1980 Rickenbacker 4003

The Rickenbacker 4000 was the first bass guitar manufactured by Rickenbacker in 1957. I’ve never met a bassist who didn’t love Rickenbacker, and this has everything to do with their unique tone.

Here is a breakdown of models of Vintage Rickenbocker basses including characteristics of each bass and the years produced. Special thanks to rickresource.com for the dates!

Rickenbacker 4000 : Produced between 1957 and 1985, most feature single pickup, 1 volume & 1 tone control, mono output, unbound body, 20 frets, rosewood fingerboard, and movable bridge with string mute. Finishes include Mapleglo, Fireglo, Jetglo, and Autumnhglo. Early models have a neck through design, models after the mid 1970’s are set in neck.

Rickenbacker 4000FL: Produced in 1960, custom order fretless version of 4000 model.

Rickenbacker 4001: Introduced in 1961, the Rickenbacker 4001 is a two-pickup version of the 4000 model with bound body and fingerboard, triangle inlays, separate volume and tone controls, mono-output, truss rods adjust at head. Discontinued in 1983.

Rickenbacker 4001FL: This bass is the custom order fretless version of the 4001 model discontinued in the 1980’s.

Rickenbacker 4001S: The Rickenbacker 4001S is a simplified version of the 4001 introduced in 1964 until replaced by the 4003S in the 1980’s. It is also known as the exported model 1999.

4001V63: Vintage reissue series introduced in 1984 with horseshoe bridge pickup, toaster neck pickup, no body binding, mono output, and no neck binding.

Rickenbacker 4001CS “Chris Squire”
This limited edition series was based on Chris Squire’s 1965 model 1999 that was produced between 1991 and 2000. Features include horseshoe bridge pickup, toaster neck pickup, no body binding, mono output, no neck binding, Cream Colorglo finish. Only 1000 produced.

Rickenbacker 4001V63PMC “Paul McCartney”: This limited edition bass was inspired by Paul McCartney’s 1964 Model 1999 with horseshoe bridge & toaster neck pickups, no body binding, mono output, left handed only, Fireglo finish.

Rickenbacker 4002: Limited edition produced from 1974 to mid 1980’s has ebony fingerboard, pearl dot inlays, block bound body, two humbucking pickups, truss rods adjust at head, 21 frets, black headstock and fingerboard binding, walnut headstock wings, and chrome Schaller M-4 tuning machines.

Rickenbacker 4003: The Rickenbacker 4003 was introduced to replace the 4001 model in 1980 and is still in production today, though with modifications from the original of course. It features an improved truss rod design with adjustment at body and mono and stereo output.

Rickenbacker 4003FL: This bass is the fretless version of the 4003 model and is also currently still in production.

Rickenbacker 4003S: This model replaced the 4001S but was discontinued in 1995.

Rickenbacker 4003SB: This model similar to the 4003S was produced for one year before being discontinued in the 1980’s.

Rickenbacker 4003S/5: This five string bass was introduced in the mid 1980’s.

4003S/8: This is an 8 string version of the 4003S.

4003 “Redneck” or “Bloodstar”: This is a limited edition Rickenbacker 4003 that featured a Ruby red finish produced in the mid 1980’s.

4003 “Tuxedo” or “Whitestar”: Another limited edition series Rickenbacker 4003 with white and black finish that was produced in 1987 only.

4003/SPC “Blackstar”: The limited edition was Mike Mesaros from The Smithereens signature model. It had a Jetglo finish and 200 were produced between 1987 and 1990.

4003 “Shadow”: Another version of the 4003 produced in the 1980’s.

4004C “Cheyenne I”: Features include no pickguard, unbound walnut body & maple fingerboard, gold-plated hardware, 9 black dot inlays, 2 humbucking pickups, tone and volume control, mono output, black truss rod cover, Schaller M4 machine heads. Produced in the 1990’s.

4004Cii “Cheyenne II”: This revised version is still currently in production, also as the 4004cii5, a 5 string version.

4004L “Laredo”: Introduced in 1994, the Laredo is also still in production as of 2008.

Rickenbacker 4005: This is a hollow body bass introduced in 1965 until discontinued in 1984. Features include bound cat’s eye soundhole, 2 toaster pickups, R tailpiece, 2 volume/2 tone/mix controls, Fireglo, Colorglo, & Mapleglo finishes.

4005S:Introduced in 1965, this bass is also known as Rose Morris European export model “3261″ and is similiar to the 4005.

4005WB or 4005OS: This bass is the double-bound version of the 4005 model. Produced between 1966 and 1984.

4005-6WB: This bass is the six-string version of 4005WB produced between 1966 and 1984.

4005/6: This bass is the six string version 4005 produced between 1965 and 1978.

4005/8: Eight string version produced between 1967 and 1984.

4005 LS “Lightshow”: This was a custom order bass with special finish produced in the late 1960’s.

4005/5: 5 string model introduced in 1972.

4005-6WB or 4005-6OS: This bass is the six-string version of 4005WB and produced between 1966 and 1984.

4008: The Rickenbacker 4008 bass is the eight string version of the 4001 model produced between 1975 and 1983.

Now you know everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Rickenbacker bass guitar models from the Rickenbacker 4000, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4005 and 4008 bass guitars, take some time and drool over our findings on ebay: