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Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« on: June 20, 2008, 05:49:48 PM »
I have a Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy, that I bought new in Dublin, Ireland back in 1981, complete with case. Just wondering what it might be worth. I believe I paid about 250 Irish pounds originally.

Thanks

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2008, 01:53:56 AM »
Hi - first things first, can you post some good pics of the bass? I've never seen a Fresher brand Rick copy, it'd be cool to get a look.

Rick copies are tricky to put a value on, because they're actually quite hard to sell through usual online channels. Rickenbacker own & are very protective of their trademarks (every element of the 4001 bass design is registered) and online auctions for Rick copies will get pulled if they come to RIC's attention - which they usually do!

This means that successful auctions can go quite high, because the instruments are sought-after. There are other factors - an accurate through-neck copy will probably sell for more than a bolt-neck, and some brands attract more interest - Ibanez copies, despite being fairly inaccurate, can reach very high prices, sometimes over £500.

It's hard to estimate how much yours might be worth without knowing the construction method & how accurate it is - Fresher's not a very well known brand, either, although there's some interesting info here:

http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/b ... p?AID=1032

Including a very brief mention of the FN-384, although no details.

Jon.

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2008, 07:32:11 AM »
Thanks for the response Jon.

Yes, I have heard that Rickenbacker close down ebay actions featuring Rick copies and have heard that they even scan craigslist to prevent people selling used Rick copies, at least here in the US.

I will post photos in a couple of days. I got the info from that vintage guitar article as there is little info on Fresher, apparently they were made for the Japanese and UK markets only and were never imported to the US.

Mine is black, has white binding with triangle inlays and is a one piece body and neck.  It is also wired for stereo with two input jacks! Also have the bridge pickup cover.

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2008, 07:02:53 PM »
Hi,

Here is a link to 5 photos of my Fresher 4001 Rickenbacker copy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/horslips/s ... 756137467/

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2008, 10:47:27 PM »
Hi - that's a lovely bass, looks in great condition too. :D  It appears to be a very accurate copy, right down to the binding gap at the base of the body.

Unfortunately though - there's not much to go on to help work out which factory made it - although it doesn't have features I'd tend to associate with Matsumoku, Fujigen or Maya/Rokkomann - although designs changed enough to mean nothing's exactly conclusive.

As one of the better quality & more accurate copies, I'd expect it to be in the higher price range if you decided to sell it - although if you did, I wouldn't be too surprised if it ended up wearing a Rickenbacker truss rod cover...

J.

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2008, 11:41:43 PM »
Hi Jon,

Thanks for the info. I've always felt it was a pretty good copy. I just took off the truss rod cover and it is a single truss rod. When I look at the back of the bass I can see that the body is made of 4 pieces of wood.

I've had it 27 years and don't plan on selling it anytime soon. Body is clean except for paint chipping along the G side of the fingerboard between the 2 & 3 frets when she took a sliding dive...necks still straight thank god!

Kinda cool that she is so rare:-)

Found this Japanese site with photos of 2 Fresher Rickenbacker copies and other Fresher guitars:

http://www.sk.aitai.ne.jp/~luesan/

If you go to Google and use their Japanese to English translation it might help.

All the best

Alan

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2008, 02:38:25 PM »
nice 8)

and can i just say that your username has just reminded me that i ought to buy The Tain album again

Horslips..great band 8)

Fresher FN-384, Rickenbacker 4001 copy. What's it worth?
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2008, 07:15:48 PM »
Many thanks for the link, Alan. :D

Just looking through the pictures, I'd tentatively suggest that at least some Freshers were sourced through Maya/Rokkomann - in the UK there was a line of guitars branded as Columbus - many of the Fresher LP copies have the same headstock ornamentation as their Columbus counterparts - which are believed to have come from Rokkomann.

I'll see what sense I can make of it with the translator!

J.

 

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