Fretless 4002 on the 'bay!

henny · Post by **henny** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:34 am

She needs bringing back to her former glory. Gorgeous 4002 minus those ****** mods.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27586&item=3763766331&rd=1

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:49 am

whoa!-did not know that thang came in a fretless!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:07 am

that looks like a modification ... after market pickups as well ... and look just 3 knobs ... another mod ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:10 am

damn look at the after market bridge as well ...

basse · Post by **basse** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:49 am

Makes me seriously wonder if it's worth picking up and begging someone like Ted to restore it!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:57 pm

They did not make it in fretless. That fingerboard is either a replacement or set over the original. B#*tards! The electronics are gone. Could be restored though.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:04 pm

I should say, all but the electronics could be restored. The pickup are not like any RIC pickups before or since.

The description says:
Wonderful fretless Rickenbacker 4002

Birdseye maple

beautiful fretless sound

<description of the jacks)

The bass is in very good condition with no evidence of breakage.

With case!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:53 pm

That's a Seymour Duncan in the neck position and a 4001/4003 neck high-gain in the bridge position. I forget: what is it about the 4002 wiring harness that makes it hard to be restored?

brian · Post by **brian** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:12 pm

I thought I read somewhere the original HB pickups were somewhat different from the modern ones and "not easy" to find.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:39 pm

The harness is not so different. It is the pickups that are not the same.

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:18 pm

Where is the low impedance transformer? I don't see it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:36 pm

It is totally passive. The low Z is apparently only wired to one coil in the rear pickup.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:09 pm

If I was restoring that one I would put in 2 4004 pickups and use 4003 wiring and a 4003 tailpiece and bridge and get a custom pickguard ...

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:27 pm

I would do pretty much the same but depending on how the fingerboard was done I would consider pulling it and making an exact replacement for the original. The pickguard on a 4002 is made of a 5 layer material with a slight bevel cut on the edge. If anyone here buys this bass I will provide tracings of my pickguard.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 2:52 am

Bad time of year for me. Someone needs to grab this bass just for its historical significance.