First post- Looking for odd part

[jps]

Here is a finger rest (FR) and pickguard Tony made for my 4001V63. I do not find the FR to get in the way at all.

[ram]

welcome to the forum John. Pics please... Pickguardian is good - Tony will work with you - he's good people!

[JohnRick]

'69 Rick 4001

Here you go folks. This is "Red Rick" Hopefully I've figured out how to do this. if not, I'll get to the admin and see what I'm not doing

[wints]

John,

Thanks for posting the photo's. That bass looks in really nice condition. Interestingly, it has a horseshoe pickup, which if original would be the latest I have seen. My Feb 69 has one, but this would be much later. What's your serial number again?

In terms of numbers from that period, I have seen many more 68 basses for sale over the years, but only a handful of 69's. The registry shows that info too, leading me to believe there were far fewer basses made in this year.

[jps]

We've seen those photos of that 4001 some time in the past; so you're the one who bought it, eh?

[JohnRick]

Wints-
Rick website pegs the bass as April '69- IDxxx
Yes, it is a horseshoe- That was the mission. Many years ago I had a natural one that was much earlier that when you're young and stupid (we all have that moment) you do foolish things. I let that one go. So I tried to find it again and never could. So I found this one and snatched it. Wanted the mono, wanted that jump when you hit that bridge pickup. It's a good companion to my '73. That's what I love about the Ricks. While they are the same "models", they have these little intracacies that make them special.

[JohnRick]

Sorry, forgot at ask.
If anyone out there can has access how many '69 FG's were produced, that would be cool. I'd love to know. Maybe this was one of the last production Horseshoes sans the reissues.

[teeder]

Looks great, John! Thanks for posting it.
I would love to know how many of the 4000 / 4001S models where made in '69 too.


When did they shorten the pegheads, mid '69?

[wints]

John,

I'd be surprised if there was a later bass with an original horseshoe, but you can never say never....

I can only recall a handful of 69 basses that I have seen over the years. Most were Mapleglo. There was a FG example sold on UK eBay a year or so ago, and a forum member bought that. Graham G has a Mapleglo one, and that has 21 frets. This certainly appears a very low year for production and although no official figures are available, I'd guess that it's about 2/3rds that of 68 at the most.

[JohnRick]

Hey Wints,
If this is true, we're sittin on some pretty cool lumber here, and not totally surprising based on the history of the company. I know mine is authentic because of the very respectable place I got it from. So I'm feelin kinda good about it. Here's another shot with his brother Blackie.

[JohnRick]

Well, that was too big a file.
here's a closeup of it. When I get a smaller file with the black one, I'll post that one. I'll be looking at Pickguardian for a new pick guard, etc.

[teeder]

Beautiful!

[cjj]

Beautiful!

+1 or maybe even 2...

[wints]

Yup, real nice FG there John, typical of mid 68 until 70.

My Dec 68 has the similar FG pattern, but has no horseshoe, just to show the inconsistencies around this time....

[JohnRick]

Wow Wints,
Dead on on the inconsistencies. Color between ours looks real close. Well, now I know what mine will look like when I get the new pick guard and thumb rest. Kinda sad that the previous owner took off the thumbrest, then MOVED it, then took it off, and then it disappeared. Kinda hacky on the patch job too. But those 70's. What people did to instruments. If they only knew what they'd be worth one day. Ugh. Yours is beautiful.

And thank you teeder. I'm diggin it.