Suspicious looking bass

[rickaddict]

What about Scott's comment about the fretboard extending onto the body that far?

Oops! (See my edited post!)

Now re-posted below:

And I don't think the neck extends any farther into the body than my 70's Ricks. I think the effect you're seeing is just a result of the camera angle combined with the cheesy homemade pick guard.

[rickenbrother]

Pedro, welcome to the forum. The inlays and fingerboard to not look right to me, but it could be the photos.

As mentioned before, the triangle inlays and binding would not normally be found on the one pickup 4000

[paologregorio]

Ask him to remove the TRC, and take a snapshot of the rout, which should show two truss rod ends if it's the real deal. That will put the matter to rest.

[rickenbrother]

They have to be the right truss rods. There are some fakers that have two rods.

[cheyenne]

Take a good look where the fingerboard joins the body..

Now look at where the fingerboard joins on my '97 4003.

I really dont think its camera angle...

[cjj]

OK, look at where it joins on my '76 4001:



I don't think we can go with the fingerboard placement as a definite faker identifier.

[rickenbrother]

And as well, where the neck joins the body on my '79 4001.

[rickaddict]

You make a good argument, Scott!

But I stand by my assessment. The horns on a 1997 4003 are thinner and the body wings come in a little closer to the end of the fret board than an early 70's 4001.

Also we're looking at the basses from two different angles.

[cheyenne]

By gosh, I stand corrected.

I've always assumed that this was something "consistant" through the years. I guess not. I really appreciate you guys bringing that to my attention.

However,,I still think its a faker due to the apparent lack of the neck PUP route, and darker fingerboard. The truss rods need to be examined, and the binding at the bottom of the body. Does it have stereo and mono jacks???

[johnallg]

Besides that, a 4000 would have "dot" inlays and no binding....

And not be neckthrough.

[rickaddict]

We'll get to the bottom of this, dammit!

Come on everybody, lets chant for more photos:

"TRUSS RODS, TRUSS RODS, TRUSS RODS..."

[rickaddict]

And not be neckthrough.

Good point!

[johnallg]

My gut feeling is it is a 4001. No faker 4000s were made, and the binding on the body looks more RIC - didn't fakers have CB also? The quality of the maple also looks better then the fakers had too. The dark fingerboard could have been stained at some time.

We need to see under the truss rod cover.

[rickaddict]

"TRUSS RODS, TRUSS RODS...."

[jps]

And not be neckthrough.

Good point!

4000 basses were neckthrough into the early '70s I think.