Bass Pickups

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:35 am

Rick pu's circa 69-73 or so, they had screw slot magnets. This is more Sergios area than mine though.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:11 pm

Not at all.
Yes, I believe that between 1969/1970 and mid (?) 1973 the 4001 treble pickup had slot head screws for polepieces. That version replaced the horseshoe pickup, and it was in turn to be replaced sometime in 1973 by the high gain pickup proper, which had type 'U' drive screws for polepieces and a larger, stronger magnet.

marty · Post by **marty** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:29 pm

I've got a '74 4001 and it has the screw top polpieces but it has a larger magnet than the one on ebay....the magnet in mine is the same size as the current 4003 pickup.

I must have a hybrid tranny highgain then!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:49 pm

Martin: that is interesting. However, can you tell whether this pickup is original to your 1974 4001? Sounds more like someone replaced the original high gain pickup bobbin somewhere along the line. Then again, I could be totally wrong. Anyone?

marty · Post by **marty** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:59 pm

I've had the bass since '85 and as far as I know it's original....it certaily looks to be anyway.

Maybe when Ric started using the larger magnet they still had screw top bobbins lying around and used them?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:53 pm

A distinct possibility. Just out of curiosity, what month of 1974 is this 4001?

marty · Post by **marty** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 9:53 pm

Sergio,

It's August '74.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:31 am

Hm... I'm willing to bet that this screw top pickup is not original to your August '74 4001. Maybe the original high-gain had given up the ghost, or someone wanted the treble pickup to have some degree of polepiece height adjustability and substituted a screw top for the original 'button top' pickup. Anyone?

rhampshire · Post by **rhampshire** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:39 am

So the screw-top bridge pickup is a rare animal, eh? Cool, my '72 4001 (SN LA003) came with one! It has the aluminum baseplate, too.

Anybody else realize the auction at issue is up to $281?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:49 am

I wouldn't call it 'rare'. From the very late 60's to sometime in 1973 it was the standard 4000/4001 treble pickup, whereas by late 1974 I believe it had simply been discontinued.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:26 pm

looks like henri really want's em.
I wonder if those are from that 72 bass that I e-mailed everyone about a few weeks ago. The one with all the problems.