Basses · Original Basses, S Models And Export Variants
Rickenbacker 4000 And 4001Value Guide
Joe’s 2026 value chart gives estimated market ranges in US dollars, organized by Rickenbacker model, production years and configuration. Check the condition and originality details before applying a range to your instrument.
Joe’s Vintage Guitars · October 2026
Rickenbacker 4000 And 4001 Value Chart
These are Joe’s estimated current market values in US dollars for original instruments in excellent condition, with the original case where applicable. Choose the row that matches the model, production years and configuration. A refinished, modified or repaired instrument needs a separate condition adjustment.
| Model | Years | Configuration | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rickenbacker 1999 Rose MorrisOriginal export bass | 1964 to 1966 | Original export bass | $15,300 to $21,250 |
| Rickenbacker 4000Plank-style early body | 1958 to 1962 | Plank-style early body | $12,750 to $17,150 |
| Rickenbacker 4000Original production | 1963 to 1966 | Original production | $10,650 to $14,050 |
| Rickenbacker 4000Original production | 1967 to 1969 | Original production | $8,250 to $10,900 |
| Rickenbacker 4000Later production | 1970 to 1972 | Later production | $3,100 to $3,950 |
| Rickenbacker 4000Later production | 1973 to 1985 | Later production | $2,450 to $3,250 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Fireglo | 1961 to 1963 | Fireglo | $17,000 to $21,250 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Mapleglo | 1963 to 1966 | Mapleglo | $15,650 to $21,750 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Fireglo | 1964 to 1966 | Fireglo | $17,000 to $21,250 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Various colors | 1967 to 1969 | Various colors | $7,900 to $10,550 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Various colors | 1970 to 1972 | Various colors | $5,750 to $7,000 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Early-year features | Early 1973 | Early-year features | $3,000 to $4,700 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Late-year features | Late 1973 | Late-year features | $3,100 to $4,600 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Various colors | 1974 to 1979 | Various colors | $2,450 to $3,850 |
| Rickenbacker 4001Various colors | 1980 to 1986 | Various colors | $2,400 to $3,050 |
| Rickenbacker 4001FLFactory fretless | 1968 to 1986 | Factory fretless | $2,450 to $4,450 |
| Rickenbacker 4001SStandard export-style model | 1980 to 1985 | Standard export-style model | $1,750 to $2,200 |
| Rickenbacker 4001V63Later reissue | 1984 to 2000 | Later reissue | $2,650 to $3,350 |
| Rickenbacker 4001CSChris Squire signature with certificate | 1991 to 1999 | Chris Squire signature with certificate | $4,300 to $6,450 |
Ranges are estimates of instrument market value, not purchase offers or insurance replacement values. Originality, playability, repairs and the details of the sale affect the final amount. Unlisted years and unusual variants need an individual appraisal. Later production and reissues appear only in rows that identify them.
Get A Value Estimate For Your RickenbackerAbout These PhotosThe photos show our 1989 4003, a later related bass. They illustrate inspection points and differences; they do not demonstrate original 1960s 4001 or horseshoe-pickup specifications. Click a detail photograph to enlarge it.
Identify Before You Compare
Models And Variants
- 4000
- One-pickup bass; an added neck pickup can imitate a different model.
- 4001
- Two-pickup family with period-dependent construction and appointments.
- 4001S / Rose Morris 1999
- Plainer and export variants; verify dots, binding, output and period details together.
- 4001FL / 4008
- Fretless and eight-string variants need their own construction checks.
- 4001V63 / C64 / C64S
- Later recreations; vintage-style hardware does not make them original 1960s basses.
Do Not Give Every 4001 The Same Price
A 1960s bass, an early-1970s transitional example and a later-1970s 4001 can attract different buyers. Match the period, exact variant, pickups, finish and structural condition. One-pickup 4000s, S models and factory fretless instruments should not be folded into a single average.
The chart separates early instruments, transitional 1973 features and later production. Match the original finish where a color is specified. The 4000, 4001, factory fretless, S-series and later reissues each need their own row; an export-model claim also needs supporting identification.
Separate Wear From Expensive Neck Problems
Buckle wear and finish checking are visible; truss-rod damage or a lifting fingerboard can be harder to assess remotely. A playable bass with documented cosmetic wear can be a better comparison than a shiny bass needing uncertain structural work. Obtain a specific repair assessment where needed.
Changed pickups, a routed body or refinishing can alter collector interest. Keep replaced parts when available and explain what remains original. A good modern bridge does not erase the effect of additional holes, although it may be a useful feature for a player.
Document Color And Provenance Claims
Confirm the original finish before assigning a rare-color premium. Compare the surface, period and protected areas. A photograph’s white balance can make the same bass look quite different, so an uncertain Autumnglo or Walnut description needs closer inspection.
Send a full serial photo, pickup and tailpiece details, neck and fingerboard views, outputs and any repair records. For export, fretless or artist-associated claims, include supporting paperwork. An unsupported story should not be priced as documented provenance.
From Market Value To An Offer
Start with the chart row for the correct model, years and configuration. The ranges describe estimated market value for excellent, original instruments. A direct purchase offer also accounts for condition, needed work and the time involved in preparing the instrument for its next owner.
- Confirm the model and year. Use the matching authentication guide and document the serial, construction and original configuration. Do not apply a rare-variant range before confirming that identity.
- Account for known work. Get a specific repair estimate. Do not apply a universal percentage for every refinish, neck repair or changed pickup. See the changes that affect vintage guitar value.
- Estimate your net proceeds. For a private sale, subtract actual selling fees, shipping, insurance and agreed repairs from the expected selling price. A hypothetical $4,000 sale with $400 in total costs would net $3,600; those figures illustrate arithmetic, not a fee schedule or this model’s value.
- Compare the complete offer. Include who handles packing, payment, shipping and any repairs. A direct purchase offer should be assessed on its terms and certainty as well as the dollar amount.
Use the matching authentication guide before assigning a premium for originality or an unusual version.
Photos For An Appraisal
Take unfiltered photographs in even light. Include the full front and back, both headstock faces, the entire serial or other markings, pickups, controls, bridge, neck joint and any damage. Add the measurements or model-specific views described above. Photograph the case, paperwork and removed parts separately.
You do not need to take the instrument apart for an initial review. If a detail cannot be seen, say so. A clear statement of known repairs and unknown history is more useful than an unsupported claim of complete originality.
Have A Rickenbacker To Identify Or Sell?
Send Joe your photos and any known history. We can help identify the instrument, discuss its condition and make an offer if you are ready to sell.
Related Rickenbacker Guides
Photo Credits And Scope
Photographs are from Joe’s Vintage Guitars’ instrument archive. Captions identify the actual instrument shown, including related-model and later-production comparisons. Full frames and existing watermarks are retained. A photograph of another model is not evidence of the correct construction for yours.