Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Nice lookin checkerboard 4001 in white, but surely that bridge is post '74, despite sellers claims its 100% stock?
Also, isn't April '72 too early for narrow inlays? Your thoughts.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2370379909

You are quite right, April 1972 is too early for both 'narrow' inlays and the 'bettered' bridge/tailpiece assembly. I'm sure this 4001 dates from the second half of 1973. If the jackplate reads 'LD', then it is not original to that 4001, period.

looks very 1973 to me.

Ive never seen a white on white checkerbound rick before. Whatever, its very nice!

Hey Owen,
Check out this June '73 (#MF) white on white checkerbound beauty.

Beautiful, to be sure.
However, which part (the SD treble pickup aside) is not original to that 4001? Come on, guys, I know you do your homework...

You guys gotta remember that these are the transition years and they are not all the same, the only thing I would suspect is the bridge, and who knows exactly when in 72 the slot was taken out? I know mine is late 72 and has a slotted bridge but nothing with these early basses is always exact. I think that is one beautiful bass even if it has had a new bridge put on somewhere along the line. White on white is my favorite Ric color. That being said it does look like a 73, but who knows? It's hard to stereo type these early 70's basses. I had a 75 that looked exactly like a 73 except it had a high gain instead of a toaster in it. I saw a 72 or 73 once with two high gains and the seller complained that he got a lot of e-mails from people complaining that it should have had a toaster in it, and he was adament it was all original.

This bass is very early (LD) to have smaller inlays on the fretboard, and I think the bridge is a replacement. My '72 was made in November (LK) and has C-P inlay, a slotted bridge and a toaster neck p/up, not to mention a factory fingergrip as well. I think this white bass has had some TLC at some point, but it's still nice.

No, it's the pickguard, clearly from the late 70's. On a '73 the knobs should run parallel and the bass pickup should be closer to the neck.
Whereas a '75 similar in looks to a (late) '73 except for a high-gain in the neck position is totally correct, as is a (late) '73 with two high-gain pickups.
And to the best of my knowledge, the 'slot' was taken out when the original cruddy bridge was superseded by the much improved version still in use today (which sports a slot on re-issue 4001's though).

how about that bridge pickup surround? Is that SD also? Its got sharp corners and is milled down under the strings to allow better adjustment to the pickup like a modern 4003.

I believe that p.u. surround to be totally legit. I've seen a few like that (with the sharp corners, I mean), mostly on 1972 4001s. As for the recessed portions under the strings, this has been a very common feature ever since the 50's!

I always thought the recessed area was new with the 4003's. I dont remember my 4001's having it. Oh well, thats why I like this forum, you learn something new everyday.