Everything a newbie would need to know about the 4001C64

[JakeK]

I would not be so obsessioned about the reissue horseshoe being 100% the same as in the 60s. In the early years of his use of the Rickenbacker (the Beatles era), Paul must have used the HS pretty rarely

The same can go for his Hofner Beatle bass, too (then and now). Did Paul ever use the bridge pickup of a bass at all?

[kkawachi]

from what I've read that is a no.

Still, you know how they liked to experiment...just want to be able to duplicate those tones from a instrument standpoint.

[kkawachi]

anyone else care to chime in with anything?

still curious about the mono/ric o sound output mod and other changes since the model has been introduced, I know about the move to two piece necks but that is about all.

[rickaddict]

C64's are great basses. Some other differences from an original '64 would be: Cast aluminum tail and bridge on a real '64; zinc tail and bridge on a C64. Modern truss rod system on a C64 vs. folded truss rods on a real '64.

[kkawachi]

thanks for the info!

How are the measurements? I heard that the neck has been thickening. is this more or less accurate.

[1boominrick]

Kyle,

I have a 4001C64MG made in July 2009. It's as good as a new Rick with a classic sound gets. I use it for the Squire sound from Close to the Edge and Fragile and it hits it dead on. It is also fairly accurate on the Paul sound, as in "A Little Help from My Friends," but not quite true to form with the stock round wounds. That's easy to fix, although I would be careful to use the specs that match the originals if you want that thin neck to stay true.

I have seen many new and used 4001C64FG's out there in the web pages - certainly more than the MG finish. I would go for it. It will never lose it's value, in my opinion.

This is my first reply on the Forum, so I'm also a newcomer.

Good luck,

Tom

[jps]

Welcome, mewcomers!

[rickaddict]

I forgot all about this thread. Did Kyle ever score a 4001C64FG? Damn cool basses. But then, it's hard to find a Rick bass that isn't damn cool!

Any who...Just re-reading the thread, something came to mind: If you want to have both Rick O Sound and mono capability on your C64, consider this...If you were to buy a second pick guard from RIC (or have a duplicate made by Pickguardian) you could drill a hole through one pick guard and screw your second jack into the pick guard. The second pick guard would just be to have on hand so the bass could quickly/easily be returned back to it's stock form.

And about the necks...Yes a new 4001C64 or C64S will have a larger neck than an original RM1999. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the new larger necks are generally stronger and better able to handle higher tension strings.

[jps]

Welcome, mewcomers!

Um, that would be newcomers!

[cjj]

Welcome, mewcomers!

Um, that would be newcomers!

Aw, and here I thought you just had a thing for cats...

[kkawachi]

not yet!

some financial issues have come up, but thanks for all the feedback on this thread.

a few more posts in i think i will finally be able to browse the sales thread and maybe then can be blissfully united with a 4001C64!

[cjj]

Well, best to not get your hopes up too high, the last one listed there sold a while ago, but they show up every now and then...

[kkawachi]

not to worry!

tinkering with my old Ibanez has gotten a but more of a Sgt. pepper sound out of it.

In due time I will find my beloved!

[songdog]

Any who...Just re-reading the thread, something came to mind: If you want to have both Rick O Sound and mono capability on your C64, consider this...If you were to buy a second pick guard from RIC (or have a duplicate made by Pickguardian) you could drill a hole through one pick guard and screw your second jack into the pick guard. The second pick guard would just be to have on hand so the bass could quickly/easily be returned back to it's stock form.

No need to mess with the pick guard -- solve the problem with a special cable with a stereo plug on one end and a mono plug on the other. Connect the tip and ring together on the stereo plug.

Or use a full stereo cable, and make an adapter that does something similar.

[congerz83]

I would not be so obsessioned about the reissue horseshoe being 100% the same as in the 60s. In the early years of his use of the Rickenbacker (the Beatles era), Paul must have used the HS pretty rarely

The same can go for his Hofner Beatle bass, too (then and now). Did Paul ever use the bridge pickup of a bass at all?

I actually used the bridge pickup for years. Kill the tone 1/2 way and you get a Wings Over America vibe. Recently i've actually been using both pickups and rolling off the neck volume.