My 4000 being refined

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:46 am

http://home.earthlink.net/~s4001/images/front.jpg

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:55 am

So, two pickups, one volume, one tone?

wints · Post by **wints** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:19 am

So, what's the history on that Scott? Is it an original 4000, with the added toaster, or a 4001S that you have rewired?

It looks like a gorgeous 67 fireglo to me. What's the serial number?

You were going to refinish that? What were you thinking! Hey, I bet now your glad you didn't!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:28 am

Yes, that bass has great color. Very nice.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:33 am

It's an HD. It was a 4000. When I bought it, someone had put a Guild pickup in the neck position and had it wired vol/tone/toggle. I got used to that configuration. Now I have it vol/vol and the toggle I call the 'engineer' knob; it's only for show. I put a toaster in it. At one time I had considered Squire-izing it, but now I'm glad that the luthiers refused to do it. The Fireglo definitely 'glows.' It's almost like fire opal. The pics don't do it justice.

I got it 12 years ago at G*tar Center for $400.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:43 am

I'd say that it was probably one of the bodies from the 67 4001S run, that was obviously left in single p/up form. Same Fireglo as Kens 4001S.
Hopefully he'll post a pic for comparison.

You also have the long tapered horseshoe surround from 67 too. Pity the horseshoes are gone. I'd be tempted to find a lap steel and stick some in the original p/up position.

Nice to see Guitar Center actually did something right once!

Lovely bass!

edski · Post by **edski** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:35 am

I like that...a hybrid 4001/0!

Nowadays they call that a 4004!

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:43 am

That's a nice looking bass

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:09 am

A 68 4000 is extremely rare, they only made a handful if that.Scott did it have factory routing for the neck pickup???

My 67 4001s

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:46 am

Looks like the same FG to me...

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:37 am

It had no original routing. The routing was done by whomever put in the Guild. It was definitely made as a 4000.

The FG doesn't have as much of the yellow. It has a little on the front but none on the back. The back looks more like the reissue fireglo's. Also the red spray isn't on the ends of the horns or the middle of the sides.

The bridge pup has the aluminum base so maybe that was a transition year. It sounds better than any Ric I've ever laid hands on (and that's a lot) so I'm in no way inclined to swap it out.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:15 am

They are similar when compared side by side Scott. Ken does have a little more yellow round the guard, but the Fireglo shading was done by the same hand for sure.

The 68 Fireglo is different. There are a few here and they look nothing like that shade. A new guy in the booth at that time. I'm pretty certain yours was made/sprayed in 67 and fitted with a 68 jackplate when the order came in.

All basses have the aluminum base until at least 73. Anyone?

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:15 am

My July '73 4001 has the aluminum base.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:18 am

My August '73 4001 also has the aluminum base.

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:26 am

Do they have screwtop highgains?