Short Takes: 2026 Geddy Lee 400..1?

A throwback to the very first 4001

This is (likely) the very first 4001 bass:

1961 4001 prototype

Keep that in mind.

One of the many benefits of being Geddy Lee is being able to call Ben Hall and say “Rush is going to go on tour for the first time in 11 years and I’d like something special to take out on the road”—and that’s what you get.

Whether the callback to 4001 number one was Geddy’s request or Ben’s idea, the result is something genuinely special.

While I’m not yet sure what this guitar’s official designation is—it just went up on the socials today without that crucial detail—I’m just going to go ahead and call it a 4001 because…just look at it.

Apart from the turquoise finish, it’s a dead ringer for that 1961 guitar. Well—almost. Check the back…

At Geddy’s request the neck is unfinished, but a stinger was added at the base of the neck to give it a little flair—a further callback to a handful of Combo 850’s that were so equipped.

Underneath it all is almost certainly a stock 4003 body, but almost everything else—toaster and horseshoe pickups, pickguard, bridge and cover—are unique to this guitar and dead ringers for that 1961 original. Ironically, while Rickenbacker has put their new crushed pearl inlays on this guitar, the original had poured resin.

Between this and a 360F we got a sneak peek at a few weeks ago, there are some interesting things brewing in Santa Ana. I’d wager they could sell more than a few of both if these turned into special runs. Here’s hoping.

If you want to learn more about that first 4001—and all the ones that followed—check out our timeline of the evolution of the 4001. For everything else there’s always our handy site map.