'75 4001 buying help

mifune · Post by **mifune** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:23 am

Hi guys,

New here and new to Rick basses. I've always wanted one and finally got the opportunity to buy one at a nice price.
This december '75 mapleglo 4001 has only one problem, the treble pickup is dead according to the seller. But this shouldn't be a reason to not buy it, or is it? I know they are unavailable at the moment, but the bass is usable with just the neck pickup, or am I wrong? I will add an original new pickup once they are available again...
So is there anything to look for when I have it in my hands?

Here's a pic:
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5751/img0013wo5.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9646/img0010wc8.jpg
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2282/img0012qe2.jpg

lars · Post by **lars** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:41 am

Looking good! A dead pick up is not a big issue but don't tell that to the seller...
It will play fine with the neck PU alone. Maybe the seller consider the PU "dead" just because it has a low bass output. If that is the case we have a nice surprise for you...

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:33 am

Just tell the seller to sharpen his pencil and price accordingly -

and BTW - welcome Ed...

prog_rockin_metal_man · Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:41 am

nice looking bass...I would go for it. A dead pickup is not a big issue...get in contact with Sergio Silva, he's a forum member here and he can rewind your pickup for you or make you a really hot custom one if you want. He does great work, I have one of his custom bridge pickups in my '78 and it rocks!

If low bass output is the problem then the .0047 capacitor is to blame and can just be bypassed.

Oh and by the way welcome to the forum Edwin...you'll learn alot about rics if you start hanging around here.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:48 am

Hi Edwin. Name your requirements, please.

Uh... Do you happen to know why the treble pickup surround on that Rick has been turned around?

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:51 am

Is it just me or does that skunk stripe look extra wide?, Hmmmm.....

mifune · Post by **mifune** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:52 am

Thanks for the quick replies!
I hope to pick it up this week. Verrry looking forward to it.

@Sergio
I will first have to check out what the actual problem is. Don't know yet. But great to hear that you do an excellent job

And I really don't know why that cover has been turned around. Is that a problem, you think?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:53 am

The pickup problem is probably quite easy to fix. They usually are. The bass itself looks OK in that pic.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:56 am

Welcome to the forum Edwin, that's a nice '75. I agree that a dead pickup is not that big of an issue, but don't say that to the seller.

mifune · Post by **mifune** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:00 am

Added two more pictures, one of the back showing paint damage.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:27 am

Guess I was just being cautious, a wide dark skunk stripe is usually a faker trait but this bass looks legit, the way the back of the body was contoured looks right. Here's a side by side with my 73 jetglo with "special" skunk stripe cut away feature(somebody elses buckle-not mine!)

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:38 am

I don't think it is fake. The shedua stripe is OK. Sergio is right about the surround being turned around but that is also easily fixed.

berth · Post by **berth** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:53 am

Welkom Edwin. This is not the MPNL bass you showed on BGF eh? Where did you get it? Somehow these pictures look familiar to me. MG is a nice finish imho!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:36 am

Welcome, Ed!
You've already found the way to address any issues you might ever have concerning Ricks: ask the folks here.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:07 pm

The only problem with that turned-around surround is the new set of (undesirable) holes that had to be cut on the top of the guitar...