Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK. Here are the photos, one at a time.

Here's the rest.

Beautiful Bass! What kind of strings do you have on it?

It came with roundwounds installed and has one hell of a growl.
I also have a 1976 4001 that has Pyramid flatwounds and a horseshoe pickup that was modified by Mark Arnquist. He removed the horseshoes and mounted it on an aluminum (instead of plastic) plate.
What I am thinking of doing is putting the original bridge pickup back into the 1976 and setting it up with roundwounds.
In the 1971, I would put in the horseshoe and Pyramids for the vintage McCartney sound. My only real hesitation is that it is in such good condition that I should probably keep it stock.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob, that's one hot 4001 you got there, very similar to my 1970 21-fret 4001, which also has one hell of a growl! They oughta stick together. As for modifying it, I really wouldn't - just my opinion. Care to share its serial number with us and whether the treble pickup is of the screw polepiece, unsprayed bobbin and smaller magnet variety?

Bob: Great bass and thanks for the lovely photos. My two cents worth on this bass is, leave it alone! The 1960s is the line in the sand that currently demarks vintage from more modern instruments. There has been much discussion about what makes a vintage instrument. Is 1969 really that different from 1971? My view is that the early 1970s are quickly becoming coveted instruments that are on the "vintage horizon." This is my reason for saying keep it stock, especially if you have a later model to modify.

Whatever ones reasoning, this is a beautiful bass that is a sight to behold and from my way of thinking deserves to be left alone. Life is short, Growl on.

Sweet. If it was only left-handed...

I wouldn't put pyramids on a bass that hasn't got the wanut strip, for the same reason I wouldn't put roto's on it. This I've learned from experience the hard way. Peter's right, if it ain't broke...
I get the Macca sound with rounds on the neck pickup bet you can too.

BTW, let me qualify that last post by adding that I have nothing against the makers of either of these strings, I just don't think they'll suit this application.

The serial number is KI 538 making it a September 1971. The bridge pickup is unpainted green with flathead screws as polepieces.
Sounds like keeping it stock is the way to go. What strings would you recommend?

John (Lefybass),
I sympathize with you. I am also lefthanded but my first guitar teacher convinced me to switch because it confused her. I'm glad that I did for the reason that used guitar hunting is easier and I can pick up anyones instrument. But as a McCartney fan, I wish that I could still play lefthanded.

Bob, I have a '72 4001LH in Mapleglo, but it has some updated parts on it and is not quite all original..someone switched out the Grovers for Schallers and it has a V63 horseshoe pickup, but the finish is original and it still looks/plays/sounds awesome...If an all-original 1972 or older lefty is out there, I'm lookin' for it!!!! I hear Sir Paul is not in a selling mood these days...

Bob, I did a lot of research when I was refitting my old 4001s and the conclusion I came to was that brand didn't matter but materials used did. I settled on generic nickel roundwounds. I went from about 210lbs of tension with roto's(45-105?) down to about 125lbs with nickels. 40-55-70-95 though. A 45-105 set should come in about 150lbs and should work fine. Modern flats have more tension than the originals & in general, more than rounds. Some old basses can hack high tension, some can't. Just take care.

Lefty, I'm sure Scott Jennings mentioned somewhere that alongside Sir Paul's 4001S another LH was made.
If it does exist I hope you're the one to find it although I reckon it'll be worth more than any other bass guitar you care to name.

Gerry, I too had heard of another left-handed "S" made in the '60s, and I believe that Jimi Hendrix had a 4001 lefty made for him circa 1968...