1977 4002 in Mapleglo

[iiipopes]

Your pickups are fine. They are reading as they should. It is confusing with the bridge (treble) pickup having the interleafed windings to the XLR. The problem I found with this setup was not enough lo-Z gain. But then again, the 4002 was developed before modern on-board active electronics. Maybe one day RIC will try again with actives.

If you are considering restoring the electronics to stock, yes, the schematic is on the RIC website. I followed it on mine, and it is correct. I attached it as a pdf to this post.

One thing I did to increase even more the tonal versatility of the 4002 is to put a bypass on the .01 (yes, it's .01, not .0047) capacitor inline to the neck pickup to get the full low end. I think I put it on my neck volume control; I'll have to check. I liked it so much that I put it as the default "push," with engaging the capacitor as the "pull."

Yes, it is worth restoring, whatever it takes. I agree: it looks like someone tried to mudbucker it. Why, I'll never know. Of course, back then, without access to the schematics, I could see an uninformed person think there wasn't enough low end out of the neck pickup and blame the pickup instead of its inline .01 capacitor.

[Kopfjaeger]

Scott,

Very interesting suggestion with the push pull pots. I think I may give that a try here as well. Hey, looks and acts completely 100% stock but has a nice option available. When the time comes, can I "lean on you" for a schematic of how yours is set up??

I agree it's a project worth doing. It may have to be pulled apart to remedy the bad past attempts to fix her and in the end I may be into her more than her worth but once again, it's a project that I feel needs to be done and done correctly.

There is no "half a$$ed" attempt here on my part to make it almost right. it needs to be done right or not at all. I'll need some help from time to time here to keep me on track when decisions need to be made or I'm stumped.

Thanks for everyone's help so far.

Someone had mentioned that this may be the earliest 4002 listed in the registry. Does anyone know when the first 4002 rolled out of the shop and into the world?

Sepp

[bartyclue]

Projects.. are just a lot of fun. Good luck with this.

[iiipopes]

When the time comes, can I "lean on you" for a schematic of how yours is set up??

Of course. It's the same circuit that is now on the new 4003's to the bridge pickup. Just run a jumper on either side of the capacitor to the switch, and choose which of the terminals you want for either in or out. The 10meg resistor can be added back in or not at your discretion.

I'm sure it will be great when it's done. The only reason I suggested the mod is that you're putting it back together anyway, so no further loss of value. I also believe that 1977 was the first year.

[SquireFan91]

Very cool. Looking forward to seeing the progress. I hope everything's OK out there after Sandy. And my curiosity will be yet another incentive to stay prompt and healthy with my payments to help fund such an undertaking (as though the prospect of my own aquisition weren't incentive enough )

[Kopfjaeger]

Guys, I'm afraid I won't have any more updates on this bass for a while. I'm very pleased to announce that Larry Davis has offered his services to restore this bass to its former glory. To say I'm pleased is an understatement!!

I'll be sending her to him in a few months so in the mean time I'll keep looking for correct Schaller tuners to put on her as well as making my mind up on a few other small details. Once she is in Larry's very capable hands, I'll keep you posted.

Sepp

[jdogric12]

Be VERY careful with those pickups. The thin wires pull out of the riveted-shut pickup housing very easily (that is, they break off) and if that happens you have to drill out the rivets, fix it, and re-rivet them shut. Trust me, I know. LOL

[Kopfjaeger]

Jason,

Yeah, that would suck if the wires came out of the pups since they seem to be the only thing that needs no work on this instrument. Well, that and the TRC! I thought about the possibility of drilling out the rivets in order to have the bezels powder coated black but I'm really not sure I want to screw with them. If I broke them Mark says he can fix them but in the end I doubt I'll attempt such a risky measure just for aesthetics.

Sepp