1976 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass
The bass that defined Yes, Wings, and Rush — in the prime mid-‘70s spec.
Why this price
The 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 in Mapleglo finish sits in the most desirable segment of the 4001 production run. Mid-1970s 4001s — Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Paul McCartney era — are the canonical “Ric bass” sound, and Mapleglo (natural maple) is the finish that collectors actively seek over the more common Jetglo and Fireglo.
This example is all-original: hardware, electronics, Rick-O-Sound stereo wiring, and case. Honest moderate corrosion on the chrome is consistent with a fifty-year-old instrument and is in fact a marker of authenticity — refinished or re-plated 4001s carry a discount among knowledgeable buyers.
Comparable mid-‘70s Mapleglo 4001s on Reverb and RickResource have moved in the $5,000–$6,000 range over the past 18 months, with all-original examples at the top of that band. Asking $5,500.