Vintage 4001 reborn, wants to know age,

greg_gibbs · Post by **greg_gibbs** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:08 pm

Got this bass as a piece of wood, no hardware, and painted black (by amateur). Finally pieced it together with some parts (yes thats a Jazz bass pickup) and am curious how old it is. I am guessing pre 1972? any thoughts? If the picture won't load e-mail me at [email protected]

well i can't get it to load so email me, it is a mapleglow neck-thru with sparkle inlays, with walnut "wings"?

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 12:27 am

upload the image as an attachment

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 1:33 am

A J-bass pickup on a Rickenbacker bass?? That is a capital offense.
Just kidding there. Yes, Greg, please do post a picture of your 4001 here. If I (we) can assist you in putting it back in playing condition I (we) will.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 1:57 am

Looks like a pre-'72 Rick to me, but with a lot of changed parts and serious mods. Looks like the binding was sanded off? And what's up with the nameplate? Does that say "Frankenbacker"? I would guess that it might be one from around '69 - '71 era, just from the pictures you sent me...

greg_gibbs · Post by **greg_gibbs** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 6:44 am

Every time i try to get the photo up, it tells me that the size is too big, i got it as small as 34kb and still won't allow it, i give up...

I put the jazz bass pickup in because I was touring with a band that insisted on the sound of the jazz bass pickups, I have 4 J basses but wanted to play my new ric. The previous pickup was dead and was too tall for the cavity. (I have since left that band). I made the Frankenbacker plate cause the folks at Ric won't sell me a correct nameplate...grrr, perhaps a rickenstein?
The neck is Birdseye maple, and lovely thin. I'll check my e-mails for photo requests and get them off.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 6:54 am

Greg: Effective immediately the upper limit on photos posted is 36K. This will from this point forward be known as the Gibbs Rule. Please give it another go.

greg_gibbs · Post by **greg_gibbs** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 7:40 am

thanks, here it goes. I'm neither photo, nor computer whiz.

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:27 am

Greg, that,s a beautiful maple neck on that baby, like a 64 I have. However, the neck looks similar in profile at the top where the headstock begins(a little thicker, but no real angle) to the 68 I have. I do not know if this is a valid point, and so I,ll ask the experts here...are the fixing holes for the kluson tuners the same for grovers?? IF the original fixing holes for the tuners were present, and the reissues you have fitted had the same holes, the originals may well have been klusons which would make this a 60,s bass in all probability...If in any way they were not, then maybe you had grovers and this would be more likely a 70,s bass...I,d try and replace the P/Ups with some originals or reissues, and maybe try e bay for a pickguard and nameplate (you would need a period one, because they are different!!)What colour is it underneath there? Well done for saving a great bass...ain,t that neck something else to play!!

greg_gibbs · Post by **greg_gibbs** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:08 am

Thanks, I had it refinished by a cabinet maker, it is a clear coat with some kinda additive to make it glow. (can't see the additive, must be radioactive). The tuners on it are schaller. It seems that after 71, the headstock lacked the walnut "wings". Thats why my guess is pre '72. I would like to start with a nameplate, as frankenbacker does apply, rather have an O.G. plate. Would the correct one be painted on the bottom of clear lucite, stating made in usa model 4001?, or would it be raised letters. Should it be wired for ric-o-sound, or not? I like my seymor duncan, but would like to remove the jazz pu. will any ric bridge pu work, or is there a characteristic difference to the vintage 1960's pu. I'm so confused. Anyone have a vintage nameplate for this bass? G

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:27 am

I think it is older than my 1968 ... the square heel looks like 63 64 maybe ... is it just a single mono output?

Man you gotta go out and spend 10 bucks and put Ric knobs on it ...

Also put Ric pickups on it ... try and find a toaster or at least a high gain ...

dano · Post by **dano** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:56 am

Hello Greg,

Spare parts can be ordered at...
www.the-music-connection.com
www.pickofthericks.com
Pickups depend on the tone you are looking for. Read other threads, it will help you decide whats best for you. Keep an eye on e-bay for a nameplate. They do turn up from time to time but are a little pricey.

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:19 am

I think it,s a round heel Jeff, maybe the camera angle makes it look kinda square...care to clarify Greg...If it is a square heel then your in very rare company. I,m still thinking 68-71, originally wired mono most probably. A vintage toaster and treble pick up would be nice, as would the split bridge, nameplate with "made in the u.s.a." parallel to the nut, plus the Ric knobs. This is e bay stuff most probably Greg. If it is your wish to have an original as possible bass, be patient and hopefully these items will turn up. It just depends on how far you want to go. A guy sold a broken 68 for parts last year (tuners/ pickguard/ wiring etc..)on e bay, and this would be very close to what you would be looking for.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 12:44 pm

it is an unknown ... if I could see it and handle it I could tell more ...

it still looks sorta 60's like ...

but without a serial number ... who knows for sure ...

davecondra · Post by **davecondra** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 4:14 pm

The long headstock looks like '69 or older. I believe the shorter headstock started in '70 or '71. Is the treble pickup surround original? This rectangular shape started in '68. The '67's that I have seen have the longer, curving lower end (toward the tailpiece). If it used to have one, you might see faint lines in the body, but a refin would likely have erased them.
What a gorgeous neck!

greg_gibbs · Post by **greg_gibbs** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 4:39 pm

The heel isn't what I'd call square, it is rounded. To rehash what i gather... the walnut wings ended sometime in late '71, the triangle inlays wern't on the v63 ri's, so asuming the triangle inlays surfased sometime after that making this bass a candidate for 60's-'71. If any specifics photos are needed i am more than happy to take those. I can even measure bits of it to help narrow the 10 year strech of unknowns. I am more concerned with playability than originality, but I'll be selling an original '65 strat neck on ebay soon, so i do want a nameplate, and a bridge pickup. (as well as other things I need for my other guitars....)