My old 4001... its a player

[wints]

What gauge strings do you have on it Greg?

[GrEgOrY]

To be honest, I don't know what strings are on it. Some company called Olympic in Korea gave me 60 sets to try out.... you think the gauge is too heavy, causing the crazy action?

[ben_brown]

The pickguard isn't original, the only original stuff here is wood and frets.

I seriously doubt those frets are original.
But I do like it a lot...

[ajish4]

Sweet looking bass there Greg,

I'm really starting to like the THIN upper horn on those late 60's basses!

[beatlefreak]

Great save, Greg!

[antipodean]

I'd say late 1968- early 1969. Peghead is the longer variety, fretboard radius also looks late 60s to me.

+1

I note the original jack was mono - didn't R-O-S become standard during '69?

Of course, it could always be one of those "holdovers" that left the factory in '70....

[thx1955]

So,
Long headstock potentially puts it as possibly a pre 69 model

However, a 69 would probably have had a Horseshoe pickup, not sure if the current pickup is original to the body.

Walnut wings, and the lack of a Skunk stripe place it prior to 72?

Although the Schallers are not original, there's no sign of secondary drill holes, so, it probably had Schallers on it originally.

The Schaller tuners were replaced by the infamous closed back Grovers in approximatley 71, so this puts us as pre'ish 71.

My edumacted guess would place the body as late 68, and with no Chequered binding it may have been one of the leftover Rose-Morris 4001-S's

A nice looking 4001, and a great save.

[wints]

I'd say late 1968- early 1969. Peghead is the longer variety, fretboard radius also looks late 60s to me.

+1

I note the original jack was mono - didn't R-O-S become standard during '69?

Of course, it could always be one of those "holdovers" that left the factory in '70....

I can't recall a mono bass later than early/mid 69. Anyone?

I'd change the strings to low tension 45-95 and see how that affects the neck. Usually, the decreased tension can make these 60's necks a lot more playable...

[teeder]

My replies in Fireglo below.

So,
Long headstock potentially puts it as possibly a pre 69 model My '69 4000 has the long head

However, a 69 would probably have had a Horseshoe pickup, not sure if the current pickup is original to the body. again, my '69 doesn't have a HS, but Wint's '69 that is one digit before mine does have a HS.
Walnut wings, and the lack of a Skunk stripe place it prior to 72?

Although the Schallers are not original, there's no sign of secondary drill holes, so, it probably had Schallers on it originally.

The Schaller tuners were replaced by the infamous closed back Grovers in approximatley 71, so this puts us as pre'ish 71. My '69 has flat key grovers

My edumacted guess would place the body as late 68, and with no Chequered binding it may have been one of the leftover Rose-Morris 4001-S's

A nice looking 4001, and a great save.

+1!!!

[GrEgOrY]

Inside, and w/pickguard shots.

[rickfan60]

The pickguard isn't original, the only original stuff here is wood and frets.

I seriously doubt those frets are original.
But I do like it a lot...

The frets are definitely not original. They look like #149 wire sold by Stewmac and others which is close to what is used on Ricks today.


The woodwork shots above clearly show it is consistent with a 60's 4001. What I see there is very consistent with late '68 to '71 production.

[GrEgOrY]

Here are some pics of the questionable frets... (btw.. THE TREBLE PICK UP IS A sergio circa 2002)

[rickfan60]

The lower frets are nicely installed and finished. The upper ones have blunt ends for some reason. Any sharp edges?

[GrEgOrY]

No sharp edges, and I put lighter strigs on my basses this AM, and wow, what a differance! I maybe playing my rics more live!

[tallpat1]

Sorry If I sound ignorant when did Ric begin putting the "Skunck Strip" shedua in the 4001's?