Yeah, I'd agree with Owen...
I'd be worried that the neck could be put to playable condition becuase visually it looks great. I have to play mine, so I'd have to be convinced of that, but virtually all examples of these basses are going to have issues of some sort... They have just likely changed hands enough times in their lives that they get boogered up, worked on by incompetents, etc...
But the supply is limited...
'72 4001 in Toronto
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squirebass
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My '73 4001 (MG-xxxx)has a route large enough for a big humbucker in the neck position also. Don't discount this as modified, because mine has the original FG finish all throughout that route.
When I got my '67 4005WB back from a friend last Fall, the fingerboard was separated to about halfway down the second fret. It was an easy fix that shoud not cause any future problems, so don't let that stand in your way either.
When I got my '67 4005WB back from a friend last Fall, the fingerboard was separated to about halfway down the second fret. It was an easy fix that shoud not cause any future problems, so don't let that stand in your way either.
Yes- my main point was, Gene pointed out , thats its a bit strange to expect these old basses to be in really good condition if they have been played a lot. And lets face it folks, Old Rickenbacker basses are hardly the most trouble/complication free instruments
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I,d agree with a lot of what,s being said...Finding a straight early 70,s Ric that is stock/problem free is a rarity. Unless your paying for a piece that is collectible the issues here are not too relevant. I need a nice early 70,s bass for playing out, and so the cosmetics are not a problem for me in this instance. ( As long as those inlays sparkle!! )The main thing here is that the neck has not been compromised to the extent that it,s always going to be a problem...All the hardware can be returned to stock over a period of time, and it will only increase in value...Given the prices recently, this bass with walnut wings could still seem attractive to some....I,ll sit for a few days and see what happens...
Here are some of the photos that you guys will be interested in seeing of the bass.
PHOTO ONE
Looks like the truss rods may have been removed and reinstalled after the fretboard was reglued to the neck. I say this because of the scuff marks in the pocket right infront of each rod. The black primer in the pocket has been scrapped off by the rods during removal and re-install.
PHOTO TWO
You can clearly see the two original screw holes (straddling the wire harness channel) from the thumbrest that was installed on the bass when it left the factory. The pickguard doesn't have these holes, so this means it's a replacement pickguard. With the routing for the humbucker the original pickguard must have been cut to accomodate the larger humbucking P/U.
When I looked at the pots everything was original. But there was some funny wiring connections that looked 2nd rate. When I plugged the bass into a amp, the treble p/u had NO bass to it. Yes I know about the .0047 cap but even with the cap in place you should get more bottom end out of the bass then this one had.
When I put the p/u switch to the middle, only the neck p/u worked. This was also the case when I put the toggle into the neck position.
Therefore some didn't wire the bass correcly when they transfered everything to the new pickguard.
PHOTO THREE
Finally, the bridge p/u has the screw type pole pieces. but again the p/u is black as you can clearly see. This p/u in my early 73 is creamy-white in colour, not black. I'm unsure of the originality of this p/u in the bass (above).
Notice how high the p/u cover stands over the strings. It's either been improperly installed or is from another later 70's-80's 4001 or 4003.
Comments?
PHOTO ONE
Looks like the truss rods may have been removed and reinstalled after the fretboard was reglued to the neck. I say this because of the scuff marks in the pocket right infront of each rod. The black primer in the pocket has been scrapped off by the rods during removal and re-install.
PHOTO TWO
You can clearly see the two original screw holes (straddling the wire harness channel) from the thumbrest that was installed on the bass when it left the factory. The pickguard doesn't have these holes, so this means it's a replacement pickguard. With the routing for the humbucker the original pickguard must have been cut to accomodate the larger humbucking P/U.
When I looked at the pots everything was original. But there was some funny wiring connections that looked 2nd rate. When I plugged the bass into a amp, the treble p/u had NO bass to it. Yes I know about the .0047 cap but even with the cap in place you should get more bottom end out of the bass then this one had.
When I put the p/u switch to the middle, only the neck p/u worked. This was also the case when I put the toggle into the neck position.
Therefore some didn't wire the bass correcly when they transfered everything to the new pickguard.
PHOTO THREE
Finally, the bridge p/u has the screw type pole pieces. but again the p/u is black as you can clearly see. This p/u in my early 73 is creamy-white in colour, not black. I'm unsure of the originality of this p/u in the bass (above).
Notice how high the p/u cover stands over the strings. It's either been improperly installed or is from another later 70's-80's 4001 or 4003.
Comments?
That route definitely does not look like the one in my 4001, too big, plus there shouldn't be holes in the corners.
My pickup looks like that one with the button tops and it is black. Part of the paint is worn away on the E string side and it is cream under the black. I think that pickup is original.
My pickup looks like that one with the button tops and it is black. Part of the paint is worn away on the E string side and it is cream under the black. I think that pickup is original.
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squirebass
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Screw polepieces are correct for this era and I have seen black pus in this era, but seems chartruese is the most common I've seen. That is what is in my '71. I wouldn't necessarily think it is a replacement. I THINK I've seen some creamy white, but I'd like to see a picture. Did you ever think the PU in your '73 isn't original? Pickguard not original is very minor to me, wiring very minor as well. Does the TRC fit snug to the nut when you screw it down, and can you make it look correct? Any bad bends in the neck? I'd see if you could set it up and see what that neck will do with a little truss rod adjustment. If it will respond, I think you are a lucky man, send me their phone number if you don't want it....
"This is the big one, Elizabeth, I'm coming to join ya, honey!"
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squirebass
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Check for those stubborn neck bends way up the neck, like the 14th fret or so... Those will affect playability way up the neck but they WILL work out if you are patient, unless they are really bad... But that I think is your biggest risk... I agree with Jeffery, the PUs are original, and under the hood, this bass looks exactly like my '71 except for the route for humbucker... These are a vanishing breed, email me if you don't take it please...
"This is the big one, Elizabeth, I'm coming to join ya, honey!"
Gene;
"Does the TRC fit snug to the nut when you screw it down, and can you make it look correct?"
No there is a gap of approx 1/16" between the TRC cover and the nut. It's not snug against the nut as it should be.
"Any bad bends in the neck?"
Just the under bow in it. I don't want to pay to see if the rods will hold the neck properly in place. If the store will adjust the rods and they hold, i'll buy it. If the rods won't hold the neck in place, then i'll pass.
This is my biggest concern with this bass.
"Does the TRC fit snug to the nut when you screw it down, and can you make it look correct?"
No there is a gap of approx 1/16" between the TRC cover and the nut. It's not snug against the nut as it should be.
"Any bad bends in the neck?"
Just the under bow in it. I don't want to pay to see if the rods will hold the neck properly in place. If the store will adjust the rods and they hold, i'll buy it. If the rods won't hold the neck in place, then i'll pass.
This is my biggest concern with this bass.
Jon..thanks for all your input in this case. I think myself and Gene have been waiting in the wings so to speak... The neck here is the issue. From the experiences documented here we know that some necks come around and some don,t...I,d want to return it to stock, and make sure that the neck was professionally sorted for good...That adds up $$$ wise, and at present I think that the $1500 U.S. asking is possibly too much...But then reading about the lefty 71 that Scott Jennings paid $2.6K for, with nearly identical problems, one thinks again.....
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squirebass
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Yeah, custom made fretless Ricks START at $4000, right? ;~)
Seriously though, the neck issue is the one that will do it, because if you can't play it where's the value? You say it has under bow?!?!? Most of these problems come from over bow, unless we are using different terminology here. My '71 had over bow problems, a bend in the neck that caused the neck to bow inward...am I being clear here, or am I confusing the two(its happened before!)
How much would it take to fix the TRC so it is snug, Jon? Could that part be made right?
And thanks for the reports, this is a very interesting situation...
Seriously though, the neck issue is the one that will do it, because if you can't play it where's the value? You say it has under bow?!?!? Most of these problems come from over bow, unless we are using different terminology here. My '71 had over bow problems, a bend in the neck that caused the neck to bow inward...am I being clear here, or am I confusing the two(its happened before!)
How much would it take to fix the TRC so it is snug, Jon? Could that part be made right?
And thanks for the reports, this is a very interesting situation...
"This is the big one, Elizabeth, I'm coming to join ya, honey!"
The cap on my 73 made the pickup have NO bass also. IMHO the rods are a non issue. Those are in good condition compared to what i had to deal with, mine were locked down against the wood.
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squirebass
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Gene, you would have to fill the current original TRC holes on the headstock and make new ones to try to get the TRC snug to the nut. With the way the nut is sitting right now, this is the only way you could possibly snug the TRC to it.
My term "under bow" to me means the the neck is arching downward creating additional space between the strings and the fretboard.
Turn this half bracket 90 degrees right ) so that the open end is facing up and that's what I refer to as "under bow". This is how the neck is set on the bass right now.
Sorry if my term is incorrect.
As I mentioned before, I really hope that the rods will take and hold the adjustment.
My term "under bow" to me means the the neck is arching downward creating additional space between the strings and the fretboard.
Turn this half bracket 90 degrees right ) so that the open end is facing up and that's what I refer to as "under bow". This is how the neck is set on the bass right now.
Sorry if my term is incorrect.
As I mentioned before, I really hope that the rods will take and hold the adjustment.