1974 White Binding, Black Guard & Nameplate 4001

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:25 am

A good example of a 70's 4001 sporting white binding and a black pickguard & nameplate. And it is going to be mine very shortly...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 11:01 am

This one, a September 1974, is currently on Ebay. See if you can spot the part on it that's not period-correct.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 11:14 am

The pickguard.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 11:29 am

Bingo! Strangely enough, the seller fails to mention this. And there's another part on that bass that's not period-correct.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 2:14 pm

Bridge ?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 3:26 pm

Nope.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:19 am

The tailpiece. The middle divider over the mute would be split laterally (for who knows what reason) back then. I have the same replacement for my '72 MG.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:38 am

I don't remember the bridges being split after 72.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:55 am

Same here, I've never seen a split tail piece after 72.
If you guys are basing your opinion on the pickguard being incorrect because of the bass pickup placement, I've seen many 74's with that pickup placement before. And also the knobs are a little bit assymetrical like my 75 was (but it had the old placement of the bass pickup.) I bet that is the original pick guard.
And I myself like the pickguard and TRC to match the binding, I don't like the looks of the (IMHO) mismatches.
The cover looks high also like it has been put back together wrong, on top of instead of below the springs. (maybe it is the cover that is not correct. Should be a short cover maybe?

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:48 am

My bass was made in April 73 and it has a split tailpiece along with checkered binding, grover tuners, full width neck crushed MOP neck position markers, toaster neck p/u position 1/2" from the neck and a few other vintage features.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:20 am

Bob:
Bingo!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 1:49 pm

OK, but it's common knowledge that those features for the most part were discontinued after June 1973. There were some sporadic parts appearing after that, but for the most part June or July 73 was it.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:52 am

Hi, Kendall. Well, I'm willing to bet that both the new neck pickup placement and the new-style (= taller) handrest were not introduced until well into 1975. As for the control knobs, I'm almost sure that on any 1973/1974/1975 4001 their lay-out is parallel running.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 1:06 pm

I'm coming into this one a little late, but I would say that the pickguard looks OK to me for a 1974. Why don't you think it is original?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 1:24 pm

Well, I'm sure that in 1974 the neck pickup on the 4001 bass was not yet in the 'new' position, and the control knobs run parallel. The pickguard on that one 1974 4001 has got to be from the late 70's.