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[BobHyde]

Hello, folks.

So, after about 15 years of not owning a Ric, I'm back in the club.

My first bass was a Walnut 3000, which I bought 20+ years ago from the classified ads in Albuquerque. It was a great first bass, but being 6'3", it did not take me long to realize that a short scale was not for me. I stumbled upon a '73 4001 Jetglo, and I was in Geddy heaven. It was a great bass, and I miss it! I added a '78 4001 Fireglo at some point as well, although the timing is hazy. That '78 never sounded all that great compared to the '73, though.

Fast forward a few years, and I had sold both. Over the years, I've tried a number of great basses (some of which I still own), mainly vintage Fenders. In going through some old boxes recently, I stumbled upon a picture of high-school aged me holding my Jetglo 4001. It really made me miss that bass even more, and I decided I should try to find a replacement. Instead, I bought 2...

The first is a 4001 project, that dates to the late summer of '73 (thanks to Rickenbrother and others for helping me narrow the age):

-Wavy Grovers
-Checkerboard binding
-Toaster up front
-Plexi TRC
-Mexico CTS pots from March 1973 ("Mexico 137 7312")
-Inlays that are neither crushed pearl nor full width

Unfortunately, the original jackplate with serial number is long gone. So, it's a bit of a mystery as to the exact age. An unknown previous owner created a jackplate with a serial number that makes no sense.

The bass was sanded and is ready for a refin. Since I miss my '73 4001 Jetglo, I was hoping to go in that direction. Right now, I am leaning toward installing a reissue horseshoe pickup. I will take some pictures as the restoration progresses. I will also try to scan the picture of me with my original '73!

The second is a '72 4001 that is in my avatar. It has a deep, rich Fireglo. Given that the nitro around the binding is significantly yellowed, I'm guessing that the nitro is the cause of the deeper reds. I found it via g-base recently, and looked it up in the register. Unfortunately, the entry listing shows the last sale as without the bridge pickup, so I know know that this pickup isn't original. Along the way, it appears that someone installed Schaller M4s (or similar given a single extra hole), some crazy bridge (a few extra holes but no routing), and a different pickup (a few extra holes but again, no routing). Currently equipped with what appear to be a lot of original parts -- the wavy Grovers, a toaster up front, plexi finger pull, nicely aged bridge, etc.

When it arrived, the frets were in worse shape than expected. I had Mike Lull re-fret and PLEK it and it plays great now! He did a meticulous job cutting the finish around the old frets and installing the new frets, so that he left the original fretboard finish intact!

I'll get some pictures uploaded soon!

-Bob

[jps]

Great to hear all this, Bob Re: the finish, it is conversion varnish, not nitro (unless it had been refinished at some point before you bought it). Rickenbacker stopped using nitro in 1959/1960ish.

[BobHyde]

Great to hear all this, Bob Re: the finish, it is conversion varnish, not nitro (unless it had been refinished at some point before you bought it). Rickenbacker stopped using nitro in 1959/1960ish.

Ah, so much time with vintage Fenders comes through! Thanks for setting me straight about the nitro, that's quite important to know for the refinish.

[Kopfjaeger]

Bob,

I love seeing fotos of Rickenbackers~!! HINT HINT!! LOL!!

Your avatar foto, I'd swear it was Burgandy! Awesome color!!

My 73 4001 rocks, hard, and has a sound unlike any of my other Rickenbackers. There is just something different about those early 70's 4001's.

Sepp

[BobHyde]

Here's some shots of the '73 project. My plan right now (subject to change) is to refinish it in Jetglo and swap out the following:

-Schaller M4 keywinds for the wavy Grovers
-RIHS for the bridge pickup
-Hipshot brass bridge/tailpiece (chrome) for original

[BobHyde]

Here are some shots of the '72 from the previous owner. I recently had Mike Lull refret it and replace the brass nut with a bakelite nut from POTR.

[Tarrbot]

Awesome pics, Bob.

Jetglo will look awesome as well.

I love seeing project pics. It was a beaut before the project and I expect it will be after.

Thanks for sharing.

[Kopfjaeger]

Very cool! Please keep us posted as it transforms! I love projects!!

Sepp

[doctorwho]

Very cool! Please keep us posted as it transforms! I love projects!!

Sepp

+1!

... An unknown previous owner created a jackplate with a serial number that makes no sense. ...

Yep, I had one like that, too. Mine also had pot date codes that did not match the features as well , so that made it even more frustrating!

[Bassmouse]

Wow, that dark sunburst looks phenomenal! I used to have a light sunburst (perhaps mapleglo? I'm still getting used to all the names! It was an orangey colour, and it looked beautiful!) 4001 from roughly the same era, and I am just starting to get back into the Rickenbacker game, like yourself. I haven't bought one yet - still got that to look forward to!

Congratulations on such a gorgeous find, and I hope you enjoy it!

[aceonbass]

Bob, you may find that with the lower "deck" on older 4001's and sometimes shallow neck angle that the Hipshot bridge will not adjust low enough. For the same amount of money you can often pickup a newer, redesigned factory tailpiece and bridge on Ebay.

[BobHyde]

Bob, you may find that with the lower "deck" on older 4001's and sometimes shallow neck angle that the Hipshot bridge will not adjust low enough. For the same amount of money you can often pickup a newer, redesigned factory tailpiece and bridge on Ebay.

Good to know! Thanks!

[BobHyde]

Here's some updated shots of my '73 4001! I had Mike Lull refret it and true the fretboard. It has gone through the PLEK machine, so the bass plays like a dream.

-I went with the RIHS (which sounds killer!).
-I stuck with the Schaller M4s, but left the holes for the wavy Grovers in case I wanted to go back later.
-I stuck with the original bridge.
-I went with a bone nut mainly for color consistency.

I was originally going to have it redone in Jetglo. But, after a lot of thought, I realized that the Maurice Gibb bass had really stuck in my mind. So, I decided to go for WHITE!!









For those of you with a keen eye (all of you, really), you'll notice that the bass volume knob is not correct. I have that on order.

[Kopfjaeger]

Oh, now that is hot!! Very nice job!!

Sepp

[incubus2432]

WOW! I always wanted s checker bound in non-yellowing white......simply stunning.

If I may......I'd put some masking tape on the rear of the pickguard or paint the backside so the routes don't show through. Just my personal preference as it always distracts me.