RM1999 vs 4001S

[Andir]

If they were all over the map the intonation would surely be un-achievable on a fretted instrument.
Can you measure yours for me please. I only have that one available here.

[teeder]

You're correct, and a lot of them were, especially the 21 fret versions.

I don't have a '60's bass anymore, but I had: 1969 4000, 1969 4001 and a 1967 4001s / RM1999. Plus 3-1971's, including 2-21 fretters, & 2-'72's and a '73.

[Andir]

That’s probably had more than the whole of South Africa ever had.

[henry5]

You're correct, and a lot of them were, especially the 21 fret versions.

I don't have a '60's bass anymore, but I had: 1969 4000, 1969 4001 and a 1967 4001s / RM1999. Plus 3-1971's, including 2-21 fretters, & 2-'72's and a '73.

Absolutely. The tailpieces are not, in my experience, 100% accurately placed. And one of the common problems with older basses is indeed establishing correct intonation.

[Korladis]

I now have the scale of a fretted 4001 and it is shorter so I think I can say this is a factory fretless.

It's more accurate to measure to the 12th fret, or in the case of a fretless, to the octave harmonic, and then multiply by two than to measure to the bridge, as the saddles will vary from string to string, depending on intonation adjustments.

Measuring my 4003S, which is strung BEAD, and my 4001, which is strung EADG, the scale length at saddles varies from as little as under 33.25" to over 33.5"

Additionally, I'm not sure where you're getting the info that Rickenbacker used a different scale length for fretless basses. From what I've seen, most Rickenbacker fretless basses have boards the same as fretted basses of their era but with dot inlays and obviously no frets.

[Andir]

Thanks for measuring

[henry5]

I now have the scale of a fretted 4001 and it is shorter so I think I can say this is a factory fretless.

It's more accurate to measure to the 12th fret, or in the case of a fretless, to the octave harmonic, and then multiply by two than to measure to the bridge, as the saddles will vary from string to string, depending on intonation adjustments.

Measuring my 4003S, which is strung BEAD, and my 4001, which is strung EADG, the scale length at saddles varies from as little as under 33.25" to over 33.5"

Additionally, I'm not sure where you're getting the info that Rickenbacker used a different scale length for fretless basses. From what I've seen, most Rickenbacker fretless basses have boards the same as fretted basses of their era but with dot inlays and obviously no frets.

This, absolutely.

[Andir]

I am getting info from this forum.

4000FL
This bass is the fretless version of 4000 model
Features: Single pickup, volume and tone controls, mono output, unbound body, dot
inlay, gold pickguard, cresting wave headstock, 33-1/2" scale, unbound rosewood
fretboard. This bass was a special order only.
1960 - Introduced
???? - Discontinued

The bass I have is in a 4000 “chassis”

[jps]

I am getting info from this forum.

4000FL
This bass is the fretless version of 4000 model
Features: Single pickup, volume and tone controls, mono output, unbound body, dot
inlay, gold pickguard, cresting wave headstock, 33-1/2" scale, unbound rosewood
fretboard. This bass was a special order only.
1960 - Introduced
???? - Discontinued

The bass I have is in a 4000 “chassis”

Give us a specific link to this document, please.

It very well could be (and is) a typo.

[Andir]

viewtopic.php?t=20652

[jps]

viewtopic.php?t=20652

I say it's a typo.

[Andir]

I see your point but it only mentions scale length on a 4000 FL and again on the 3 special 30” models.
If it’s the same as all the others why even mention it in the 4000 FL section of that write up.

[teeder]

viewtopic.php?t=20652

I say it's a typo.

+1

Says he copied it from another forum. Who knows where this info came from.
I wouldn't put much stock in it.

Send a message to RIC and ask if they change the scale for fretless basses.
I highly doubt it.

[jps]

viewtopic.php?t=20652

I say it's a typo.

+1

Says he copied it from another forum. Who knows where this info came from.
I wouldn't put much stock in it.

Send a message to RIC and ask if they change the scale for fretless basses.
I highly doubt it.

If some piece of data is found on the internet the information contained therein must be fact! The interwebs never makes a mistake.

New fact: fretted and fretless Rickenbacker basses of the standard, long scale variety have 33 1/4" scale lengths. There, I said it, now let that be fact from this day forward (this official document supersedes all previous related documents).

[teeder]

I say it's a typo.

+1

Says he copied it from another forum. Who knows where this info came from.
I wouldn't put much stock in it.

Send a message to RIC and ask if they change the scale for fretless basses.
I highly doubt it.

If some piece of data is found on the internet the information contained therein must be fact! The interwebs never makes a mistake.

New fact: fretted and fretless Rickenbacker basses of the standard, long scale variety have 33 1/4" scale lengths. There, I said it, now let that be fact from this day forward (this official document supersedes all previous related documents).

Jeff, if you said it, that's good enough for me!