New Acquisition: '63 4000

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Wints...That headstock is gonna look real gorgeous when you clear coat it! I always wanted a fretless with only a neck pickup rout. The sound would be so close to an acoustic upright.

[paul_yan]

...or the 4001-s with the two toasters.

Yup, thought about that for my '67 project before...

Do it, Andy! Gotta be lovely!

[walker]

Just jumping in with my 2 cents while we're on the subject of RM's vs the 4001S...

the bass I got from Gerry Fergusson in Oz is a '64 with '4K' written in the pickup cavity,
serial #DH-156.



Like Ronbo's, mine was also a bit "modded," or more accurately: "demoted" when I received it, (no fault of Gerry's.)



I now have it up to this point:



Added since the photo was taken is an original bridge. It still needs a refin (finish in photo is a Photoshop emulation of FG,) neck, body & headstock work. As it stands, I believe my bass to be an RM 1999 until an educated source of authority proves otherwise!

Ronbo - great to see that bass in action in the 'Stand Tall' vid! Chris Squire was also 'My Man' for inspiration, and the reason why I got into Ricks to begin with. Cool to have you on board the RRF. Sounds like you've got a lot of insight to offer.

[brycycle]

hmm...wonder what my '66 says in the cavity, Paul?

[jingle_jangle]

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

See! Now paul posts a fireglo cavity with obviously a neck rout that states 4000m and mine says 4000g with a neck rout.
What year is this bass from, Paul ?

[jps]

Ronald, the letter after the 4000 does have much significance. It is only a batch letter for internal use by the factory.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Very interesting, Jeff! After i bought my ricks, I would document the suffix in the cavity. Only one that never had a suffix was an Aug. '79 model 4000 in very light autumnglo I got that belonged to the Sam Moon Band in Nova Scotia.

[jps]

Maybe the production count the day that was made was too low to go up to the point to add letters.

[brycycle]

thanks, Paul.

[jingle_jangle]

See! Now paul posts a fireglo cavity with obviously a neck rout that states 4000m and mine says 4000g with a neck rout. What year is this bass from, Paul ?

Ron, it's a '66.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

thanx, paul. this is in your collection or a customer's refin-in-waiting ? looks like several pickguards were screwed on to that one !

[brycycle]

thanx, paul. this is in your collection or a customer's refin-in-waiting ? looks like several pickguards were screwed on to that one !

it belongs to me, Ron. surfaced in Montreal last summer (i believe). Paul is restoring it for me.

[basse]

Gentlemen, may I ask for your opinions? The '63 will be heading to Paul for the refin/retrofit sometime early in 2010, basically once he tells me to ship it because he's finally got room in his schedule...

What are your thoughts as to the following considerations...

1) Keep it simple - have it refinished back to the original FG and install the original bridge.
2) Have Paul add a neck pickup with the short spacing and turn it into a 4001, complete with factory style routing since there isn't any there now.

I know the available sounds and tones will be wider with a "4001 conversion" but then it won't be as close to original as possible...

Since it'll always be known as refinished, what are your thoughts with regard to the karma of messing with a classic vs. creating something more sonically flexible? Then, how do you think a conversion would affect it's value (always a significant consideration with a vintage axe)? Would it maintain it's value or decrease it because it's original?

As you can tell I'm simply mulling through the options available and their potential consequences. Your thoughts and input would definitely be appreciated as I certainly look to you as the informed experts!

[VRICKY63]

I would leave it as original as possible. No rout. I learned a hard lesson messin with my 64 P bass back in the 70s. I can still get more than the $175.00 I paid for it but no where near what an original one is worth these days.