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Rickenbacker 4000, 1961
Manufacturer
Electro String Instrument Corporation
Date1961
Mediummaple; walnut
DimensionsOverall (HWD) (overall): 114 5/16 × 33 in. (290.323 × 83.82 cm)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection
Object number1997.595.1
Text EntriesWith its sweeping cutaways and unique body shape, this Rickenbacker 4000 electric bass looked revolutionary when it was introduced in 1961. Features such as a movable mute, which added percussive variety to the strings’ sound, reinforced this impression. The neck, which extended in one piece through the body of the bass, also stood up better to the high-energy music of the 1960s than many other basses of the time. Over the years the Rickenbacker 4000 has been popular with major bass musicians in rock music, including Paul McCartney of the Beatles, John Entwistle of the Who and Chris Squire of Yes.
Through-body neck construction with cresting wave headstock, maple neck and body with walnut wings on headstock and walnut fingerboard, dot markers, gold pickguard, single horseshoe pickup, metal volume and tone knobs, moving bridge cover with variable string muting effect, bridge designed for six strings.
CopyrightThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. For more information, see http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/
On View
Not on view
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