1973, The Transition Year

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Thu Jun 06, 2002 2:09 pm

Hey Leftybass,
Take a Gander at this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=881849709

I looked at the color photo section of the Smith book when I got home and I saw only one set neck bass, which I think is incorrectly identified as a "early 80s 4001s" This bass has the two piece pcikguard, which I think means it is really a 4003S. Is this the bass you are referring to? Its on page 117, right next to a picture of a 4002.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Jun 06, 2002 2:43 pm

Gene, that is a neat one...Lenie's 4001-S is constructed the same way as this 4000, except it has two pickups and is a bit later(1977).

I don't have the book in front of me, but it sounds like you're in the right spot. It does have a two piece pickguard; I thought that the last 4001 basses had gone to that setup, although I may be mistaken....

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 8:32 am

I haven't read all the messages in the thread yet, but I'll ad my two-cents here, anyway.

I picked up a 1975 4001S WHT from a former RIC dealer who had custom-ordered it from the factory. It has a set-neck - and "Model 4000" prominently printed on the truss-rod cover! I have inferred from this that the guitar started out as a Model 4000 and the factory simply modified it (by adding a second pickup and controls) to make it a 4001S. Maybe someone can confirm my suspicions.

bighead · Post by **bighead** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:27 am

Hi guys! New to the forum. So what is the deal with my bass? Many people have told me it's rare but just how did it's construction differ from others of it's time? I'd be happy to post a photo, but the stripe on the back of the neck stops where it meets the body. Strange?

Lenie Colacino

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 11:23 am

Welcome, Lenie.
Your Rick is not strange, just rare. It's called 'set-neck' bass. Does it have one or two pickups? Please post a photo of it if you can, we would like to 'meet' it.
You will find a wealth of information in here. Enjoy.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 12:01 pm

Lenie, it's about time you showed up over here!!!

Welcome to the show!!!

bighead · Post by **bighead** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 6:23 am

Yeah John, I'm a little slow to things. I'd like to post a photo but I don't know how. Email me and I'll send you some pix.It does have two pickups (those bubble type). Would it screw with the integrity of the bass to put a toaster neck pickup in or just leave it as is?

Lenie

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 12:15 pm

Hey Lenie,
I've just ordered a 7.4k Toaster to replace the hi-gain neck PU of my 4003. I have to admit it's mostly for the nice look of the Toaster. It should arrive in 10 days.

I'll post what I feel, sound wise, of the change.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Jan 25, 2003 3:07 pm

You'll get a clearer, less punchy sound. Unless you fit the much-discussed treble-pass capacitor to the treble pickup on your 4003, you'll get a noticeable pickup output mismatch.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sat Jan 25, 2003 4:21 pm

The output of the hi-gain neck pickup of my 4003 is already 2/5 lower than that of its treble pickup. Already mismatched.(You once told me it was because there was no treble-pass cap with the bridge pickup.)

And I find that my usual favorite sound is to (even) back off a little the volume knob of the neck pickup while both tone knobs maxed.

I'll install the .0047 cap to the bridge pickup if they are "too" mismatched.

Sergio, have you ever heard of people replacing the bridge pickup's volume pot with a push-pull one that engage/disengage the .0047 cap for flexibility? I wonder if I can do that?

Honestly, I like the sound of the hi-gain neck pickup pretty much. It's got a very acoustic string bass sound characteristics. I just don't like how it looks though....Ah, stupid me being too affected by looks. But hey, that's why I fell in love with RIC basses in the first place.

I think I'll need to hear some of your wisdom after the pickup change, if them pickups get too mismatched.

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 12:09 am

a push/pull switch sounds like a great idea, but it's real hard to find one that will inside the thin rick bass. bummer!

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 12:11 am

whoops! try again with the right words
A push/pull switch sounds like a great idea, but it's real real hard to find one that will inside the thin rick bass. bummer!

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 12:14 am

whoops! try again with the right words, again!
A push/pull switch sounds like a great idea, but it's real hard to find one that will fit inside the thin rick bass. bummer!

I should never try to do two things at the one time!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 5:54 am

Paul: Yes, I've heard of the modification you mention. However, consider what Eden says - he does have a point.
As to the current high-gain pickups I don't like the way they look either, which is why I've put forward elsewhere in the Forum some tips for imparting these the 70s look.

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 8:55 am

A very workable option is a rotary switch, which you can swap out one of the other controls for. I installed one of these in my 4001 to bypass the cap, and it works like a charm. Since I never use the tone controls, I simply replaced one of them with the switch so it still looks stock, and could be restored easily. The switch I have is a three pole, so I'm debating adding a second cap for a third tonal variation.