21 Fret 4001 Owners, Make Yourselves Known

[rickcrazy]

I know now what the conclusion was, or rather wasn't. You better ask James Grove to fill you in.

[ken_james]

OK, I was going to keep my piehole shut until it was done, but I have a 21 fret '71 4001, with an ebony fretboard no less. It's a honeyburst, and is currently being restored by my luthier back home, it should be ready in Sept with any luck.

[rickcrazy]

Kendall James, is that you?
Well, wonders never cease. I (we) would love to see some pictures of your 21 fret 4001. Did you pick it up recently? From what you say I assume it's undergoing major repair work. Keep us posted.

[ken_james]

Yep it's me, I've had it for almost years, but with the army deployment to Egypt and a very slow luthier it's been slow. The bass was a wreck, and was missing quite a few parts. I was wondering about the old screw top pickups, were there any problems with them?

[ken_james]

Yep it's me, I've had it for almost 2 years, but with the army deployment to Egypt and a very slow luthier it's been slow. The bass was a wreck, and was missing quite a few parts. I was wondering about the old screw top pickups, were there any problems with them?

[wints]

Kendall, my 68 has the transistional hi gain, and it,s output is weak compared to the horseshoes and everything else I,ve heard coming from a 4001...maybe the other 21 fret guys can input on their output...The ebony fretboard sounds interesting. Smith,s book says a few of these came out of the factory in the late 60,s...I,ve a letter from JH addressed to the former owner of one of my basses, where he says that the harder woods would tend to split when using the old inlays. Just one of the reasons why the necks became a little thicker and the inlay materials changed. A rare and cool bass...post those pics when you can....

[rickcrazy]

Kendall:
The treble pickup on my November 1970 21 fret 4001 (a first-version high-gain with round-head screws for polepieces) isn't (wasn't - I've replaced it with a unit of my own) particularly hot due to the rather ineffective magnet thereon. Is the treble p.u. on your 4001 working? A stronger magnet will definitely improve its performance. However, should you prefer to bypass/remove the treble-pass cap, the original magnet will do the job - bear in mind that the neck (toaster) pickup isn't very hot either.
Like Andrew says, you've got a rare and cool 4001 there. To me it's the ultimate Rickenbacker bass.

[ken_james]

Actually the pu I was referring to was in my 68 4001, I was involved in a discussion elsewhere about the older versions and the point was made that the transistional hi gain was weak. Any clue as to why it has horseshoes rather than a single handrest like the later models? As for the pickups in the 21 fret bass, neither are original, the neck pickup is from a 73 I think and the bridge is a screw type pu as well. My luthier hasn't gotten that far yet, like I said should be around August or so.

[iiipopes]

Owen, we can conclude from this that only 3 21-fret basses made in all of Rickenbacker history.
That makes them extremely valuable, mine is now for sale for one MILLION dollars (making Dr. Evil quotation marks gesture;~)

4002's are spec'd with 21-fret ebony necks.

[sloop_john_b]

This thread dates back almost 10 years, and Gene hasn't posted here in over 3 years, but ok.

[Seans]

But did they all?, the register is very slim on entries.

[heinpete]

O.K. here is another one. I have to admit , it was a little trick to get it there , but it is a real 21-fretter!

[heinpete]

Sorry to be so persistent on the 21 fret 4001 subject. Just out of curiosity, who else in the Forum owns a 21 fret 4001?

...and then there was the one from Elys Rand, which I sent over to him, when he bought it on the German bay !

[Red Warrior]

Sorry to be so persistent on the 21 fret 4001 subject. Just out of curiosity, who else in the Forum owns a 21 fret 4001?

If you really need a 21 fret Bass, I have a Rogue for sale on Craigslist for $60.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

to this old thread...i've got a 21 fretter "the crawlspace bass" january #13 1970. mapleglo but now stripped of it's mold eaten finish and awaiting a nice coating.

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