'73 4001 restoration?

[Docmus]

It looks like that bass has already been refinished.

No this guy hasn't been refinished. The only additional finish is on the fretboard from when the frets were removed.


The concern is that I really do not play it and figure I will have to replace most of the original parts to sell it. That becomes expensive. I even thought of buying one of the less expensive Ricks on ebay and using parts like I used to do with 850 Fiat Spyders but the parts still wouldn't be original "vintage".

I'm considering replacing the electronics and pickups as well as the bridge. You guys recommend I wait around for a '72 bridge and saddle or buy a Hipshot?. I'm thinking to wait.

Thanks to all for all the thoughts and encouragement.

[Docmus]

Dude!
You got a 72, not a 73
Way cool. It also makes the difference
as to restoring. Yours has all the cool stuff
for that era. Too bad about the stolen parts, yet
due to the scarcity of them, the price for the correct parts
is warranted.

John,

You know, I remembered buying it in '72 but looked up the serial # online a while back and am sure it said it was a 73. I just figured old age and alcohol damaged my memory. Thanks. Now I know my memory isn't as bad as I thought.

[wints]

James,

I missed the fact that it was a fretless! I'm one of the few here that play fretless, and if you do decide to sell, I'd certainly be interested...

[henry5]

Andrew, join the queue...

[wints]

Andrew, join the queue...

Yeah Shaun, but I'll keep it as a fretless...

[henry5]

Ah, you've got me there. Guilty as charged!

[johnallg]

Beautiful birdseye maple! Are you sure the wood under just the Badass has been routed? It looks like the Badass is sitting on the body and the original routed out fill. If that is true, removing the wood from the old rout would leave 3 extra holes that would be covered by an original tailpiece.