Getting a Vintage Rickenbacker Bass restored ?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Now that this is all sorted I wonder how Donal is doing with getting DA09 into playable shape!

[Kopfjaeger]

Brian,

I too hope Donald has gotten the info from this thread that he needs in order to find the right luthier to repair/restore this instrument.

I'm torn about the whole idea about having a section to post positive & not so positive repair experiences. On one hand it would be more convenient to just look about what was written. On the other hand I've seen this type idea go sideways quickly! I kind of like the idea of getting involved by posting a question about a specific repair and post some fotos to get a thread started, much like Donald did here. It gets everyone involved.

On another forum That I moderate, a section to rate vendors was made. At first it sounded like a great idea but it quickly became a lightning rod. Friends of a particular vendor took offense at some negative reviews and it took quite some time to quell the riot that ensued. Similar here with Mr Hall nit posting here any more. While I think his absence is a loss, I'm still confused as to why he left. More worrying was the comments by some members who were angry over Hall's departure. While I'd hope vendors/CEO's/presidents would have thick enough skin to cope with and learn from negative comments, my experience is that they won't.

My two cents.

Sepp

[bassslug]

Hi Guy's
Apologies for not posting for a few days I've been on vacation with no access to the forum. I have had some contact with Larry Davis and from what I've seen of his work and the number of recommendations ive had regarding his work I think I need look no further, it's going to cost a few bob but I'm confident I will be happy with the results. He can't take it till November and I guess it will take a month or two to complete the work so I probably won't have news or photo's till January or so, till then if there's any questions or comments please let me know.

Question for Brian, was 1964 the first year the 4001s was made? also you mentioned mine was the earliest currently known about on RRF will it be added to the register that you directed me too?

Thanks again everyone for all the advise

Donal

[Lefty4003S8]

I want to THANK everyone who Pm'd me!! I greatly appreciate it.

Can someone please send me contact info. for Larry Davis???? Thanks Guys.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Question for Brian, was 1964 the first year the 4001s was made? also you mentioned mine was the earliest currently known about on RRF will it be added to the register that you directed me too?

Thanks again everyone for all the advice

Donal

Happy to help... And I too will follow its restoration with great interest.

I added your bass to the RRF Register as a collected item. (I am OCD when it comes to adding data to it).

You can claim the entry by sending a PM to Peter (ADMIN).

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

[Kopfjaeger]

Donald,

I'm on vacation as well so I don't have Paul's book to check as a reference. A forum member here has a 1963 4001, so 1964 was not the first year for that model.

Sepp

[bassduke49]

The "first" twin pickup Rick bass was that one I illustrated in the book and is now in the Vincent Gallo collection. It has a November 1961 production date stamp. Now, whether you can call it a "4001" is another question. The reality is that it was a 4000 with deluxe features (possibly a developmental trim example) with a Toaster pickup added in a hole cut in the standard old-style pick guard. It had the extended upper horn and (apparently) the thinner body. There was only one set of volume and tone knobs, and no pickup selector toggle. Otherwise, this has all the old-style features: simple bridge/tailpiece, sliding mute, large head with unslotted tuner posts, and gold back-painted plastic.

I think there is only one "1962" 4001 in the registry, and it has (probably original) the then-new cast aluminum tailpiece with the mute and bridge built in (much like today's) and the new pick guard shape and four control knobs. The earliest example I could document closely is Ted Staberow's '63. As Vincent will tell you, early '60s basses are hard to come by. I don't know when Rickenbacker started to make the "4000+1" (they often used this term on orders for what we often call the "4001S" or RM 1999), but we can probably surmise none earlier than the Nov. '61 developmental example mentioned above.

If I had to nail it down, I would guess the first production twin-pickup Rick with the new tail and pickguard and full set of controls was probably made in early 1962. I'm always open to more information to supplement or correct what is "known."

Oh, all this info and much much more is in the book!

[opticnerve]

If I had to nail it down, I would guess the first production twin-pickup Rick with the new tail and pickguard and full set of controls was probably made in early 1962. I'm always open to more information to supplement or correct what is "known."

I own a '62 & a '63 , so this period has been of particular interest to me. According to info provided by Vincent in an earlier thread, he has never

seen a '62 with the new style appointments (white pick guard, cast aluminum tailpiece etc..) and he has never seen a '63 with the older appointments.

I think it's safe to say that Ric introduced the re-vamped modern style version precisely when the calendar page turned to January 1, 1963.

" A forum member here has a 1963 4001S, so 1964 was not the first year for that model."

For years I wondered why Ric called the reissue a V63, because I had never seen or heard of a pre '64 4001S. I have seen pictures of two of them, but can't confirm that they actually are '63s.

I've actually acquired one last year, a March '63. This is the one that Sepp is referring to.

PS I took the liberty to add an S to the 4001 in Sepps quote.

[teeder]

Don,

This is my '67 RM1999 / 4001S that Larry restored.

[Kopfjaeger]

Kevin,

Whoa, i love the flame in that maple!!

A quick question. I do not mean to hijack the OP thread but on your 1967 RM, it did have a horsie in it from the factory? is that the original bobbin from the horsie?? I noticed it's a slotted pole piece one, like the one that came out in 1968. If it's the original bobbin, this "new style" began prior to 1968.

Sepp

[opticnerve]

Looks like an early '70s pu on Kevin's bass.

[leftybass]

I own a '62 & a '63 , so this period has been of particular interest to me. According to info provided by Vincent in an earlier thread, he has never seen a '62 with the new style appointments (white pick guard, cast aluminum tailpiece etc..) and he has never seen a '63 with the older appointments. I think it's safe to say that Ric introduced the re-vamped modern style version precisely when the calendar page turned to January 1, 1963.

For years I have always thought the 'missing link' between the two styles is pictured in the Rittor book--labeled a '63 4001 but showing evidence of an earlier build (like '62), routs after being finished, extra screw holes with nothing to show for them, large '62 peghead and tuners etc...

I have always loved this period too, although being a lefty it's a safe bet I won't see one past McCartney's inventory.

[teeder]

Kevin,

Whoa, i love the flame in that maple!!

A quick question. I do not mean to hijack the OP thread but on your 1967 RM, it did have a horsie in it from the factory? is that the original bobbin from the horsie?? I noticed it's a slotted pole piece one, like the one that came out in 1968. If it's the original bobbin, this "new style" began prior to 1968.

Sepp

Sepp, Tony pretty much nailed it. That's an earlier '73 HG that I bought off ebay years ago. It wasn't working when I got it so I had it rewound by Lollar. I stripped the black paint off because it was mostly off anyway. The horseshoe wasn't playing nice with the toaster and I couldn't get a even string response out of it so I swapped it out.

[8mileshigh]

Here's my 63. Didn't they make one for McCartney before the knew he was left handed? ............

[opticnerve]

For years I have always thought the 'missing link' between the two styles is pictured in the Rittor book--labeled a '63 4001 but showing evidence of an earlier build (like '62), routs after being finished, extra screw holes with nothing to show for them, large '62 peghead and tuners etc...

Since the neck pickup rout was done later & the control cavity was enlarged to fit 4 pots, I wonder if the husk of that bass is even earlier than '62?

Maybe it's leftover from an older batch that possibly included Vincent's '61 & the single pickup Deluxe in the Smith book?

This is a very murky period for Ric Basses. It's fun playing the sleuth & trying to connect the dots.

I suppose catalogs don't exist from '61 to '63? I've never seen any.

Here's my 63. Didn't they make one for McCartney before the knew he was left handed? ............

I believe that is correct Graham. I've heard that for some reason, instead of just making a new bass for Paul, all the parts from the

righty bass (including the jack plate) were fitted to the new lefty body. Strange...

Very cool '63 bass Graham! Is it a late '63?