“Professor Plum” The 1970 4001 21 Fretter

[fireglo330/12]

I recently acquired this wonderful 21-fret 1970 Burgandyglo 4001. I’ve managed to trace its provenance somewhat, with the help of an unusual scribing inside the neck pickup cavity. Here’s something for you Ric Resource sleuths to ponder... This lovely burgundyglo bass “Professor Plum” has the following inscription found in the neck pickup route...

4001 CUSTOM
JD 096
BY
FOR
BERNI YABLON
AUG 1968

In addition to the above info (I believe the “BY” in line three of the scribing stands for burgandy), the inscription indicates a date of August 1968, the pots are original CTS dating to the 46th week of 1966 and the 21 fret neck construction with JD input jack plate number indicates a date of April 1970. The finish is factory, as is the wiring. It’s a bit confusing! I get the early pots, that can be explained by overstock but what’s up with the Aug 1968 date? I believe it’s too early for a 21 fretter, unless it’s an earlier bass custom order that was released from the factory a little over a year later as a 21 fretter? I know... I’ll be providing ‘under the hood’ pics soon. Interestingly, I did find info on its original owner. According to my research, Berni Yablon was involved in music performing and broadcasting (with the CBC), as early as 1966 in the Toronto area but some time later, appears to have been active in the east coast of the country, principally around St. John’s, Newfoundland, where this instrument was located.

I wanted to properly represent this instrument, and was hoping to come to some sort of consensus on these apparent anomalies, and how they can be best explained. I plan on selling it soon ...the taxman cometh.

[ram]

All I can say is SWEEEEEEET!

[admin]

I recently acquired this wonderful 21-fret 1970 Burgandyglo 4001. I’ve managed to trace its provenance somewhat, with the help of an unusual scribing inside the neck pickup cavity. Here’s something for you Ric Resource sleuths to ponder... This lovely burgundyglo bass “Professor Plum” has the following inscription found in the neck pickup route...

4001 CUSTOM
JD 096
BY
FOR
BERNI YABLON
AUG 1968

In addition to the above info (I believe the “BY” in line three of the scribing stands for burgandy), the inscription indicates a date of August 1968, the pots are original CTS dating to the 46th week of 1966 and the 21 fret neck construction with JD input jack plate number indicates a date of April 1970. The finish is factory, as is the wiring. It’s a bit confusing! I get the early pots, that can be explained by overstock but what’s up with the Aug 1968 date? I believe it’s too early for a 21 fretter, unless it’s an earlier bass custom order that was released from the factory a little over a year later as a 21 fretter? I know... I’ll be providing ‘under the hood’ pics soon. Interestingly, I did find info on its original owner. According to my research, Berni Yablon was involved in music performing and broadcasting (with the CBC), as early as 1966 in the Toronto area but some time later, appears to have been active in the east coast of the country, principally around St. John’s, Newfoundland, where this instrument was located.

I wanted to properly represent this instrument, and was hoping to come to some sort of consensus on these apparent anomalies, and how they can be best explained. I plan on selling it soon ...the taxman cometh.

Terry: Professor Plum in the Dining Room with the 4001. Sorry you have to let it go.

[cheyenne]

She's a beaut.

I thought 21 fretters had the bridge positioned slightly higher on the body than a standard 4001.

[opticnerve]

PM sent.

[bassduke49]

The 21-fretters DO have the tailpiece/bridge positioned "higher" (farther from the butt end, closer to the neck). It's only around a half an inch or so, so it depends on the shape of the body which varied a bit in those days. Notice that all of the saddles are "up" on this one, hinting there may be an intonation problem. Perhaps the tail should go "up" a smidge (technical term) more, but that would be difficult to do. You'd probably have to fill the existing mounting holes, drill new ones a couple of millimeters "up" and remount the tail. That would allow more "space" to adjust the saddles to intonate.

[fireglo330/12]

Thanks for the input so far fellow forumites. Yes, the bridge does sit a little higher above the lower rim, closer to 3/8” above it. Not quite a 1/2” but Paul is correct, there are variations with these early instruments. You can see these variations on some of the 1970 21 fret basses listed in the registry, or a web search with other images of similarly dated instruments. The intonation is pretty decent at the moment.

[teeder]

Beauty!

The 21 fretters were all over the place for tailpiece locations.

[sloop_john_b]

My goodness - what a stunner!

[fireglo330/12]

Thanks for the continued input everyone. Here’s an image update with a correction. Never trust your memory, especially if you’re over 50, lol. The CTS pots and harness definitely appear to be stock but I goofed on my memory of the pot dates. When taking detailed pics under the hood, I noticed that one pair date to the 8th week, and the other pair, the 17th week of 1966 but they are “matched” in the sense they appear to have been in this instrument since new. What an unusual inscription in the neck PU route. Anyone seen anything like this in other vintage Rics?

[jps]

What an unusual inscription in the neck PU route. Anyone seen anything like this in other vintage Rics?

My guess is that Berni put it there himself, knowing that someday in the furure it would become a matter of discussion (and that, if he still owned the bass, his memory would have faded by now, making this his little reminder of days of yore).

[fireglo330/12]

What an unusual inscription in the neck PU route. Anyone seen anything like this in other vintage Rics?

My guess is that Berni out it there himself, knowing that someday in the furure it would become an matter of discussion (and that, if he still owned the bass, his memory would have faded by now, making this his little reminder of days of yore).

I had considered that as a distinct possibility...

[iiipopes]

Well, well, well! I had thought that the 21st fret on the 4001's was as it is on many other instruments: the extra fret added by simply extending the fretboard over the body. Obviously, not so. So, by comparison, three close-up shots of Rickenbacker's other 21-fret bass, the 4002, to compare with the OP's pictures of the plum 4001. I think you can see from comparing the pictures that, as stated above, the 4001 neck is longer and the bridge is moved towards the neck to have the 21st fret clear of the body, in the same manner as the 20th fret is clear on all other 4001/3 basses. But on the 4002, with the pickups in the "J" positions instead of traditional Rickenbacker positions, with no pickup to get in the way, the 21st fret is indeed a function of extending the fret board farther onto the body rather than lengthening the neck and moving the bridge. Oh, and the third picture: mojo. Yes, when I got the bass @ 27 years ago, it was pristine. Now it has a couple of dings and the chrome worn off the pickup cover where I anchor my thumb. Honest gigging wear/mojo. Thanks.

[admin]

I just love it when there are secrets in the pickup cavity.

[admin]

Well, well, well! I had thought that the 21st fret on the 4001's was as it is on many other instruments: the extra fret added by simply extending the fretboard over the body. Obviously, not so. So, by comparison, three close-up shots of Rickenbacker's other 21-fret bass, the 4002, to compare with the OP's pictures of the plum 4001. I think you can see from comparing the pictures that, as stated above, the 4001 neck is longer and the bridge is moved towards the neck to have the 21st fret clear of the body, in the same manner as the 20th fret is clear on all other 4001/3 basses. But on the 4002, with the pickups in the "J" positions instead of traditional Rickenbacker positions, with no pickup to get in the way, the 21st fret is indeed a function of extending the fret board farther onto the body rather than lengthening the neck and moving the bridge. Oh, and the third picture: mojo. Yes, when I got the bass @ 27 years ago, it was pristine. Now it has a couple of dings and the chrome worn off the pickup cover where I anchor my thumb. Honest gigging wear/mojo. Thanks.

4002 21st Fret.jpg

4002 Bridge.jpg

4002 Wear.jpg

Scott, thanks for posting these findings.