68 4001 spotted in Toronto

[espidog]

Does anyone else feel that the pickguard on that bass is not original? I'm not a vintage Rick expert of any kind, but it looks very white, and not terribly well-shaped. Particularly, the hole for the neck toaster looks a poor fit for the pup: very square-cut (but actually a bit wonky). A home-made replacement, maybe? Just curious, that's all...

[jps]

Does anyone else feel that the pickguard on that bass is not original?

Yes, not original. wrong material, crudely cut.

[thx1955]

What was the asking price before the 68 sold ?

I believe it dropped below $9000

[vincent_gallo]

It showed up for re-sale on eBay. I was lucky to spot it as I sadly missed it while it was in Toronto. Seller was a nice guy and did a good packing job. Those late 68 4001's with the transition pickups are extremely rare and likely not many more are still out there. I was lucky to purchase a very similar bass with a close serial number from my buddy Andy Winter. And also lucky to purchase a matching maple bass also only few serial numbers apart. Got that one while working in Paris. All three have very very similar necks. Flat thin fast. Closer to 63-64 profile necks but in some ways better. Andy and I both like this particular batch and agree they are part of a very rare unsung grouping.

[teeder]

Congrats, Vincent!
I was lucky to pick up a Feb '69 a couple months ago. I owned it previously and kicked myself ever since for not keeping it. Very nice neck shape and unique sounding with the transition higain.
It sounds beautiful with TI flats!

[jps]

Looks brand new!

[bassduke49]

Niiiiice!

[thx1955]

Congrats, Vincent!
I was lucky to pick up a Feb '69 a couple months ago. I owned it previously and kicked myself ever since for not keeping it. Very nice neck shape and unique sounding with the transition higain.
It sounds beautiful with TI flats!

IMG_20200327_164343397 small.jpg

That is some lovely Fireglo congratulations

[thx1955]

It showed up for re-sale on eBay. I was lucky to spot it as I sadly missed it while it was in Toronto. Seller was a nice guy and did a good packing job. Those late 68 4001's with the transition pickups are extremely rare and likely not many more are still out there. I was lucky to purchase a very similar bass with a close serial number from my buddy Andy Winter. And also lucky to purchase a matching maple bass also only few serial numbers apart. Got that one while working in Paris. All three have very very similar necks. Flat thin fast. Closer to 63-64 profile necks but in some ways better. Andy and I both like this particular batch and agree they are part of a very rare unsung grouping.

Thanks for the detail and the background on the 68's great information Vincent.

[vincent_gallo]

Wow Kevin, Very very nice one. The late 68 I got from Andy Winter is similar clean. How odd how that so many of these particular and rare 4001's hung around for so long nearly untouched. Odd because they play so well and sound so good. Anyone lucky to have one should have played the heck out of it. I had a mint black December 68 bass as well in the early 80's. I had to give up to buy a very vert rare Blonde 1939 Gibson ES-250 from George Gruhn. The black 68 also had a magic neck. However back then I was so fixated getting original horseshoe loaded basses that I could not see how great the transitional bass was. Very good fortune you got your early 69 back as it is a stunner.

[teeder]

Thanks Vincent.
The neck is nicely worn in all the right places, but luckily they took good care of the body.
I bet that black '68 was a real stunner! Black with the checkerboard binding is so classy!

[JWR]

Very nice, always great to see the pics of these gems. Thank you for sharing.