Keywinds 4001
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Keywinds 4001
Hi there - does anyone know when Rickenbacker stopped using Grover flat tuners?? Best regards
Re: Keywinds 4001
I know my early '71's had Flat Grovers.
My guess is sometime in '72.
Welcome, BTW!
I just did a quick look in the register and they changed around May - June of '72. Real close to when they removed the walnut wings on the peghead and added the skunk stripe.
My guess is sometime in '72.
Welcome, BTW!
I just did a quick look in the register and they changed around May - June of '72. Real close to when they removed the walnut wings on the peghead and added the skunk stripe.
- bassduke49
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Re: Keywinds 4001
My June 1972 4001 has the shedua strip and flat keys on closed-back Grovers. Still have the original Toaster-top pickup, wiring harness, and jackplate, but everything else has been replaced or refinished. The contrasting headstock wings were also an addition.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: Keywinds 4001
Paul, I saw there were a couple with the stripe and flats. Probably just using up the stock.
- rickinroma
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Re: Keywinds 4001
Slightly off topic, but were those Grovers quality-wise better than the most common Kluson/Rickenbacker ones?
Aestethically speaking, I have always found those Grovers ugly, to say the least
Aestethically speaking, I have always found those Grovers ugly, to say the least
Re: Keywinds 4001
My '74 has the Wavy Grovers (closed back) Shedula strip, red dots, High Gain pickups and 1/2 inch spacing for the neck pickup. Also a neck I have loved since I first picked it up in the summer of '74!!
The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions - George Berkeley
Re: Keywinds 4001
Same here. Still, I'm sure that some people like 'em.rickinroma wrote:Slightly off topic, but were those Grovers quality-wise better than the most common Kluson/Rickenbacker ones?
Aestethically speaking, I have always found those Grovers ugly, to say the least
Re: Keywinds 4001
I like the Flat Grovers. Super smooth.
Re: Keywinds 4001
I assume they have the same self-disassembling issues that have killed so many of the wavy version? Love the feel of them when they are in good working order, but so many horror stories.
- bassduke49
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Re: Keywinds 4001
The "flat" and the "wavy" are the keys which are interchangeable (?) on the Grover tuners. The Grovers on my '72 are original "flats" and have never been a problem coming up on 50 years now.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: Keywinds 4001
I haven't heard of the Flats exploding. None of mine have ever had a problem.
Re: Keywinds 4001
I’m the opposite. I much prefer the look of the Grovers. I just wish they weren’t inclined to explode!rickinroma wrote:Slightly off topic, but were those Grovers quality-wise better than the most common Kluson/Rickenbacker ones?
Aestethically speaking, I have always found those Grovers ugly, to say the least
My Feb ‘72 has flat Grovers, my Aug ‘72 has wavy’s. Flats are pretty hard to come by; last year I managed to get a few spares.
I’ll add that mine have always been fine, touch wood, and I have the necessary parts to do the permanent fix on them all anyway, just in case.
Re: Keywinds 4001
Quality, as in tuning stability and no backlash? About the same. But the Grovers have been known to spontaneously explode - cover coming off and internal hardware letting go. The good thing is a reputable machine shop that is used to dealing with smaller items can rebuild them, for a price, which collectors seem to be ready to pay to retain originality of the '70-'72 basses that have them. See this thread:rickinroma wrote:Slightly off topic, but were those Grovers quality-wise better than the most common Kluson/Rickenbacker ones?
Aestethically speaking, I have always found those Grovers ugly, to say the least
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