4001 pickguard timeline

[2ndHand72Rick]

Hello all.Long time watcher first time poster..I was wondering what year 4001 basses stopped using the long guard?Edge of fretgboard to edge of pickup surround?

[rickaddict]

Good question!

As usual, nothing is written in stone when it comes to early Ricks. I would consider this one long (Andy Winter's 1968 4001) : http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D, but it doesn't come all the way to the pick up surround.

My Jan '71 (and most '71's I've seen) has a short pick guard: http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg, but someone here on the forum has a '71 with the longer pick guard and if I remember correctly, he checked and confirmed that there are no extra screw holes.

[xsubs]

Mid '69 was the transition IIRC

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

then again we have a lefty '71 with a long pg, but probably old production that was jackplated in '71. good read in the listing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1971-Ricken ... 3f0801a1b4

[glking14]

I have a long pickguard on my April 1971 which is original. The truss rods also are longer, it has been determined on the forum that this was an older body lying around the factory when used. Its possible that mine is the last regular production bass that used the original long pickguard.

[ken_j]

Short pickguard on my friend's '72.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

short pg on my #13 jan. '70...(pg is not screwed to the bass yet.)

[2ndHand72Rick]

Thanks alot all