Hi-gain mounting plate

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:32 am

How early in '73, Sergio?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:45 am

Up to at least May.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:02 pm

That sounds right, my May 73 has screws, my June 73 has buttons. I would guess that the May,June,July time frame was when there were probably a lot of variations.

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:04 pm

My December '73 has a plastic plate.
Here's a pic of my August '73 pup....and it do sound good!

Lost Coyotes · Post by **Lost Coyotes** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:46 pm

May '73: button top, aluminum plate...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:43 pm

Your's have the bigger magnet too, mine has a small one like the bass pickup.
Does your May 73 screw top have a small magnet or a big one Mark?

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:46 pm

Here is my March '73 pickup.

The green wire is a replacement ground wire that I need to get a lug for and attach properly, one of several things that need to be done on the bass. At the moment it is just sitting under the surround to make contact.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:13 pm

Nice birdseye maple, Jeff.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:17 pm

Is the sharp edged chrome surround original?
In my memory the '73 had more softer edges.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:21 pm

double post!

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:49 am

I don't really know, but I see no evidence in the finish of another shape which usually can be seen in an old instrument.

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:34 am

I remember seeing a 73 on Ebay Germany last year with the sharp edges...Here it is...

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:27 am

Steve- I believe that one was a March also. That must have been a good month for sharp corners.

Bob Young- I have five 1973 4001's and four of them(Jan,Feb,Apr,May) have alum plates, screw tops, and small magnets. My June 73 has alum plate, button tops, larger magnet. Did anyone notice what month is missing in that line up?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:09 am

I also think someone replaced the pickup in your bass Jeffrey, it doesn't make sense that Rickenbacker would only use the button tops for one month and then go back to screw tops.
Mark, do all your 73's have all old features, is there a mix or do they have new features? You know what I mean, Grovers, small headstock, flat neck, 1/2" spacing etc. If so, is the June 73 the same as the others or does it have other changes also?

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:38 am

Bob- They all have checkered binding, small headstocks with grovers, 1/2" spacing, skunk stripes, and plexi TRC's. Where they start to differ is the inlays, tailpieces, and nuts. Jan and Feb have MOP wide inlays, April has acrylic wide inlays(like the two MG March's) and all three have split tailpieces with white nuts. My May and June have small inlays, non-split tailpieces and black nuts. Oh, and they all have toaster pickups and the infamous .0047 cap(this has been bypassed on most of them for more bass response).