Model of the Week Ten: The 4001V63

[1965]

One question, anyone know why the pickguard on V63's dip closer to the edge of the body edge like '70s 4001's?

[johnallg]

Cause in 1963 that's how they looked?
http://www.rickenbacker.me.uk/www.ricke ... ls.html#27

[1965]

Cause in 1963 that's how they looked?
http://www.rickenbacker.me.uk/www.ricke ... ls.html#27

That's not the bass the V63 was based on. It is very pretty though.

[johnallg]

True, but were the guards hand made back then or did they pull one out of a box and put it on, deluxe or special?

[1965]

I have no problem with it, really just wondering if there was any rationale behind it. Obviously on the C64 they changed the guard a bit, and that's supposed to be more vintage correct.

[mtnckr]

Cheers from Turkey. Here is my 1998 4001v63JG which I bought a few weeks ago.

[rickinroma]

Hello Metin

it's nice to see you finally received the V63 you'd been waiting for, and it looks gorgeous

enjoy it

[teeder]

Looks great, Metin!

[86kubicki]

No, John, Turq and SG. Steve has one of only two (that I know of) Sea Green V63 basses, and the other is Turquoise, the only one I know of in that color. There are probably more, but they haven't shown up around here.

I bought the Sea Green years ago from forumite Tim Sarter, who told me that maybe a dozen or so SG V63's were produced. Maybe if Tim sees this he can recall the source of this info. I remember seeing a few showing up on E-bay and on dealer sites when the Sea greens were being produced, so there are a few out there. As far as the Turquoise V63 goes, I've never seen another, but considering the amount of time that the colour was available, there must be other examples out there.

[bassduke49]

Yes, the "other" SG V63 that I was aware of went through Chris Pappas' collection, if I have that right. Don't know who he sold it to.

[mtnckr]

Looks great, Metin!

Hello Metin

it's nice to see you finally received the V63 you'd been waiting for, and it looks gorgeous

enjoy it

Thanks my friends, I also would like to thank you Francesco for your help.

I must admit that this is the first time I see a v63 I had to sell my '07 4003 in order to get this one. It was a hard decision but I think I can find a good 4003 easier than a v63 (esğecially JG) in future. Let me tell you what I thought soundwise when I received a v63 in my hands.
v63 has much deeper sound than my ex 4003, less mid freq but more low freq oriented and much more thumb than 4003. These are expected for me. E string sounds better (notes are more dense and distinctive) than 4003. I don't know if the reason is scale length of the neck or not.
After that I realized Horseshoe pickup output is nearly doubles the output of toaster pickup. I scared, but then I made a research on the forum and found out that it is normal.
Then I checked the Horseshoe pickup and realized that A and D poles are higher than G and E poles. I couldn't find enough detailed pics of horseshoes. Is it normal? I have no camera so I can't show you the pickup but the poles are different than a normal hi gain pickups' poles. They look cylindirical. Is this normal. I saw some HS pickup pics in the forum but they didn't look that way. They more looked like a hi gain pickup poles. I thought RIHS pickup poles may be cylindirical shape. What do you think about these?

[rickaddict]

Congrat's on your new V63, Metin.

What you are describing is normal. The poles on all re-issue horseshoe pickups are just like yours. They are Alnico slugs. You may have seen one V63 (Andy's) with screws for pole pieces. That is the one exception that we know of on this forum. Andy's seems to have been made with a left over actual 60's horseshoe pickup.

Here's what my C64S horseshoe pickup looks like with the horseshoes removed: http://rickresource.com/register/user_i ... llsize.jpg

[mtnckr]

Thank you Jeff, this made me relaxed. Your v63 looks big and cool

[jps]

Yes, the "other" SG V63 that I was aware of went through Chris Pappas' collection, if I have that right. Don't know who he sold it to.

Don't you mean Chris Pappas' revolving door?

[Blackstar]

There was discussion about large headstocks. I'm confused (my normal state) the V63 headstocks look longer than my '76 4001. I read in one thread how mid 70's basses have the smaller headstock. Do all V63's have long headstocks and are they as long as the 4001CS?