Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:59 pm
What gauge strings do you have on it Greg?
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My old 4001... its a player
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Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:37 pm
To be honest, I don't know what strings are on it. Some company called Olympic in Korea gave me 60 sets to try out.... you think the gauge is too heavy, causing the crazy action?
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:23 pm
I seriously doubt those frets are original.GrEgOrY wrote:The pickguard isn't original, the only original stuff here is wood and frets.
But I do like it a lot...
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:44 pm
Sweet looking bass there Greg,
I'm really starting to like the THIN upper horn on those late 60's basses!
I'm really starting to like the THIN upper horn on those late 60's basses!
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:16 pm
Great save, Greg!
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:57 pm
+1leftybass wrote:I'd say late 1968- early 1969. Peghead is the longer variety, fretboard radius also looks late 60s to me.
I note the original jack was mono - didn't R-O-S become standard during '69?
Of course, it could always be one of those "holdovers" that left the factory in '70....
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:58 pm
So,
Long headstock potentially puts it as possibly a pre 69 model
However, a 69 would probably have had a Horseshoe pickup, not sure if the current pickup is original to the body.
Walnut wings, and the lack of a Skunk stripe place it prior to 72?
Although the Schallers are not original, there's no sign of secondary drill holes, so, it probably had Schallers on it originally.
The Schaller tuners were replaced by the infamous closed back Grovers in approximatley 71, so this puts us as pre'ish 71.
My edumacted guess would place the body as late 68, and with no Chequered binding it may have been one of the leftover Rose-Morris 4001-S's
A nice looking 4001, and a great save.
Long headstock potentially puts it as possibly a pre 69 model
However, a 69 would probably have had a Horseshoe pickup, not sure if the current pickup is original to the body.
Walnut wings, and the lack of a Skunk stripe place it prior to 72?
Although the Schallers are not original, there's no sign of secondary drill holes, so, it probably had Schallers on it originally.
The Schaller tuners were replaced by the infamous closed back Grovers in approximatley 71, so this puts us as pre'ish 71.
My edumacted guess would place the body as late 68, and with no Chequered binding it may have been one of the leftover Rose-Morris 4001-S's
A nice looking 4001, and a great save.
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:56 pm
I can't recall a mono bass later than early/mid 69. Anyone?antipodean wrote:+1leftybass wrote:I'd say late 1968- early 1969. Peghead is the longer variety, fretboard radius also looks late 60s to me.
I note the original jack was mono - didn't R-O-S become standard during '69?
Of course, it could always be one of those "holdovers" that left the factory in '70....
I'd change the strings to low tension 45-95 and see how that affects the neck. Usually, the decreased tension can make these 60's necks a lot more playable...
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:15 am
My replies in Fireglo below. 
+1!!!thx1955 wrote:So,
Long headstock potentially puts it as possibly a pre 69 model My '69 4000 has the long head
However, a 69 would probably have had a Horseshoe pickup, not sure if the current pickup is original to the body. again, my '69 doesn't have a HS, but Wint's '69 that is one digit before mine does have a HS.
Walnut wings, and the lack of a Skunk stripe place it prior to 72?
Although the Schallers are not original, there's no sign of secondary drill holes, so, it probably had Schallers on it originally.
The Schaller tuners were replaced by the infamous closed back Grovers in approximatley 71, so this puts us as pre'ish 71. My '69 has flat key grovers
My edumacted guess would place the body as late 68, and with no Chequered binding it may have been one of the leftover Rose-Morris 4001-S's
A nice looking 4001, and a great save.
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:34 pm
Inside, and w/pickguard shots.
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:46 pm
ben_brown wrote:I seriously doubt those frets are original.GrEgOrY wrote:The pickguard isn't original, the only original stuff here is wood and frets.
But I do like it a lot...
The frets are definitely not original. They look like #149 wire sold by Stewmac and others which is close to what is used on Ricks today.
The woodwork shots above clearly show it is consistent with a 60's 4001. What I see there is very consistent with late '68 to '71 production.
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:55 pm
Here are some pics of the questionable frets... (btw.. THE TREBLE PICK UP IS A sergio circa 2002)
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:01 pm
The lower frets are nicely installed and finished. The upper ones have blunt ends for some reason. Any sharp edges?
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:02 pm
No sharp edges, and I put lighter strigs on my basses this AM, and wow, what a differance! I maybe playing my rics more live!
Re: My old 4001... its a player
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:17 pm
Sorry If I sound ignorant when did Ric begin putting the "Skunck Strip" shedua in the 4001's?