1970 21 fret 4001FG in Ebay!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 7:41 am

Bob,
As far as I know, the neck of a 21-fret 4001 is indeed longer for the string length of the 21st fret and the bridge is located closer to the neck accordingly to maintain the 33 1/4" scale length.
The pickups seem to be where they usually are. No binding at the end of the fingerboard though.
Don't you think RIC will have a smash hit if they produce 21-fret 4003 and 4004? Or even better, "reissue" the early '70s 21-fret 4001 basses equipped with the modern truss rod system, neck-end binding and checkered binding?
Oh well, I know I'm only daydreaming. RIC doesn't need a smash hit anyway. They make hits everyday.

(Still, give us a smash hit please, Mr. Hall.)

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 7:43 am

By the way, do you guys think the white-capped toggle switch of this bass is genuine RIC?

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:45 am

This has been discussed before but I certainly would like to see 21 frets be the standard. It bothers me that Ricks are 1 semi-tone short of three full octaves. Even Fender has gone to more frets on their basses. So many times I am working in the upper range and really need that high E. All Rickenbacker need do is extend the fingerboard a little bit into the body, maybe 1/2 inch, and you'd have plenty of room for the fret.

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:50 am

Paul-- 21 frets should be standard on all Ric basses, and a white capped toggle should be standard on ALL Ric instruments in Mapleglo (perhaps even Fireglo?) And now that you mention it, checkered binding would be another nice standard feature. Certainly I'd be willing to pay extra for it.

By the way, I'm still campaigning for "Apple Corps. Green" for 2004. Are you still on the bandwagon, Paul?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 10:46 am

Is that the original truss rod cover? It doesn't say "model 4001".

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 10:52 am

Of course, Jeffery.
I want one in that finish.
However, it seems no more than 10 people were really for it in that Greenglo thread. The snowball didn't roll big enough for us to carry on the campaign...
I figured the best way to get one is to buy a beat-up but structurally healthy mapleglo 4001/4003 and have her professionally refinished to my ideal green shade.

I'm also thinking about getting an extra wavery grained mapleglo with white binding and have her refinished in translucent sea water blue so that the bass looks like being made of sea water. That should give the "Cresting Waves" headstock and horns a vivid presentation. "Oceanglo" would be the name.

I'd be willing to pay extra for the checkered binding and 'the 21st fret" too!
As for the white cap, may I suggest adding one to every instrument's manual/polish cloth/hex wrench bag so that the buyer can alter between black and white to his/her liking.

jayfbv · Post by **jayfbv** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 10:56 am

I had a white Gibson toggle button on mine for a long time. The threads are wrong, but it worked. If I were King of the Forest, I'd either convert to the Gibson toggle switch ***'y or have the existing one redesigned with a longer threaded shaft, so the button doesn't break so easily.

21 frets is the way to go. I'm always tempted to to hit a 4 octave run as fast as possible at the end of anything in E.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 11:00 am

Yeah Bob, the TRC is interesting.
Does anyone here have a Pre-'71 that's got a TRC like that? Only "MADE IN U.S.A." but no "MODEL 4001"?

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 11:12 am

Guys,
How about a "21 Frets Campaign"?!

OK, those of you who plea for a 21-fret 4003 or 4004Cii please line up here and state the model(s) you hope can have 21 frets.
I'll humbly take the lead...

1-Paul Yan---4003, 4004 cii/8

dano · Post by **dano** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 11:21 am

2-Dano---4004 Cii/8

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 12:09 pm

Hey Bob,
I think you're right, looks like a later model nameplate to me, nothing like mine...
The way its shaped, it almost looks like one oft the raised letter types.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 12:41 pm

It's a later replacement, it should have a flat plexi cover...

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 1:19 pm

3-Jeffrey Scott---4004Cii

I ordered my 4004Cii on 5/29/03, if I am lucky by the time mine gets made it will have 21 frets!
(VVT controls would be nice also).

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 1:22 pm

Maybe to keep the tradition alive the 4003 series should stay the way it is but the 4004 series should have all the modern updates. A flush control cavity cover would be nice too if possible.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 1:59 pm

Absolutely.
VVT controls + flush control cavity cover would "give wings to a tiger" (old Chinese saying) on the 4004Cii.
How about the 2 volume knob acting as push-pull coil split control + matching woodgrain and finish flush control cavity cover made from the same body wood to round out, Jeffrey?
Sure sounds enchanting to me.