1973, The Transition Year

Jeff_U · Post by **Jeff_U** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 9:27 pm

I just picked up a 4001 that decodes as being a December '73 model. The inlays are clear, though look to have clouded over the years. The lower points are very rounded.

I'd be interested to know just how many different inlay styles there actually were.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Jun 18, 2001 4:39 am

After the crushed shell inlays were over and gone ,lots of experimentation was done to instruments that were ON LINE.

THe routed hole with paint in the bottom with colored resin varies from batch to batch and from experiment to experiment.

Richard Valesquez and Bill Meyers played with this till they got a system/look that they felt was acceptable.

How many versions ......who knows .

Richard continued to refine this over the years until he had the science of what time did the pearl powder get added and what tool did you use to get the correct swirl pattern.Some are better than others.

hippiesandwich · Post by **hippiesandwich** » Fri Mar 29, 2002 9:50 am

Thought I would bump this thread up a bit. If there were indeed 1973 4001's made that had the characteristics of 60's Rics (old bridge, horseshoe), why do I see 1972 models with the square bridge pickup assembly? Was 1973 just a year they cleaned out all the parts bins and made a bunch of basses with "mixed" hardware? Can anyone shed some light on this?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Mar 29, 2002 10:48 am

Lowell, I went through this not long ago myself...I have a '72 4001LH that has a horseshoe bridge p'up, but that's because some put it on there (a re-issue...) The horseshoe p'up on the 4001 was phased out by 1969-1970, according to most people you ask. If the bass is still original it should probably have the under-string bridge p'up. As far as things like the checkerboard binding and crushed-pearl or "linoleum" inlay and the toaster neck p'up, a '73 could have all of these or just some (or none...) I think the clear finger rests were hit and miss around this time as well.....As they say, the 'transition year'......

hippiesandwich · Post by **hippiesandwich** » Fri Mar 29, 2002 11:25 am

Thanks, John. The "interesting" part of the bass in question (see the '73 on eBay thread) is that it has the old bridge and the horseshoe pickup surround (octaganal) but there is not a horseshoe pickup in it, which looks very suspect. But it sounds as if a '73 could have ANYTHING on it.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 2:59 am

Lowell, that was one thing I forgot to mention; The bridge/tail piece could be one way or the other on a '73..if its the old style, it probably isn't the sandcast type like they were in the '60's though.......

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 3:01 am

ONE more thing...probably closed back Grover machine heads on a '73....

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 5:25 am

a 1973 was a bass , that was lucky to be made.

My take was ...without 'Fragile' ...things were looking grim.
That may or may not be 100% fact ....but it was looking bad and the two guys in the'know' talked about that time frame very little except to say ...thank God we made in through that ...it was ugly .

The '72 product was getting to be a hodge-podge of pieces and by '73 , it was clean house ...
'74 was my God ! what is with all these basses!!!

And Grover closed back tuners do not mean anything except ...the Klusons were not IN at that moment.
I do not think that Kluson was to be a discontinued tuner ...the Grovers may have been looked at as an alternative ...but did not make the grade.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 12:23 pm

Actually the bridge is a new style one, the front pickup is original, but the treble one was a mid 70's replacement as was the pickguard. it originally had grovers on it, but they were replaced with new schaller/Ric tuners ( the "A" tuner is cocked to one side to fit). I took the time with the refin and it turned out really nice in my opinion.

hippiesandwich · Post by **hippiesandwich** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 6:54 pm

Wow, Kendall, what a straight up honest fellow you are when it is four days after the close of the auction on this bass!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=853210838

I'm just curious about a few things.

The auction description states:
"Not a scratch or blemish"
Don't you think a crooked replacement tuner constitutes a "blemish"?

The auction states:
"the finish has turned a beautiful amber color in the burst."
Wow! How long ago did you refinish the bass if it has had time to "turn" color?

The auction states:
"the finest Rickenbacker bass ever to grace Ebay's trading arena"

I am just curious, do you feel the auction descrption was accurate and if not why not say anything until AFTER the auction is over?

The Paypal charge has already been disputed, and although the bass hasn't arrived yet it will be returning to the seller who is in for yet another negative feedback. Hopefully his description will be a little more honest next time.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 6:25 am

Here is a fairly decent example of a 4001 with most of the post 1968 to pre-1973 features:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=863786316

Someone has removed the pickup cover from the bridge pickup, and the bass most likely has checkerboard binding(the pic is not that good); other than that it exhibits all of the 'cheesecake' features, even the lucite finger-rest on the pickguard.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu May 30, 2002 4:43 am

Hi. This is just to mention that I happen to have a totally stock (except for the pickguard)21 fret 4001 bass, serial number JK340 (November 1970) identical to the one at issue i.e. Ebay item 863786316. The neck pu is a toaster and the bridge one is what I would call an early version of the hi-gain pu: it has screws, not rivets, as pole pieces, the bobbin was left unsprayed, and the magnet is narrower than the well-known oversize type used on 4000 series basses in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Just how rare is this version of our beloved 4001 bass?

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Fri May 31, 2002 8:22 am

Leftybass,
That bass you refer to on ebay is now mine, I'm proud to say, and it does indeed have checkerboard binding, bridge pu with screw polepieces, unsprayed bobbin, etc. It is really a beaut considering its age, and really have no major wear on it except for a ciggie burn on the headstock. I don't know how rare these are, but I have been looking for a Rick with all the early features, and they are not something you see everyday!

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri May 31, 2002 8:32 am

1971 Model 4001 Fireglo

daveman · Post by **daveman** » Mon Jun 03, 2002 5:02 pm

O.K. folks, here's my two cents. I am the original and only owner of a 4001 bass, Fireglo, serial number ME 1754 (May 1973), purchased in late June 1973 for $350 at Terminal Music, 48th St, NYC. (That was a lot of money!) 20 frets. Checkerboard binding. Inlays are not crushed pearl and do not go edge to edge. Toaster neck p/u; bridge p/u is not a horseshoe (it has the plastic cover w/o the slot), but has the screw-type pole pieces. Pickup surround is basically rectangular, with rounded corners - not the "octagonal" corners. Tuners are closed-back Grovers. No finger rest. Notched tail piece. Other than a refret (due to heavy heavy play), a couple of new nuts along the way, and a replacement pickup selector switch, it's all original. And ... need I say ... this baby has been kicking *** for 29 years!!!