1971 4001

[glking14]

I recently bought a 1971 4001mg to replace the one that was stolen 25 years (my mid life crisis purchase)and was wondering how the '71 rates against other 4001's.I bought my original back in the mid 70's and loved it and had no desire to play anything else.I haven't received it yet,but I'm impatiently waiting.Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[jps]

Welcome, Graham! You'll love it!

[cjj]

Oh yeah, a '71 4001 will be great! Just be sure to adjust the truss rods the proper way, move the neck by hand and tighten the rods to hold. Don't try to move the neck by tightening the rods or you may crack the neck:

OUCH!!!

See Joey's Bass Notes for more info.

Also, be careful with high tension strings, some of the old ones can take 'em just fine, some can't.

And welcome to the RRF!

[glking14]

Thanks,in the past I used flat wound strings,if I remember correctly those were the recommended strings,when I get the guitar,I'm taking it down to be professionally set up and checked out.

[cjj]

Yes, flat wounds are generally lower tension. As for a pro setup, just make sure your tech really does know how to adjust old style Rick truss rods. Many don't, and try to do them like other guitars, with the above result...

[ram]

Graham, welcome to the forum. I think you will love the bass. When you get it and have the setup done (make sure they know how to work with old Ric's); give some feedback on the instrument and maybe post some pics?????

[glking14]

That's good to know,I'll bring the info to the tech,but now I'll phone around to find out who really can adjust it,I've never done it myself,I always got someone else to do it for me,back in the 70's the guitar wasn't that old so there was probally no issue about it.I was also wondering on the rarity of the '71(how many were made),it took me over 3 years to find this one in mapleglo and with all the parts.Thinking back to 1975 when I got my original one ,I recall Ricks were hard to come by,especially in Canada,was it like that everywhere or just Canada.Cheers

[cjj]

'71 4001s are pretty rare if only due to the fact that they don't all last forever. Especially the ones that were adjusted wrong. It's not actually the age that makes them prone to breakage, it's the design. This could happen even when they were brand spankin' new back in the 1970s.

I'm not saying they are fragile or weak, they are not. It's just that the truss rods work differently, they are a folded design which spreads when tension is applied. This works well to hold the neck in position after it is placed there manually, but it can split the fretboard from the neck if the truss rod is simply tightened trying to make the neck move. Most guitars work like the latter, tightening a single rod just pulls the neck into position. Modern Ricks work this way too.

So, it is important to find someone who knows how the old style rods work and how to adjust them, or at least someone who is willing to learn the right way and doesn't have the attitude that they know how to set up guitars. It's not difficult, just different. And the info is readily available these days on the internet. So, if you find someone who can understand that these old Ricks are a bit different and is willing to learn, you should be OK. If they say, "Sure, I can set up anything" but can't explain why a Rick is different, you could be in for some serious problems...

[teeder]

Welcome Graham!
I'm also a '71 4001 owner. They are rare basses. Production numbers were low during that time. Does yours have 20 or 21 frets?
Of course, now you have to post pictures!

[T.A.R.]

Hey Graham! Congrats and welcome, I think you'll find the people here most helpful and knowledgeable. I have a '74 MG which has the marks of someone who didn't know, this happened long before I got her 20 something years ago.

[iiipopes]

Yes, flat wounds are generally lower tension....

NO,THEY AREN'T.

The old Maxima flatwounds, and the new TI nickel flats, were/are lesser diameter and pure nickel instead of chrome steel. So for those two particular sets of strings, yes, they overall have less tension than, say, a D'Addario 45-105 XL set. All the new chrome flats with 45 to whatever will have more tension. So Be careful. Like the man said above, some necks can take it, others can't. I never had any problems with my 1976 4001 with 45-105 GHS Boomers, and I don't have any problems with my 4002 with 45-60-80-105 GHS Progressives. But again, like above, I am careful about setting the neck before adjusting the rods.

[cjj]

OK, I guess in the old days flats were less tension. That's apparently not the case now. Thanks for the info!

My '76 hasn't had any problems with any sort of strings, D'Addario Chromes, D'A XL's, RotoSound RL66, etc., even with the repaired crack shown above. However, sometime around 1973 RIC added the "skunk stripe" of shedua in order to help with the then new, higher tension round wound strings. A '71 won't have this strip and may be more likely to have problems with higher tension strings. Again, many take them just fine, probably most do.

[wints]

As ever, when buying one of these pre '73's, and, as we go back even earlier, (and as necks usually get slimmer) restring with a very light gauge and then go from there. This alone, usually does wonders from an action perspective.

They are generally lighter, more delicate basses, than later offerings, and output is usually lower from this period bridge pick up, but one overlooks that as they are usually a joy to play.

Enjoy!

[ricmic]

Welcome Graham, and congrats on your bass. Mark

[bassduke49]

... sometime around 1973 RIC added the "skunk stripe" of shedua in order to help with the then new, higher tension round wound strings.

Actually, it started the shedua strip in early '72 and at the same time(?) switched out the walnut head wings for maple and reshaped the headstock to the stockier (ouch ) shape.