Re: Parts for '68 4001 bass!

Zentner · Post by **Zentner** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:24 am

After much anticipation... she's mine... I ended up getting it for a pretty unbelievable price too!

Now comes the pain of trying to find some original parts for this...

I am told there are a number of different pickup covers used on a '68.... does anyone have pictures of them or know which will fit my bass?
Same goes for a thumbrest.... I assume these are next to impossible to come by?
I've been looking for the appropriate bridge too, but they seem next to impossible to find... Just gotta be patient I guess.

(I should mention before I'm reminded by someone..... the picture shows a non-original Pickguard, but the original is now on the bass, so I'm not really looking for that)

4001_kenobie · Post by **4001_kenobie** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:54 am

Hi Kevin, its a beatiful bass. Pickguardian make a replica thumbrest, you can check it out here http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/RICRest.html
good luck.
jc

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:15 am

Nice 68 bass there Kev. You won't get a better deal than that for a looooong time!

The holes on the 60's guards vary anyway, so you might not even get them to line up even if you did find an original. Pickguardian, as Julien mentions, is the way to go...

What's the serial number again Kevin? This bass could have originally worn horseshoes, or had the more common cover. If the baseplate on which the p/up sits has two extra holes drilled in it, then it originally had horseshoes. That treble pick up looks slightly different too. It should be a green bobbin, and I can't tell if yours is green with some discoloration, which appears black, or black, which has worn off to the green color.

An original split bridge is virtually impossible to find. These are really sought after, and quite a few people are looking for them. Expect to pay possibly half as much as you paid for the bass if you find one!

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:25 am

Nice bass, good luck with the hunt.

My former '68 4000 had a horseshoe pickup. I had some shoes from that era but sold them a couple of years ago to Marc Seligman (marc61).

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:39 am

The horseshoes are easy to get, with so many laps around. However, if the p/up is not original, finding a correct late 60's bobbin would probably be more difficult than scoring the split bridge!

Zentner · Post by **Zentner** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:30 pm

It's definitely green... the bottom portion of the pickup is all green.. just the top part is kinda turning black.

The Serial is HL1756....

As you can see in the second picture.. the plate that the pickup rests on looks to have pieces cut from it around where the springs and mounting screws are... I assume those little pieces cut out are not original?

Judging by that.. would it have the horseshoe wings, or the typical cover? Is there any way to tell by the actual pickup?

Thanks again for your help guys... your knowledge of this stuff is second to none!

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:23 pm

Regarding the aluminum bridge plate, that is 100% original, cuts and all. My Jan. 1969 Burgundyglo, s/n IA007 was only a few weeks newer than yours, and had the same plate, which looked like it was cut by hand with a hacksaw.

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:33 pm

Kev,

I had forgot your serial # was close to mine. I have HL 1764.

This bass would probably had the pick up cover that basses have today, not the horseshoes. Those baseplates look like this, with two extra holes drilled to secure the shoes.

The green bobbin is original then. That's good!

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:46 pm

Hey Andy....Can I have that?

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:21 pm

ben_brown wrote:Hey Andy....Can I have that?

Well Steve, it does come with this,

So, if it ever was going to happen, it's going to be very expensive....

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:47 pm

Wints, that's the Maurice Gibb Rick, ain't it?

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:46 am

bassduke49 wrote:Wints, that's the Maurice Gibb Rick, ain't it?

Yes Paul, that it is....

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:41 am

Great score, Kevin!

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:02 am

Mine (HD838) also has a horseshoe........hope that helps.

http://www.rickenbacker.me.uk/www.ricke ... ls.html#70

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:34 am

Nice one, Kevin!
Congrats!