Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So, after going back and forth on selling a 81 620 to fund it, I finally did it - just picked up a 1978 4001. Not a great deal, but not horrible. Was hoping that a TRC that I've had kicking around for years would fit it, but no such luck - so I'm now in search of a bridge assembly, a bridge pickup + ring and TRC. Also in pursuit of whatever count of posts that I need to hit before I can start browsing the classifieds - so please ask any questions ya want. She's now sitting next to a 72 P and 73/74 Jazz - both of which I may be looking to let go of soon to try to pickup a 63 Jazz...

More photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44211424@N00/
Replaces a 75 beater 4001 that I had to sell years ago to pay for rent - missed it ever since. This ones a keeper - and if Scandinavian furniture ever comes back in, with a couple legs + the finish on this one, it'll make a pretty damn nice coffee table.

And if everyone wants to chime in - it's gloss, so I'm guessing walnut, not autumn glo, no?

It's Walnut, one of my favorite RIC finishes. Good luck finding the parts you need and have fun restoring it.

Very nice project.

Could be much worse for getting the parts together.

Good luck and congrats.

NICE

I have been in love with the Walnut and autumnglo finishes. Well done!

Beautiful Walnut example. Are you going to try and get a 70s bridge pickup or a newer 4003 one? Difference in tone and output.

Really lovely bass. The mods were done well so if the new owner (you) wanted to go back you could... always a good idea. Seems like a real prize.

If you want to PM me I can give you the details about my 1976 bridge pickup that has been slightly refurbished, but is overall period correct. I don't want much for it since it's in a condition that's more appropriate for a bass player than for any sort of collector.

Very nice finish.

Thanks for all the great comments - fell in love with the color as well. Figure the color was something a bit out of the norm - of course it will probably be next years COY.

Am a little tempted to say screw originality and go with something like this - if only gold trc's were a dime a dozen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0390628809

Would love to find period parts - but I've been looking on ebay for the past month and a half (had a deposit on the bass for a while) and there's not that much out there. And I'm not sure yet if I'm good enough at identifying what parts are actual vintage Ric and what aren't. Fender, yes. Ric, no. Hopefully I'll have enough posts here soon so I can get into the buy and sell forums. In the meantime - feel free to PM if you happen to have some spare parts laying around the basement.

And yes - did check for extra routs etc. - seen too many old rics with the bridges buried a half inch into the body not to.

One other question - was there any rhyme or reason to what walnut/autumn glo basses ended up with black plastic and what ones ended up with white? Export models perhaps?

Thanks again all - Will post some pics once it's back to where it should be.

rickenbrother wrote:It's Walnut, one of my favorite RIC finishes. Good luck finding the parts you need and have fun restoring it.

One of my favorites as well. Very tasty indeed.

Cheers!

johnallg wrote:Beautiful Walnut example. Are you going to try and get a 70s bridge pickup or a newer 4003 one? Difference in tone and output.

Output different enough that a new bridge would way out of balance with the old neck? I honestly have only picked up a 4003 once or twice in my life - always seem to run across 4001's

Thanks!

bge66 wrote:

johnallg wrote:Beautiful Walnut example. Are you going to try and get a 70s bridge pickup or a newer 4003 one? Difference in tone and output.

Output different enough that a new bridge would way out of balance with the old neck? I honestly have only picked up a 4003 once or twice in my life - always seem to run across 4001's

Thanks!

The 4003 pickups are wound to 11.4k ohms and are hotter, a bit "muddier" (not the clarity, note definition, of the toasters or 70s higains), and a bit darker overall. A 70s higain is wound to 8.4k and sounds more like a toaster or your neck higain (also 8.4k). Joshua in his post above offered a 70s higain he has to you. Personally I would go with the 70s higain because 4001s from the 70s sound just sooo good with them - you can short out the .0047uF cap to give the bridge pup a little more low end and output. That is the smallest of the three caps on your electronics. Just solder a wire between the two cap leads. Or put in a switch/pot from the RIC Boutique and switch it in and out like in the new 4003s. I did that on my '75 4001.

First off - apologies for not doing my research - but, wow, it's that much of a difference? Having had a 75' 4001 before, I can say that 8K-ish in the bridge has never been problematic for me before.

PM-ing Joshua now.

Thank you for the info.

bge66 wrote:First off - apologies for not doing my research - but, wow, it's that much of a difference? Having had a 75' 4001 before, I can say that 8K-ish in the bridge has never been problematic for me before.

PM-ing Joshua now.

Thank you for the info.

Brad, if you liked the tones of the '75, you will be happy with using period correct pickups with this bass. Hope this works out for you.

I'm just happy to have a 4001 again -