IT'S CALENDAR TIME!!!

[cjj]

+1 on the bigger format! More room for great pictures and more room to write all that stuff I always seem to write on calendars...

[simer4001]

I just ordered mine too. I wonder if any old calendars are lurking about. I like looking to the past as much as I do looking to the future!

[harborcoat26]

I'm still not sure. One the one hand it IS a fine calendar, but on the other hand I don't know how I feel about paying full price on a 12 month calendar when when I might not get to enjoy the whole thing... on account of the world coming to an end an all.

[bassduke49]

Don't worry. That's not supposed to happen until 2012. You'll need all of this year's calendar!

[harborcoat26]

Don't worry. That's not supposed to happen until 2012. You'll need all of this year's calendar!

The moved it? That's cool!

Still I would want something in writing stating that if the world should end before the completion of the calendar that I can return unused portion for a full refund!

[cjj]

Nah, they didn't move it. The Aztecs have been gone for quite a while now. And yeah, you've got until Dec 21, 2012 at least, so you'll get full value out of this year's calendar, provided you hurry and get it in the next few hours...

[harborcoat26]

You talked me into it CJ, but there's no way I'm buying next years calendar

[Danotron]

Said goodbye to Erik's' awesome January 480 today and hello to C.Js' February transitional bass headstock

[chronictown]

I was sad to say goodbye to that nice 480...think I'll do some calendar surgery so I can keep my faves on the wall all year long

OK, daft question from a daft non-bassist - what makes this headstock transitional? Lack of wings? Apparent lack of tuning keys on the bass side of the headstock?

[cjj]

No, it's the lack of truss rod adjusting nuts at the headstock end. This is an early 4003, when they used the old style folded truss rods, but reversed them so the adjustments are made at the body end:

[chronictown]

No, it's the lack of truss rod adjusting nuts at the headstock end. This is an early 4003, when they used the old style folded truss rods, but reversed them so the adjustments are made at the body end:

DSCN9701s.JPG

Aha, I see now...very cool. Thanks for answering my question . I'd imagine that these basses are pretty scarce!

[cjj]

Well, not all that scarce. The 4003 first appeared around 1980 and had the reversed truss rods until sometime in 1986. They can be easily recognized by the "split" pickguard, which makes getting to the truss rod nuts easier:

[chronictown]

Well, not all that scarce. The 4003 first appeared around 1980 and had the reversed truss rods until sometime in 1986. They can be easily recognized by the "split" pickguard, which makes getting to the truss rod nuts easier:

4003_body.jpg

CJ - thanks again for this rickeducation...seems I should hang out a little more in the Basses forum . I love this place - you learn something new almost every day. I've actually wondered in the past what was with those split pickguards...now it makes sense!

[Grey]

I really like that headstock picture.

[cjj]

It's kind of funny, I originally took that picture because I had just removed the TRC and thought, "Wow, that's different! Is this really a legitimate Rick or some really good fake?" After posting here, my fears were relieved...