Rose Morris Shaftesbury 4001

From the well known Rose Morris dealer in Shaftesbury Avenue, this old warrior was resident in a studio in Lowestoft and has more than likely had Frankie Poullain's talent pouring out of the stereo jack - no provenance, but the current owner engineered the early Darkness years - this was a parting gift. Gone is the Rickenbacker truss rod cover, as this has never been to Santa Ana - but it is a very well built bass from the Japan years when Rose Morris provided Rickenbackers to those without the budget for one. This is Stereo, which works perfectly, and the neck is like most Japanese constructions - in better nick than most Rickies from the period.

Looks like one, feels like one, plays like one, sounds pretty close to one, and without the price tag of one. A regretful but necessary sale, this is ready to rock (the Rickie rod cover is in the case); and like most Shaftesbury 4001s, the pick-up cover has long gone.

These are essentially the same construction as the highly regarded El Maya and Greco RB series from the early and mid 1970s - made on the same production lines but specifically for Rose Morris to sell alongside the real ones. Nice and solid, the electrics are all original and just serviced. Unlike real ones, the pick-up selector switch doesn't crackle; and there is a strong chance that you'll be playing the bass on the two volume controls as you kick out some stereo glory. We include a stereo cable with it.

The original case is in poor shape, but still functional - this has been a busy bass guitar and should continue to be so.

If you are local, come and sample it, if not we can demo it over a Whatsapp/Facetime call. We can ship it to you fully insured.

There is one crack in the scratchplate - from the neck pick-up to the top, but it holds together, and Jack at TinyTone will make a replacement for it without the usual Rickie-taxed price-tag.