Putting a neck pickup in a 4000?

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 5:58 am

Hi guys, I recently bought a 73 4000 Rick in jetglo, which has a really gutsy sound for a single pickup Rick. However I'm intrigued by the thought of dropping a neck pickup in there. Has anyone tried this? If so, what results did you get?

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:10 am

Geez, I wouldn't touch that one. If anything slam a horseshoe in there. You won't want another pickup. To carve up a 73 4000 seems like a crime. Can you post some pictures for us to drool over?

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:13 am

Yes it's been tried...by Rickenbacker, and they called it a 4001S. But seriously, doing so would, in my opinion, lower the value of the instrument since 4000's are much rarer than 4001's.

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:22 am

I agree with Marc and Dane. Adding anothing pickup to a 4000 would destroy its value. Find a cheap 4003 instead.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:23 am

some of the 4000 models have set necks ... by routing out a hole for a neck pickup you may compromise the structural integrity of the neck joint ...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 7:04 am

4000's are rare -leave it alone!!! also youd have to route out the control cavity (i think) to get 4 controls and the switch in.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 7:06 am

I should have mine up and running in about two weeks, here's a quick shot from the paint booth.

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 7:16 am

Hah! I had a feeling the general consensus would be as above. It was just a thought anyway! I must admit to having seen very few 4000s around in the UK, but generally the ones I've seen don't go for a great deal of money (mine, which is in pretty good condition - although I don't think the black/white 2 ply scratchplate is original - cost £795, which in England is about the going rate for a late 70s/80s and later 4001/4003 private sale). Following some discussion with Owen I had considered getting a 4003(or even looking for another V63 reissue); the 4000 would have to go though (unless it really is pretty collectable!). I had also considered the possibility of compromising the neck joint (it is a set neck). I don't actually have a digital camera, although my girlfriend has a digital video so I can maybe take some pictures with that (I don't think the quality will be too great though). BTW, I'm pleased to hear the 4000 is droolworthy, but it pales next to my 72 4001 (checkered-binding, dark fireglo, crushed pearl wide inlays, toaster, notched bridge, walnut headstock wings and no skunk stripe - and does anyone else have a bass from this period with a bridge pickup with a metal bassplate and polepieces with screwslots in them? It sounds great!).

Anyway, thanks for the comments!

All the best
Shaun

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:23 am

Hey Kendall-

That House of Colors paint job is superb! Is that lacquer or acrylic lacquer?

Damn!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:36 am

Shaun:
An early 70's 4001 with a metal (aluminum) baseplate and screws for polepieces on the treble pickup? Yes, my November 1970 21 fret 4001 has just such appointments.
Hey, Kendall. That paint job is too much! Congratulations.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:58 am

That red finish work is SWEEEEEET, Kendall!

Hey Shaun,
Very interesting that your '72 4001 has walnut headstock wings and no center stripe. Like most '72 4001 basses, my Dec. '72 4001 FL has the stripe and no walnut headstock wings.

And yes, her treble PU has an aluminum baseplate, and slotted screws as height adjustable polepieces.

I'd love to see a shot of your '72 headstock.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 10:17 am

Shaun, your bass must be an early 72 if I,m not mistaken. What,s the serial number if you don,t mind me asking. The walnut wings phase out pretty soon into this year. The Jan 72 coming to me this week has what looks like maple wings and a stripe...

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:03 pm

Keep her stock Shaun. I recently did a conversion in which I took a modified '76 4001, and coverted it into a 4000. I did this simply because when I do find an original 4000 to my liking, I can easily put the '76 back to her original 4001 status. I wouldnt modify an original 4000.

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:52 am

Paul, that is one sweet bass! And it looks in great condition for its age (much better than mine)! The back pickup is indeed like mine. Just out of interest, has anybody had the chance to compare these with the later high gain in the same bass? Is there any reason why Rickenbacker changed the design?

Sergio, a '70 21 fretter? I'm extremely impressed, and would love to see pics (oh and Kendall, that paint job is so cool...reminds me of a 57 Chevy)!

My bass is indeed early 72 (Feb) serial LB. Its unusual in being by far the lightest (and strangely the best balancing) 4001 I've ever played. The body has some nice subtle figure, and the neck has some decent flame (may not show on photos too well though). However I have seen 1 other bass which was virtually identical in every way(although in jetglo, but it appeared to have the walnut wings), even down to the weight, and that was a Nov/Dec 72 (can't quite remember which; it was a long time ago. Dummy here should've bought it!). Andrew, all other 72s I've played have been more or less as Paul's and the one you're getting, i.e. skunk stripe and maple h/stock; they've also been much heavier than mine. Different sound too; mine is more hollow/mellow sounding than all the other Rick's I've played (more like I'd imagine a 60s Rick, though I've never played one). Think early Roger Glover or Mike Rutherford as opposed to Geddy Lee or Bruce Foxton. I must admit I've been looking for another the same for as long as I can remember; apart from the above jetglo, which came at a bad time, I've never seen one. Oh, and except for Phil Harris's (of Harris Hire), which wasn't for sale! I'm sure some of my esteemed colleagues here can come up with similar though!

Scott, I'm going to keep the 4000 stock; I was slightly concerned about the set-neck issue amonst other things, so I won't bother converting it. I do like the depth a neck pickup brings though; so I am considering a 4003 or V63 as a live bass (I need a bit more oomph live than my 72 provides). The only thing is trying to justify to my better half why I need 3 Ricks (which is why the 4000 may have to go if I do get another). We'll see! With regards to the suggestion of putting a horseshoe in that, that might be cool, but last time I tried to get hold of a horseshoe in the UK Rickenbacker UK (no longer in business)required you to send your old pickup to them before they'd let you have one! I'm not kidding! I'd really like a CS again (I had one which I sold in 97? - for various reasons - for £800! Aaagh!) but at today's prices I can't really afford one....I wouldn't mind, but I only want to play the damn thing, not put it in a vault! If any UK owners have one which they would be willing to let go, in any cosmetic condition (but with sound structure and electrics - BTW don't care about cert,or even original case)I'd pay around £1500. I won't hold my breath though....

I'm working on pictures BTW. Maybe soon...

BTW sorry about the length of this post!!!!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:09 am

Shaun:
Here's my November 1970 21 fret 4001. Pickguard not original.