Checkered fretless

dminer · Post by **dminer** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:16 pm

Paul, I just checked the completed auction and I knew immediately that you had won by the 4003fg ebay handle!! You had to beat out some "mom142" character to get it but nice going. I bet you were excited when the auction was finially completed and you got her, and for a still reasonable price. Welcome to the wonderful world of 70's Mapel Glow, and checkered binding to boot! I'm jealous. Congrads!! David

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:28 pm

Congrats on the beauty Paul!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:36 pm

Thank you, David.

I was jumping around and waving my fists when I knew I'd won her.
Up until the last minute, it was $860 by "Unplznt".So I placed a $1251 bid and it came out at $1173. Quite a nice deal, I should say.
You have no idea how my heart was pumping crazy when I placed the bid.

Wow, an early '70s 4001 in my collection! Still can't believe it...A producer friend of mine already asked if he could borrow the bass for his next project which I'll be engineering.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:37 pm

And thank you, John!

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 3:01 am

Hey Paul, well done! I was playing a Fnda fretless today wishing it was your new aquisition.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:32 am

Hey thanks for your good wishing, Gerry.

I guess there's an invisible power generated by the "Rick Forum Brotherhood" making things a little easier for all of us here, which I cherish dearly.

Interesting that you should mention 'Fnda"...
When was the last time I played my Fender Jazz Bass Plus?
Think I owe her a tender apology...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 8:57 am

Hi Paul (and everyone) I'm new here but wanted to let you know that I picked up a ´72 4001FL last year on Ebay, a Jetglo, everything is correct I am pretty sure, checkerboard binding, screwtop treble hi gain pickup, Grover tuners, flat logo, split bridge, toaster pickup close to the neck, no treble pickup cover though (what a surprise!)and no thumb rest (no holes for one either, but is the original pick guard). It was under the owners bed for 15 years, and I believe it, looks about five years old, hardly any wear on it. OK enough bragging, congratulations yours is only the second one I have heard of. It is my favorite bass, sounds great too. Bob Young

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 10:14 am

Hey Bob, welcome aboard and thank you.
Nice to know you have one of my '72 4001 FL's sisters. Checkered binding on a Jetglo bass looks so elegant. Congratulations to you too.
Yes our fretless 4001 basses share exactly the same features.
As a matter of fact, I just received mine 3 days ago. She had to go from the seller to California and then flew to me. Her neck profile is quite different from my '98 4003 FG, with the back of the neck being a bit flatter. Now I know why the '70s bass necks have gained so many fans.
Haven't had much time with her yet since she's here in my hands. I'll post my impressions after I get to play with her a little.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 10:29 am

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the welcome,
yeah the 4001 necks were a lot thinner than the 4003 necks, I like the 4003's though, especially the newer ones, great pickups, the clip light goes on on my practise amp on the standard input with the 4003's! It's a solid state b-15, sounds ok for a solid state amp, doesn't touch the old SVT's though. I think I'm going to bridge the Capacitor for the treble pickup on the FL (as opposed to eliminating it) I did this on a 79 Mapleglo 4001 and what a difference, fattens up the sound, and if you bridge the cap, you can take the wire back out anytime to make it original again, the treble pickup on my 72 is very thin sounding, as was the one on my 75 (that I had to sell unfortunately). I'm in Peru´ now, about 5000 miles from all my basses (except the '79) can't wait to get back next month to see my babies haha, Bob young

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 10:34 am

By the way, is your bridge shiny as opposed to the later dull finish bridges? I mean the little adjustable pieces for the strings. Mine has a shiny bridge and is the only one I have seen, (this is the oldest Ric I've seen that was not a picture)

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 1:11 pm

Shiny bridge saddles are USUALLY one indicator of a copy part. However, there'd be nothing to stop someone from buffing these up on a wheel.

Some copy units are actually chrome plated which makes them almost impossible to be notched properly.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:32 pm

John Hall, on many older original Rickenbacker 4000 and 4001 models(specifically pre-1973 mdls. with the old-style aluminum tailpiece) the bridge saddles on many of these basses do exhibit somewhat of a shine rather than the matte gray that you see on later tailpieces. I often wondered myself if this was/is a result of polishing by the owner.....I can relate to what they are talking about in the posts, though...

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:56 pm

Leftybass;
Not unlikely at all the owner was anal retentive and went nuts with a Dremel buffer and Simichrome to get that shine.I did it to every Rick bass I ever owned, whether it needed it or not[many were quite oxidized].Regarding this "eccentric habit" ,
I Know I am not in a minority...anyone else wanna 'fess up???

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:01 pm

John and John,
Yeah, on this bass, the bridge saddles look like aluminum, now that you mention it, it is kind of a soft shine, not bright like chrome. Since I have been in Peru´for 4 months and don't have the bass here, I can't tell for sure, it looks like it is original to the bass though, and the tailpiece is a little different than the modern ones. If I remember correctly, there are only three screws instead of the five, I am used to. I will update you in about two weeks (hopefully) as I will be home in Ma. I will also send a close up picture, (if I can get my digital camera working).

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 7:44 pm

Yes Bob,
The saddles (picture 1, picture 2, picture 3) on my "72 4001 FL have sof shine on the top but the saddle bottoms and posts look like aluminum with no shine. Those saddles are smaller than the current ones and have rounder edges overall. Mine look quite "home-made" and I even wonder if they are not factory originals but self-made items by one of the previous owners or copied parts.

The mute pad hex screws are now replaced by original
thumbwheels that Sergio sent me. (Thanks a million, Sergio.)

The tailpiece only has 3 screws under the bridge and miraculously it doesn't bend. It looks a little wider than the current ones too.
The "split" between the A and D strings looks like it was done by hand instead of machine cast and has pretty rough surfaces and sharp edges on the 2 parallel inside walls.

Would somebody please tell me my '72 tailpiece and saddles are original or copied.