Model of the Week Ten: The 4001V63

[Mr. Meaty]

Yes. All V63 and C64's have the long headstock . Thats how they were originally in the 60's.

[sloop_john_b]

Yes. All V63 and C64's have the long headstock . Thats how they were originally in the 60's.

No! V63's had longer headstocks until the mid-90's. After that, they were the same as 4003 headstocks, except for the walnut wings. Chris Squire basses followed the same trend.

[Mr. Meaty]

Yes ! They are still basically same as a 60's stock .not quite as long and skinney as early V63's, but still way different different from the 70's style short boxey stocks .I think that was basically the question that was asked.

[jps]

I think the current shape is more akin to that of the '50s 4000 basses. I like that shape.

[libratune]

Yes. All V63 and C64's have the long headstock . Thats how they were originally in the 60's.

No! V63's had longer headstocks until the mid-90's. After that, they were the same as 4003 headstocks, except for the walnut wings. Chris Squire basses followed the same trend.

+1. I have often heard of the "longer headstock" distinction, but didn't know how much of a difference there was. I went to the Register to compare some examples. There seems to be about a 1/2" difference in headstock length between the early 4001V63s (unti mid 90s) and the later production models. Here's a visual comparison of two examples:

1992 4001V63 FG hdstk

1997 4001V63 FG hdstk

You can easily spot the difference from the tip of the TRC to the headstock top.

[jps]

Here is a '50s headstock for comparison.

[johnallg]

We should start a collection of headstock outlines (with machine and TRC holes shown) in pdf format and include a true 1" mark in the drawing for reference between drawings.

Did I post that outloud??!!

[jps]

Anorak alert!!!

[pacealot]

We should start a collection of headstock outlines (with machine and TRC holes shown) in pdf format and include a true 1" mark in the drawing for reference between drawings.

Did I post that outloud??!!

YESSSS!

Anorak anorak anorak anorak anorak.....

(I knew I was in the right place!)

Let's see if I can whip something up in Illustrator.... (& I'm serious too)

[1965]

The difference in V63 headstock shapes wouldn't look as drastic if the reissue TRCs weren't so dang long. The late '90—'00 V63s where the TRC almost touches the top of the headstock make me cringe for some reason.

[johnallg]

Anorak alert!!!

So I'm a jacket??!!

Oh.... interested in detailed trivia!!

I'm just saying this is not the first time this topic has been discussed, and having scale tracings to point to would solve a lot of speculating and discussion.

[jps]

The late '90—'00 V63s where the TRC almost touches the top of the headstock make me cringe for some reason.

Once I saw some photos of early 4000 basses with TRCs that did that I started looking at it in a whole new light.

[pacealot]

I agree that the combo of shorter headstock and super long TRC looks off to me, particularly on those models. My mind can grapple with the shape with gold TRC and walnut neck-throughs, and those funky early tuners, but with all the other '60s-type appointments, it still looks, well, not right!

I'm thinking of scanning my V63 headstock and doing a live trace in Illustrator! I wonder how well that would work. If it's anything near useful I'll upload a pdf here....

Parka parka parka parka - just doesn't have the same ring to it!

[teeder]

I may be able to do a tracing of my basses and creat a 3-D model. In my spare time!

[jingle_jangle]

I just purchased one of these for my department workshop: