Model of the Week Seven: The rare 4008

[rickenbrother]

There seems to be quite a bit of difference between the headstocks of the 4008 (not potato) and the 4003S/8. the headstock wings of the 4008 are straighter. The wings have a nicer shape on the S/8 IMHO.

[rickenbrother]

I am trying to contribute here. Emphasis on trying.

Thanks Ron, the effort your contributions is appreciated!

[hieronymous]

Took a couple of more pictures. Here's one of the tailpiece showing the unusual opening:



And one more shot of the body:



Question: the 4001-shaped potatohead 8-strings that belonged to Entwistle and Squire weren't technically 4008's, were they?

[hieronymous]

There seems to be quite a bit of difference between the headstocks of the 4008 (not potato) and the 4003S/8. the headstock wings of the 4008 are straighter. The wings have a nicer shape on the S/8 IMHO.

At first I couldn't tell the difference, but I compared them and you're right:



Very subtle, but noticeable when pointed out. I like 'em both! Actually, I used to dislike the headstocks on the new 4003's, but since recognizing the varieties throughout the eras I try not to be too picky. Ultimately, it comes down to how it sounds for me!

[rickenbrother]

When looking at those 2 pics together, I also see that the treble side wings is longer, making a more pronounced curve before the cresting wave. Cool, thanks Harry!
Is that binding on the sides of the fingerboard of the 4008?

[libratune]

Question: the 4001-shaped potatohead 8-strings that belonged to Entwistle and Squire weren't technically 4008's, were they?

Ahhhh -- good question !

Okay, here’s what I gather is the story, based on information provided on various threads in the RR forum.

There were two 4008 potatohead basses produced by RIC, possibly as prototypes. One belonged to Chris Squire, the other to John Entwhistle.

Here’s the thread where a forum member states that CS’s 4008 was one of two prototypes made by RIC. In this same thread Vincent Gallo, who owned the 4008 CS bass at the time of this 2007 post, confirms that the CS 4008 potatohead was all original and not re-necked to add the headstock:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=381568&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=4008

Here’s the thread where a forum member discusses customizing his 4001 into a 4008 potatohead modeled after CS’s. In this same thread Vincent Gallo again confirms that CS’s 4008 was a factory original potatohead.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=355262&p=359621&hi ... 08#p359621

Here’s the forum thread where Entwhistle’s 4008 potatohead is shown in amongst a herd of other basses. It’s the white one right behind him:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=381973&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=4008

Here’s the forum thread in which a separate photo of Entwhistle’s 4008 potatohead is posted:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=247133&p=252445&hilit=+4008#p252445

Finally, off the potatohead issue, here’s a page from a long forum thread with some pics of a 4008 and close-ups of its features, incl. a comparison of the string layout of a 4008 vs. a 4003S/8 and some other discussion among forum members who actually own a 4008 or two:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=289073&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=4008

BTW, I do have a life. It's just that I am spending the holidays with the in-laws, and with nothing better for me and my laptop to do than to research arcane topics (about which I formerly knew nothing) such as this!

[wints]

IIIRC, Vincent told me the serial # of Chris's old bass, and it's a month or two after Entwistle's...

Correct me here if I'm wrong Vincent....

[rickenbrother]

My S/8 will not fit the '70's/'80's tolex covered form fitting case. It's almost an inch too long. The S/8 would probably fit that case without the inserts. The S/8 fits in the silver vintage style and SKB made RIC cases.

So I have a couple of questions for Harry or any other 4008 owner...

What is the case like the you keep your 4008 in?
I was wondering if it's the same '70's/'80's case but without the form fitting body inserts. Or Is the headstock of the 4008 a bit shorter than the headstock of the S/8, letting it fit in the usual '70's/'80's tolex case?

[hieronymous]

My S/8 will not fit the '70's/'80's tolex covered form fitting case. It's almost an inch too long. The S/8 would probably fit that case without the inserts. The S/8 fits in the silver vintage style and SKB made RIC cases.

So I have a couple of questions for Harry or any other 4008 owner...

What is the case like the you keep your 4008 in?
I was wondering if it's the same '70's/'80's case but without the form fitting body inserts. Or Is the headstock of the 4008 a bit shorter than the headstock of the S/8, letting it fit in the usual '70's/'80's tolex case?

The case that my 4008 came with is totally square, with nothing form-fitting about it. I assume it's an '80s case (the bass is an '82), but not totally sure. I tried putting it in my presumably '70s case that is form-fitting around the bottom, and the headstock still cleared the top by less than half an inch. Here they are in their respective cases:



My 4003S/8 is at a friend's house, so I can't compare the measurements, but I can measure the 4008 if you want.

Is that binding on the sides of the fingerboard of the 4008?

Yup! That's part of what makes the 4008 such an interesting hybrid of the 4001 & 4001S - the lack of binding on the body contrasting with the binding on the neck contrasting with the dots! Not to mention Rick-O-Sound...

[rickenbrother]

Thanks Harry!

[gearhed289]

Awesome basses.....but that has to be the most downright ugly headstock I've ever seen on any instrument, bar none.

LOL!

BTW - no "h" in Entwistle.

And for what it's worth, my 4003S/8 will not fit the standard black Tolex case. It came in a vintage silver one.

[rickenbrother]

My S/8 also came in a silver vintage style case.

[rickfan60]

My S/8 also came in a silver vintage style case.

My '98 came in a standard RIC SKB case. The headstock is not really as long as it appears. The flair of the head wings starts sooner that those on the 4 string version allowing for more tuner space. The actual length difference is not much more than a half inch so the S/8 should fit in most RIC bass cases.

The biggest flaw of the S/8 IMHO is the bridge. It is nearly impossible to get proper intonation on a saddle that carries both a .095 and .040 string. I fudge it a bit by tuning the pairs to match at the 8th fret. The tuning error is distributed more evenly over the neck and does not accumulate in a great bunch up the board as it would otherwise.

[gearhed289]

I think the headstock is about 5/8'' longer than my CS (which has the "long" headstock). The CS JUST fits in the tolex case. Barely.

The bridge is a bummer, yes. I tried to buy the 8 saddle one from the guy that just sold the 4003S/8 FG on eBay. But.... the bass sold, bridge and all.

If anyone cares, my approach to tuning any 8 string bass is - tune the bass strings to a tuner, then tune the octaves by ear, fretting a note nearest to where that particular pair of strings gets the most play. I know it sounds kind of ridiculous, but it works. Fortunately, my S/8 stays in tune unbelievably well. Sounds great on Misty Mountain Hop!

[hieronymous]

It's weird, intonation has never been a problem for me on either of my Ric 8-strings. Maybe they would drive someone else crazy - I guess I'm willing to accept more discrepancy. Equal-tempered tuning is overrated anyway!