Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I agree, the pickup cover is a late model type, and it looks like there may be some other replaced parts as well. But in my experience with basses of this age, it seems that virtually all of them have issues of one type or another, and this one has fewer issues than many others I've seen. I like what I see...looks like a pretty nice example. I'd also like to see pics of the back of the neck.

Sergio, you've already mentioned it. The treble pick-up is suspicous to me. My April 73 4001's original pickup was creamy coloured, not solid black like the one on this bass. I've seen other 72 4001's as well with the same pick up in them that was in my 73 (creamy-off white).
The pickup in this bass looks newer to me. Sorry I didn't get a better picture of it.
What do you think?

Gene, the back of the neck is excellent. There is no wear on it.
I hope to get back to the store again tomorrow to take some more detailed photos of it. I've been seriously thinking about buying it myself during the past few days. But first I want to take a good look under the pickguard and truss rod cover.

Jon,
One of the biggest problems I see with this era bass is the ever present refin where someone popped the fretboard off it, from adjusting the rods the wrong way. Sounds like thats not a problem here. If the truss rods look ok under the TRC, I'd say you'd need to make a decision pretty soon. To me, the originality of the pots is not that big a deal in putting this puppy back into original condition, your milage may vary... That looks like an 70-72 4001 body/neck to me, and its in excellent condition from what I see. I think I might want it, no matter what you see under the TRC and pickguard... Email me if you decide to bow out..
I'll check my treble pu on my '71 and tell you what i see there...I can't remember what color it is...

Man, talk about putting our knowledge on 4001s to the test. I'm game.
To me, a 'creamy coloured' pickup can only mean an unsprayed treble pickup bobbin, as found on 4001 basses from the early 70s. Plus, said bobbin on those 4001s was taller than on the final version high-gain pickup and had screws for polepieces. The pickup on the picture appears to be of the later 'squat' type.
Gene: I agree with you on the pots originality part. I also think that either you or Jon should pick that 4001 up, no matter how litte originality it has left on it...

Sergio, you are correct in that the creamy off-white treble pickup in my 73 did have "screws" for bobbins. This is what I would expect to find for a treble pickup in this (72) bass.

I'm heading back early this afternoon (digital camera in tow) to take a good second (good) look. I'll let you know what I find and photograph.

PS - You gotta love that sparkle material used in the neck position markers.

Hey Jon - I agree that if you're going to pull the trigger, take a good look at the truss rods first. I still don't like the roughness between the neck and fingerboard around the first fret, (might be separation). Maybe you can point the consigner (?) to this thread so that you can get a better price!

Thanks, Jon. Yeah, I do love those fretboard position markers. They're one of the reasons I always say that late 60s/early 70s 4001s are the thing.

If its a nice bass, i say buy it as long as the neck is not warped. If the rods are damaged, fretboard popped, you can easily repair it all in about 2 hours.

I agree with Owen and Steve, the Truss rods are the only issue that is still remaining IMHO. If they are good, it is a fine example of a Rick from an age that just isn't around that much anymore. My '71 had the fretboard popped in its life and a professional repair was done to it, although you can see where it happened. I wish it hadn't happened, but it doesn't make me regret buying the bass, because that was factored into the price... It was my lucky day, finding that Rick! Good Luck and take LOTS of pictures, we need this one in the family!

I'm on the same wavelength guys. Until I see for myself what the condition of the rods are along with how the body looks under the pickguard, i'm not making a offer to buy it.
I'm going to check the bass over again very carefully this afternoon.
Thanks for everyone's concern. Lots of pictures will be taken.

Ok I took a much closer look this time and here is what I found.

Under the pickguard the body has been routed to accomodate a large humbucking pickup. The pickguard is not the original. The bass originally had a thumbrest installed on it. The holes from the screws are clearly visible but hidden under the current pickguard.
I figure the original pickguard was altered to accomodate the humbucker.

Upon taking a look under the TRC, someone has done some routing in the neck pocket. The truss rod ends in the headstock pocket are bent downward very slightly.

As Steve mentioned before, it appears as if the fretboard has been popped off the neck under the 1st fret. This would account for the bent truss rod ends and the routing in the headstock pocket to gain better access to the truss rod nuts (for repair).

This time I took alot of clear pictures of the bass with the pickguard and truss rod cover removed.

It's clear that someone has altered the bass at one time to include a Badass bridge and humbucking pickup. Serious routing was done to the body to accomodate these alterations.
Then the truss rods were either incorrectly adjusted or heavy gauge round wound strings were installed causing the fretboard to pop off the neck.

Since then someone has tried to put the bass back into its original condition which is very commendable in my opinion. However, there are too many alterations/repairs that can't be hidden.
Visually, the bass is in great condition. It's under the skin that things aren't quite so nice.

My bigggest concern is the fretboard repair, and whether or not the truss rods/fretboard will hold a manditory neck adjustment. The bass is playable as it is, but it could (or should be) much better.
I'm going to make a offer for it, and we'll will see what happens.

I called and asked about this yesterday, and was going to make an offer given the crazy prices recently...asked if the guy was flexible on his price and was told "about $100 Canadian". I was going to offer U.S. $1250...(It,s at $1500 equivalent at present), in what I thought it would take to get it back to stock...Now that Jon has described the routs etc, I,m glad I didn,t...I still have the habit at looking at things in pounds sterling...and it,s only 800 pounds...that,s cheap...the U.K. guys must be shaking their heads... Unless you can get a good discount Jon, it,s a difficult call...

A nice photo of the body, binding and fret markers sent along by Jon.

Andrew, i've emailed the photos that I took today of the bass to Peter to have him resize them for posting.

Once you've seen the photos, you will be extra glad that you didn't make your offer.
I don't expect my offer to be accepted because the owner of the bass feels it's really worth $2k Cdn. I feel it's worth less now that i've performed a autopsey on it and found out the truth.
We all know if there were no issues with it, it would been sold by now at $1500 US.

I can tell you who ever buys this instrument will have to invest some additional money in to it to get it into better playing condition.

As nice as it could be to own the bass, I won't loose any sleep if I don't own it. My current 4001 keeps me more than satisfied.

PS - As I mentioned in a previous post, the owners of Capsule are friends of mine. They are completely unaware that the bass has all of the issues that i've mentioned in this thread. They just don't see many early 70's Ric 4001 basses so they are not quite up to speed on exactly what to look for on this bass. And because they're good guys they can be taken in by sellers who are either unaware themselves or not telling the (whole) truth about the instrument.

Check out the additional pictures of the bass once Peter posts them.

IMHO things like routes for humbuckers and damaged rods would not bother me. Reasons?

The routes are hidden from view - theres always a route anyway it does not really matter if its bigger.

The truss rods/ fretboard separation is a real easy fix. Also my old 73 had wood chiseled out under the truss rod nuts - tho i think it was stock as the original finish was present there

If it looks good (it does) plays good, and sounds good, i think its worth the money.

What would make me not buy it tho is a warped neck or badly worn frets