New member here...

[Denis]

Good afternoon, all.

Friday afternoon I picked up my first Ric, a '76 4001, from a fellow who'd posted it on Craigslist. He'd advertised it as a '73 but I guess he'd never checked the number. I'm joining up here for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to learn about the bass and where to get it serviced, etc. While my local shop is good, and the technician is great, he said the neck has an weird warp in it and the bridge up doesn't work, but I know with the old style truss rods and Ric-o-sound it could be he's unfamiliar with them.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here and when I downsize pics of the old bass I'll post them.

Cheers!

[rickenbrother]

Hi Denis, welcome to the forum and congrats on your 4001. I hope you enjoy it here. It would help us to know where you are located to recommend someone who could work on your 4001.

[Rickenhands]

Welcome, and congrats! Can't wait to see pics.

[gibsonlp]

Welcome!

[cjj]

Hey Denis, welcome and congrats! I've got a '76 and just love it!

Even though Joey didn't mention it himself, he's got a great website with a lot of info on how to maintain your Rick, even those old style truss rods:

http://joeysbassnotes.com/

[winston]

Hi Denis, if anyone around here can help you it is Joey and the friendly gang that hang around the bass section of this forum. Welcome to our forum btw.

[Denis]

Hello all,
Thanks for the warm welcome! Someone on The Last Bass Outpost forwarded a link to Joey's website was sent to me on Friday when I asked for help identifying fake Rics because I wasn't familiar enough with them. His site is great and I felt armed for bear when I went to look at it.
Here are pics. It's been around the block but I like it that way.

[berth]

Hello all,
Someone on The Last Bass Outpost forwarded a link to Joey's website was sent to me on Friday when I asked for help identifying fake Rics because I wasn't familiar enough with them.

You are welcome. I allways give people on fora (wheather dutch or english) the advice to have a look at Joey's site when they need help in adjusting Ricks or finding facts on fakers.

[antipodean]

Welcome Denis! Great 4001 - it looks to be a fine gigging bass.

[rickenbrother]

I humbly thank you guys for the kind words about my website.

Here are pics. It's been around the block but I like it that way.

Denis, if decide that you'll like to get rid of the swirl marks and minor scratches and as well as put a nice shine on her, do a search on Scratch-X and Zymol, especially in the Reflections Of A Curmudgeon forum, right here on the RRF.

[johnallg]

Welcome Denis - it would help if we knew where you are. Tell us about the dead pup.

[Denis]

Hello all,
Someone on The Last Bass Outpost forwarded a link to Joey's website was sent to me on Friday when I asked for help identifying fake Rics because I wasn't familiar enough with them.

You are welcome. I allways give people on fora (wheather dutch or english) the advice to have a look at Joey's site when they need help in adjusting Ricks or finding facts on fakers.

Indeed, thanks again! That information was invaluable!

I'm in Raleigh, NC and both Dave W. (Last Outpost) and the Ric service department directed me to Mike Parks at http://the-music-connection.com/ric.htm. Turns out he's not far from me at all and told me that he could probably take it in for a checkup on Saturday.

My tech told me that the pup was absolutely dead when he tested it but he also said he had no idea why it was actually putting out any sound it all (it does put out a little sound). I suspect, but do not know, that perhaps he plugged into the Ric-o-Sound jack. Thoughts? Talk to me like I'm a punk kid on this one because I want to get it!

[jps]

Welcome, Denis!

Mike should be able to fix your 4001 right up.

[johnallg]

Indeed, thanks again! That information was invaluable!

I'm in Raleigh, NC and both Dave W. (Last Outpost) and the Ric service department directed me to Mike Parks at http://the-music-connection.com/ric.htm. Turns out he's not far from me at all and told me that he could probably take it in for a checkup on Saturday.

My tech told me that the pup was absolutely dead when he tested it but he also said he had no idea why it was actually putting out any sound it all (it does put out a little sound). I suspect, but do not know, that perhaps he plugged into the Ric-o-Sound jack. Thoughts? Talk to me like I'm a punk kid on this one because I want to get it!

If you plug a standard cable into the Ric-O-Sound jack you will only get the bridge pickup, which your tech said was dead, so I doubt that he used that output. The neck would produce some sound, but if all sound is really low, then I suspect mostly the output jacks (there is a mono-ing switch built into the Standard (mono) jack. It could be wiring, the jacks, the pup switch, caps, shorts, or an open coil. Both coils (neck and bridge) should measure around 8.4k (+/-) when you ohm right at the switch with only the other pup selected from what you are testing. The wire right on the back of the bridge pup where it joins the shielded cable to the switch could be broken. Lastly, and for you I hope not as the 70s higains are great sounding, the coil could be open inside. A fair number of them did open. We have a member here who can rewind it to spec for you if that is the case.

+1 on Mikle getting it sorted out for you. My personal advice is to try and keep the original pickups.

[ajish4]

Welcome Denis,

Ah, a mid 70's 4001, my favorite.

You will learn so much here you will have her singing in no time.