A little stumped here.

[jps]

The general trend is the gap-tooth tailpiece ran it's course by around mid to late spring of 1973, but of course, there have been come found on a few later basses, same deal as with checker binding.

[ricosound]

Are you acquiring this one?

Scott, no, a friend contacted me about trying to sell his bass and asked me to help him verify what it is and what it's worth.

The guy my friend bought it from owned it for about 12 years and it sat un-played and un-modded. So he bought it circa 1999, before there was Pickguardian or any other accurate pickguards for that matter. Of course, the plastic parts still could have been replaced. BUT, the pickguard is a perfect fit (all holes line up and there are no extras, plus its very old) and it's not like black plexi TRCs grow on trees! My gut is telling me that they are original here.

Jeff, can you post that photo that shows the progression of bass tailpieces? I want to verify which one this is. I have a pic of the underside.

This bass is from May of 1974 based on serial number verified by pot codes.

BTW, this bass sounds massive (can't BELIEVE the neck pickup!) and plays beautifully too.

So will this be offered up here on the forum first

[sloop_john_b]

Yes. Very soon. Let me take some really good photos and figure out a price.

[ricosound]

Yes. Very soon. Let me take some really good photos and figure out a price.

[ricosound]

I have seen black plexi TRC as late as 74 and there are 74's with check binding. However I cant recall anything (Shadows excluded) that had black plastic with check binding in any year except for a white one a few years ago? I don't see John mention black hardware so I assume chrome. The black hardware really didn't come out until the 80's 4003 with black plastic, by then they had raised TRC. Didn't most 74's have red side makers?

So to recap - If this is Jetglo with check binding, early black plastic (1" or 1/2") and chrome hardware, I'd say it's legit and unique. If it's got black hardware it's likely modded or assembled from parts? If no red side markers, an earlier body serial'd and sold in 74.

If special ordered this way it could have pulled from the parts bin since it's not a standard combo. Pictures will tell all.

[sloop_john_b]

I never said black hardware; only black plastic. 1/2" spaced, no red side dots. Pickguard is a perfect fit (no extra holes hidden) and old.

[ricosound]

I never said black hardware; only black plastic. 1/2" spaced, no red side dots. Pickguard is a perfect fit (no extra holes hidden) and old.

I said you didn't mention the hardware but someone early in the thread did. Without anything more to go on it sounds like a legit special order from the day and fairly unique. All the bits seem to check with what was available at the time.

[ricosound]

One last question does it have FW inlays? If this is a holdover body used to satisfiy a special order then wouldn't it have the inlays also, or were there some early 73's that still had checkered binding but not the inlays?

[sloop_john_b]

Wes, no, it has small inlays. The inlay switchover happened in April or May of 1973 so there are many 4001's with small inlays and CB out there.

If you're interested let's take this over to PMs!

[ricosound]

Wes, no, it has small inlays. The inlay switchover happened in April or May of 1973 so there are many 4001's with small inlays and CB out there.

If you're interested let's take this over to PMs!

PM sent

[sloop_john_b]

Sorry for the delay Wes - back at'cha.

[sloop_john_b]

Here is the ad with photos. I wrote the copy for this which should be up shortly. It is quite a stunning instrument.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/rickenbacker-4001-1974-black#

[FretlessOnly]

One piece of info that might help with the surround is whether the PU cover is the older short type or newer tall type. As for the gap-toothed tailpieces, there were at leaast two types in the early 70s - one that ended in '72 accomodated a slightly longer bridge (I believe); the second type ended in mid-'73 around the time the full-width inlays and checked binding stopped (well, sort of, considering this bass). My April '73 FL has the gap-toothed bridge and a rounded surround which appears to be original (it also has the scoop), but I don't think it's quite as rounded as the one on this bass.

[aceonbass]

I've never seen a gap toothes tailpiece that accomodated the deeper bridge. Are you sure, because I can't believe RIC would come up with a whole new casting, then scrap it.

[FretlessOnly]

Well, I wouldn't say I'm positive, but it's my understanding that in part of '72 and earlier, the gap-toothed tailpiece was machined differently than those used in the early part of '73. I believe that I read it here. I also have a Dec '72 that has been machined to accept a later '70s bridge, so that's no help here.