1972 RICKENBACKER 4001 BASS
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As 1972 started, the headstock wings were walnut and neck through body was full width. During the year the design discontinued the walnut wings and changed to the more common version with thin skunk stripe. By December, the clear plexiglass thumb rest was discontinued.
1972 Ric 4001 features: cresting wave shaped headstock, Grover Imperial wavy or flat tuners, logo on plexiglass truss rod cover, full width triangle crushed pearloid fret markers, 20 frets or fretless option, dual truss rods, checkered binding, toaster shaped neck pickup, four pole bridge pickup including cover and chrome surround, white pickguard, heptagonal shaped knobs with silver top and black lettering, CTS potentiometers, yellow, molded blue, brown or "orange drop" capacitors, cloth and plastic combination wiring, ric-o-sound input jack plate, pots cavity marking, 3 way pickup toggle switch, chrome "gaptooth" bridge including mutes, black Tolex case with pink, orange or blue interior.
The letters on the chrome input jack plate determine the year and month of production. The digits indicate the number of production. Some examples of 1972 Rickenbacker serial numbers are:
| LA 05x | 1972 January |
| LB xxx | 1972 February |
| LC xxx | 1972 March |
| LD 38x | 1972 April |
| LE 43x | 1972 May |
| LF 55x | 1972 June |
| LG 67x | 1972 July |
| LH 87x | 1972 August |
| LI xxx | 1972 September |
| LJ 121x | 1972 October |
| LK 141x | 1972 November |
| LL 170x | 1972 December |