Rickenbacker Guitars -  A brief history and popular models

Adolph Rickenbacker founded Rickenbacker with two partners in 1932. The company was originally named Ro-Pat-In then in 1934, renamed to the more logical Electro String instrument corporation. The name "Rickenbacker " was also added to the head stock this year. Electro String sold a series of frying pan, lap steels and Electro Spanish guitars. In 1953 Rickenbacker sold the company to Francis Cary Hall.  Rickenbacker basses have a distinctive sound, unique styling and enjoy loyal following. The first Rickenbacker bass guitars featured a one piece neck however today, most Rick bass guitars use neck-through-body and bolt on necks.

The Rickenbacker model 4001 bass

The 4001 offered several improvements over the 4000.  The 4001 added a second pickup improving tone and increasing bass.  The 4001 was introduced in late 1961.  Most 4001 bass guitars had a rosewood finger boards.  Rick-O-Sound was an option beginning in 1971 and the horse shoe pickup disappeared around 1975.   Production ended in 1986.  The 4001S model was a "standard" model with no bindings with inlays.

The Rickenbacker 4002 Bass.

The 4002 Bass was introduced in 1981 and was a limited edition model.  This was a Deluxe model featuring Birds eye Maple, fully bound neck, dual double truss rods, twenty one frets, 33 1/2 inch scale, Ebony fingerboard and pearl style inlays and two high gain humbucking pickups. Output jacks included mono and Rick-O-Sound Stereo.

The Rickenbacker model 4003

This bass was designed to utilize round wound strings and was introduced in 1979. 

The Rickenbacker 4008 Bass

The 4008 Bass was an 8 string bass, here we have a nice black example!