When It Rains It Pours Vintage 4001s - Price Check

basse · Post by **basse** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:48 am

Hmm, looks like Andrew's '68 doesn't have a split bridge either... Could that make the one on the '69 original?

maplered · Post by **maplered** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:56 am

David,

It looks to me like Andrew's definitely has the split bridge.

basse · Post by **basse** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:58 am

You're right, I took that as a reflection. D'oh!

wints · Post by **wints** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:30 am

David, yes, it does look like a reflection when you first glance at it, but the split is there.

Carmen, that's an interesting point about your 69 too, being retro fitted with a re-issue horseshoe. I still have not seen a post 68 bass with a horseshoe that has been proved to be original. That does not mean to say there have not been any, but I think late 68 is the changeover point.
That fireglo is a gorgeous finish. You can certainly tell the spray guy at the time had his interpretation of this classic finish spot on.
Here's a pic of a 64, 68 and 73, (especially for Jim Glen!) where you can plainly see over 9 years the work of 3 different craftsmen....

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:45 pm

David, defiantly go for the 69,I'm considering getting rid of my 67 for a 60s deluxe not sure yet.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:31 pm

OMG!! Just caught this thread...

DO IT! That is a deal!!

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:46 pm

Hmmmmmm .... Fireglo

Always nice to see them Andrerw, and should you decide to let any of those fine specimens (specially the 73) go, feel free to let me know .....

Speaking of which, later this month I take delivery of my second v63, she's a lovely April 92 Fireglo in first rate condition. I "need" a backup v63 for stage, my excuse and I'm sticking to it !!!!

Hmmm more Fireglo ......... pictures will follow.

basse · Post by **basse** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:13 am

Ok, the '69 is mine. I brought it home last night and it is beautiful. Sleek fast neck, very comfortable, the pickups both sound great, OHSC! And, it includes the original split bridge (in a bag in the case) so it's all there.

The guy I bought it from is the original owner, he purchased it new at Long & McQuade in the fall of '69. He said that he was told that it is one of the very first basses made without the horseshoe and that the new pickup was a vast improvement over the "old" pickup.

It does need a set-up because the action is a little high by the bridge pickup but that seems to be common with the '60s 4001s that I've seen before. Maybe I'll just get the tech here to file down into the replacement bridge to lower it from that end if playing with the truss rods doesn't work.

I'll give you a full report on Thursday once we've had our next rehearsal. I'll get those "under the hood" photos for you too!

Woo-hoo!!!

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:28 am

Congrats David. So what was wrong with the original tailpiece? I wonder if the action would be better if you could put the original tailpiece back on?

basse · Post by **basse** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:12 am

Hey Jeff, the original owner believed that having a spring under the section that raised/lowered the saddles allowed him to be more exact with the positioning.

I think I'll take your suggestion (thank you!) and I will try putting the original bridge back on to see if that helps. And then if it doesn't, I'll take it in for a set up.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 5:11 am

Sounds like a good plan, David. Its worth a shot anyway! Be careful with who your set-up guy is. Make sure he/she knows how to adjust the old-style Rick truss rods. I'd be afraid to let anybody touch it.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:30 am

Bob, Andy et.al.: It looks as though from what I can gather that 1967 was the last year for the blue cloth, or until they ran out of them. My '67 950 has the orig. blue cloth with it. If the cloth is correct on the MG '69, it should had the Stevens address on it, IIRC....

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:19 am

That's a great bass David. You probably won't find another like that with the one owner history. In regards to the high action, that can be accounted to all the usual things mentioned above.
What strings does it have? I had a fairly low action on my Dec 68 when I bought it, changed out the rounds for some lower tensions flats (not my choice of strings!) and after a few weeks the action was really low. The neck on my 68 is far thinner and fragile than any other bass I have. Your bass is so close to mine that I'm sure the neck profiles must be very similar.

It's interesting to hear the original take on the pick up being better than the horseshoe too. As I mentioned in my earlier post my hi-gain is very weak compared to my horsehoes on my 64 basses. Maybe your p/u is wound a little hotter.
I agree with Jeff though, whoever you take it to, make sure they know Ric basses extremely well. Great find!

basse · Post by **basse** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:04 am

Thanks Andrew, when I brought it home it had nylon wound flats on it. I promptly put on Elixir round wounds and the action went up almost immediately.

If the Elixirs keep the action high, I'll probably try TI flats next so that I can try and maintain the tone and growl of the RWs.

I think the neck is actually a little chunkier than my '66 4005 which does fine with RWs (but still slimmer than my '76 4001 AG) so hopefully, I'll be able to use them on this new 4001 too.

So much experimenting to do over the next couple of weeks...

Thanks for the heads-up and reminder on the truss rods. I'm sure I'll be fine because the guy I take my basses to here in Toronto at Capsule Music is the same fellow that dealt with that '67 FG 4001 that they sold 6-8 months ago to someone else here in the forum.

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:52 am

David, do not have them touch your truss rods trust me they did a lousy job on the 67 and popped the fret board filed down the bridge...did a lousy job replacing the nut.I sent it to mark Arnquest in Seattle he did a great job with the rods,nut,bridge,neck and filled the routes under the treble pickup