restoring a 1965 4001 bass

[closetothedge]

Hi everybody, I just found this forum, I hope someone can help me, I have a 1965
4001 bass that I purchased used about 15 years ago, at one point a previous owner decided to "modernized" the bass and replaced the pickups for EMG active pickups
and also the pickguard and the bridge, I would like to restore it to its original condition,
any tips where can I find the originals parts ? thanks

[Colonel Sanders]

Nice project!

Did he route the body?

eBay is obviously a sporadic source of vintage parts, so is the "for sale" section of this forum.

I used both sources for my restoration projects (64 4001S and 68 4001).

[RickyBubba]

welcome, and we all love pictures! Sounds like you have a nice project going.

[Kopfjaeger]

Welcome! I restored a 1965 4001 a few years back. She too was missing her original pups. Thankfully she had her tailpiece and her bridge.

Ok, I'm guessing you want to bring her back to factory configuration? How much time do you have?? Lol! You'll need to be patient since the solid cast aluminum tailpieces and bridges are tough to find. Any long pole toaster from a 60's or early 70's guitar will be perfectly fine in your bass. As long as it base threaded holes for the adjustment machine screws. The treble pup is problematic since you will need a pair of magnetized horseshoe magnets and the very specific bobbin this vintage used. If you are not fully committed to a vintage correct horsie pup, the options open up a bit. I can advise you of a few options and solutions once you decide what direction you wish to go.

How are the electronics?? If you need pots, caps, or wiring I'd contact Dane Wilder. He's a member here. Bus restoration work is second to none!!

I sent Tony at Pickguardian my chewed up 65 guard. I'm guessing he made a template of it for his records. Send him an email and ask. The one he made fire me was perfect!!

Before investing a tone of time, money, and energy into it, how are the bones?? This vintage suffered from a few potentially hazardous defects. Since there is zero headstock volute, sometimes the breadsticks begin to take on a negative angle toward the fretboard. Left unchecked, your headstock will crack near the nut. Also the use of high tension strings have doomed many of these early 4001's to negative neck angles. The neck actually will fold in toward the body and cause high action. Since your instrument has been mothballed for 15 years. You may have forged these users but it's best to assure they don't exist first or at least you aware of them to act accordingly.

Sepp

[aceonbass]

How are the electronics?? If you need pots, caps, or wiring I'd contact Dane Wilder. He's a member here. Bus restoration work is second to none!!

I haven't restored any buses in quite some time, but basses...well that's another matter all together! But seriously, since you have EMG pickups in the bass, the original electronics have been hacked at best, and may be long gone. I have NOS and original spec components for restoring the electronics in most Ricks. I can also make a white acrylic guard if I have the old one as a pattern. RIC was never consistent with these back in the day, and the holes are unlikely to line up from one bass to another.

[Kopfjaeger]

Update?? Fotos?? anything??