Rickenbacker 4001

The Rickenbacker 4001 is a bass guitar that was manufactured by Rickenbacker as a two-pickup "deluxe" version of their first production bass, the single-pickup model 4000. This famed design was manufactured between 1961 and 1981, when it was replaced by an updated version dubbed the Rickenbacker 4003. Variant models of the 4001 include the 4001S, 4001LH, 1999 (European model), 4001V63 (reissue), 4001CS (a limited edition series based on Chris Squire’s 1965 British model RM1999) and the 4001C64S C Series, a recreation of Paul McCartney's left-handed 4001S with a reversed headstock. There is also a Lemmy Kilmister signature version (4004LK) of the instrument.

Construction
The iconic upper bout and headstock silhouettes of the Rickenbacker 4001 are the most salient characteristics of the "crested-wave" body shape designed by luthier Roger Rossmeisl for Rickenbacker's model 4000. The 4001 model features a neck-through construction, a full-wood body, fretboard with metal strings (originally flat-wound, though many players replaced them with round-wounds), twin truss rods, triangle inlays, two pickups, two volume and two tone dials, selector switch, and wiring for Rick-O-Sound (standard after 1971). Rickenbacker also produced six-string and 12 string guitars and a short-scale bass, the 3000 model.

The 4001S (and 1999) model varies in its use of dot inlays, and unbound neck construction. The Rickenbacker 4003, which replaced the 4001, differs in the truss rod design and introduces a fret wire that better withstands the wear from round-wound strings. Fast fret wear was a common complaint for many years, and Rickenbacker sought to address the issue. Other features remained similar to its forebear.

Notable players

 * Cliff Burton of Metallica


 * Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath


 * Jon Camp of Renaissance


 * Al Cisneros of Sleep and OM


 * John Deacon of Queen


 * John Entwistle of The Who


 * Bruce Foxton of The Jam


 * Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees


 * Roger Glover


 * Bob Hardy of Franz Ferdinand


 * Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Trapeze, and Black Country Communion


 * Rick James


 * Inge Johansson of Against Me!


 * Prakash John


 * Simon Johns of Stereolab


 * Jesse F. Keeler of Death From Above 1979 and MSTRKRFT


 * Lucas Kroeger of Suburban Hypocrites


 * Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead


 * Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather


 * Geddy Lee of Rush


 * Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy


 * Paul McCartney of Wings and The Beatles


 * Pete Quaife of The Kinks


 * Scott Reeder of Kyuss


 * Don Schiff


 * Paul Simonon of The Clash


 * Chris Squire of Yes


 * Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear


 * Pete Trewavas of Marillion


 * Fred Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive


 * Roger Waters of Pink Floyd


 * Paul D'Amour of Tool


 * Andy Warren


 * Chris Wolstenholme of Muse


 * Haruko Haruhara of FLCL


 * Peter Hook of Joy Division


 * Simon Gallup of The Cure


 * Mario Mutis of Los Jaivas