4-String Solid Maple Bass RH w/ Hard Case
$8,190.00est. delivered
A 1971 with checkerboard binding in Burgundyglo, an early-1970s spec collectors pay for, and the only cheaper checkerboard basses here are a 1973 at auction and a 1972 from a zero-feedback seller. Decode the jackplate serial, ask what's original, and confirm the returns policy before you pay.
1971 Rickenbacker 4001 a checkerboard bound Burgundyglo 4001 had a few good gigs
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$3,057.00delivered
$3,057.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,057.00
Good buy
1991 4001V63 reissue, titled MOD. Ships from Japan.
Seller: fun-japanproduct
100% positive
Used$3,974.99est. delivered
$3,799.99 + $175.00 shipping
Buy It Now$3,799.99
Good buy
1979, titled 100% original with case. In the US.
Seller: mmguitarbar
99.5% positive
Used$2,430.00+ shipping
$2,430.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$2,430.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1979 with a hard case, shipping not stated. In the US.
Seller: vinl_65
100% positive
Used$8,190.00est. delivered
$7,995.00 + $195.00 shipping
Buy It Now$7,995.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1971 with checkerboard binding, Burgundyglo. In the US.
Seller: raretoyzz
100% positive
Used$3,130.00delivered
$3,130.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,130.00
Our take
1988 4001V63 reissue in Mapleglo. Ships from Japan.
Seller: tomoook-8
99.4% positive
Used$2,512.70est. delivered
$2,400.00 + $112.70 shipping
Buy It Now$2,400.00
Check the seller
Same generic title as another US seller's 4001, no year. Compare photos.
Seller: antsshop_3
100% positive
Used$3,935.09delivered
$3,935.09 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,935.09
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Same 1991 4001V63 #E47531 that guitar_shop_kiss and heiyhoo list. Treat it as one bass.
Seller: geekinbox
100% positive
Used$9,185.14est. delivered
$8,999.99 + $185.15 shipping
Buy It Now$8,999.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
4001C64 reissue with no year, the top ask here. In the US.
Seller: el_verdugo78-2
98.3% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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