Adding a 21st fret

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon May 26, 2003 2:34 pm

Is there enough room on a 20 fret neck to add a 21st fret? I have a '73 4001, can it be done?

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon May 26, 2003 5:49 pm

This can only be done if you're willing to shorten the scale slightly by moving the bridge closer to the neck, replacing the fingerboard and re-fretting with 21 frets. If your fingerboard lies flush with the body then you could leave the bridge where it is and just replace the fingerboard with a longer one and re-fret...and re-inlay too.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue May 27, 2003 5:52 am

You have the room and could cobble up another fret (without having to change the scale, etc.) But why? I've played bass for 40 years now and could probably count on one hand the times I've actually played above the 17th fret. It's a bass, not a guitar!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 27, 2003 7:39 am

Us bass players love that 21st fret ....

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue May 27, 2003 10:02 am

I maintain that my 21 fret 4001 is the ultimate Rickenbacker bass, but I agree 100% with John Hall. I certainly wouldn't dream of adding another fret to my 20 fret 4001s.

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue May 27, 2003 10:38 am

As someone who gets frequently above the 12th, I,d love to hit that high eeeeeeee!!..A 21 fret is on my shopping list..

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Tue May 27, 2003 1:11 pm

I have a bass so I can play "so low" not "solo".

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue May 27, 2003 2:25 pm

For several years I have been playing 24 fret basses and having recently gotten this 4001 I do find myself occasionally reaching for that high E, so it does frustrate me somewhat. I don't go there often but it would be nice to have it.

Thank you John for the accurate information. By the way what kinds of music do you like to play, John?

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue May 27, 2003 2:41 pm

Seldom reach above the 17th fret?
Interestingly, I've been lately enjoying playing along to Chris Squire's "Reach Out Your Hands" and the 20th fret gets hit for 3 notes in the 3rd phrase of the intro! What if he used a bass of another brand and did the song a half-tone higher?
Thank god he didn't. (That was close!)

A 21-fret 4001 is also in my wishlist.
Like Sergio said, that's the Ultimate Rickenbacker Bass. I wouldn't try to add another fret on my fingerboard ends either.
Drop me another "E

" please.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Tue May 27, 2003 5:32 pm

Wasn't that song on Squire's first solo album called"Hold Out Your Hand"?...Anyway, Squire was and is a true one of a kind. The formation of Yes necesitated playing like his but if you're in a working rock band spending a lot of time above the 12th fret(or seventh fret for that matter)then you're not playing bass. The stuff that moves me most on the bass is the stuff that can't be played on a guitar and wouldn't make sence on one. "Five G" by Bill Bruford ,"Head For Backstage Pass" by Jeff Beck Group, Squire's solo at the end of "Does It Really Happen". I suppose a 21st fret would be "that extra little push over the cliff", but who really needs it anyway? Then again, if you have Ricky 3000's, you get 21 frets anyway!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue May 27, 2003 6:04 pm

Hey, lucky you with your 3000 basses, Dane.
Yes, I stand corrected. It's "Hold out...."

The 21st fret is like a dollar coin that you sometimes find in the washing machine that buys you a donut(or is it a toasted flour grommet haha!). Not frequently needed but is a good old surprising standby.

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Tue May 27, 2003 6:08 pm

FWIW, I'm casting my vote to make 21 frets standard on 4003/4004 models. That extra fret would be especially useful on a 4-string.