1960 4000 bass on the 'bay!!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:57 pm

In case anybody missed it....

Hard to "verify" this one....
I got an answer to my e-mail:
HI I AM SORRY BUT THE JACKPLATE WAS CHANGED WHICH HAD THE SERIAL NUMBER ON IT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS BASS TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS A 1959 AND OR 1960. THANKS AND GOOD LUCK BIDDING.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3754001287&rd=1

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:16 pm

Wow! Chris, good job. You just nabbed this under an hour of it being listed. Lots of issues. Can't tell if thats a horshoe but it should be. "THE POTS, KNOBS, AND JACKPLATE HAVE BEEN CHANGED ALSO THE TRUSSROD COVER IS MISSING. THE BODY,PICKUP, AND THE BRIDGE ARE ORIGINAL AND SO IS THE PICKGAURD."

Why all the changes? Still could be interesting.

Jeff - If you are serious about this bass let me know and I will stay off it.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:35 pm

Wouldnt the bridge have the "split" in it? If you look at the close-up, it doesnt show it.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:47 pm

Ha! Just check out the tuning keys.

LOL!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 6:05 pm

Ya I saw that ... those tuners are a hack job ...

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 6:08 pm

Is that even a real RIC bridge? The holes for the strings to pass through are squared off. The horseshoe looks real, though.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 6:09 pm

The more you look at it ... the more things are wrong ...

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:08 am

I bid on it what I think the pickup's worth. That might actually be a 1963. According to Gruhn's vintage guitar guide, 63 was the first year with the mute on the tailpiece and white pickguard.

I do have plans for that thing on the outside chance I win it.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:14 am

It's not a 1960, the body and neck are not cut like a 1960-era bass. I tend to agree with Marc, 1963 or '64. The bridge is very interesting.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 4:41 am

Yeah, I'm looking at the saddles and they seem to have two grooves each. Maybe someone tried to make it an 8 string and converted it back?That might explain the rat job on the tuners and possible the refin.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:14 am

I guess I should have looked here first. I saw this in the forsale forum and this is what I posted there. I guess all of you picked up on my questions/thoughts:

The Smith book says 60' was the first year for fireglo, this one's original color. And the necks changed sometime that year from walnut or mahogany. It also states that the new bridge with the under string mute began in 63'. This looks to be later than it states. I have no data on the pickgaurd change.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:19 am

The bridge has the appearance of plated aluminum, but where is the cut/slot over the mute?? All of the '63s I've seen have had a uniform design to the bridge assembly. As cobbled up as this bass is, it could have more than a few non-original parts on it...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:26 am

'The bridge is very interesting'. I'll say! I remember seeing such a bridge (with the square string holes, I mean)- on 4001 copies made by Ibañez!
'Pots and jackplate have been changed, nameplate is missing.' How very convenient.
'The more you look at it the more things are wrong'. I couldn't agree more, Jeff.
Stay away from that half-fake, everyone.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:29 am

Does that look like a genuine Rickenbacker bridge/tailpiece assembly to you?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:39 am

Not to mention that the first and fifth portions of the comb-like structure above the mute-pad were never as wide as the other three, middle ones. FAKE!