'74' 4001's

80stingray · Post by **80stingray** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:25 am

Just wanted to get a general concensus on what everyone thinks about their '74' Rick 4001's.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:02 am

pretty much any 70's ric is a cool bass ... unless it is damaged or broken ...

I've had some discussions about what were good years and what were bad years for ric basses ... the consenses is that ric really didn't have a bad year for their basses ... but '73 '76 '86 '90 seem to have been very good years ... I used to own a '74 4001 mg ... it was a good bass but my '73 looked, played, and sounded better ... I also really like the new rics 2001, 2002 ... they are so nice and new and clean and sleek ... etc ...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 12:50 pm

hmm.....i had a 73 4001....awful bass

-Impossible to intonate AT ALL without serious saddle filing
-tailpiece lifting up at rear
-bridge would never stay upright
-weak pickups
-uncomfortable neck shape (to me)
-tiny frets
-awful grover tuners that break apart
-fret buzz thru an amp no matter what i did
-indistinct E string

I have played a 75 and 78 that were nice basses tho

I think its hit and miss

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:04 pm

I've had a '74 since the mid '80s that was rather abused when I got it. I was 16, and it was my first "real bass" after I outgrew the entry level Mako I had. I paid $200 for it & it was a great bass. I still have it & it's currently getting it's 500,000 mile checkup from my luthier.
I like the neck on it & it's the last year of the old style pickup placement.
I was always under the impression that the '74s were special. (Must be those red marker dots! Only year for that!!)
Elsewhere in these pages I've seen 1974 referred to as one of those magical years.
I will have another '74 someday when I retire this one.

1978 was a helluva a year too, as my 3001 from then is one of my favorite basses.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 5:18 pm

There is a beauty on the bay right now. The opening bid is high but damn, is it a sweet looking bass.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=3767624194&rd=1

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 5:23 pm

Great figuring on the back of that one....looks really clean, and a hair too expensive...but if someone got that one, it looks like a gorgeous bass.