Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently bought a 73 Rick 4001 (maple glo) in Dayton, Ohio. I feel like I may have gotten somewhat mislead in the deal. So, I have a couple questions.

The bass I bought is listed on this site, complete with photos. In the register Serial Number MJ5301. See for yourself - the photos.

Q1) The photos showed the bass with Grover tuning heads. When I took delivery, the Rick had open back tuning heads with the name Rickenbacker enbossed into them. My question is; are these original equipment or were the Grover heads original to the 73 - 4001? The open back ones look "way too new".

Q2) On the heater box pickup (rear one) the heater cover is made of chromed plastic. It looks metalic, but during my intonation set up & cleaning of all parts - I discovered this plastic heater box cover, as well. Is the plastic some after market or later than 1973 equipment? I was thinking this would have, at the least been chrome plated tin or brass in 73...

I'm a bit concerned about the Grover tuning heads. Because the Grovers are quite clear in the photos on the registry in this site and considerably "falsely representative" of what was sold to me by Don's Pawn shop in Dayton, Ohio. But at least the ones on it are Rickenbacker equipment, though likely not original to 73 vintage. Hope the 2200 + tax I paid was not too bad of a deal. Other than these two questionable attributes, She's in nearly pristine condition - along with her original hard shell case in same condition. I have wanted a mapleglo 4001 since I was 12 yrs young and now, at nearly 47 - I'm thrilled to have one in my collection. Man o man, she sounds and plays amazingly!

Hoping to be in the know,
Jimmie

Tuners are often swapped out on vintage guitars for a variety of reasons. Lots of things may have occurred to that particular bass since it was entered in the registry. Unless the instrument was specifically advertised and sold as an unaltered or all original 1973 4001, don't worry. Regarding the plastic pickup cover, they were chromed plastic from the day they were first introduced (around 1969).

I took a look at the pics in the registry. Looks like a nice one. Enjoy.

One more thing, do not adjust the truss rods until you have read the tutorial from Joeys Bass Notes (web site). You risk cracking the neck if done improperly!

Yup, your 73 should have had wavey Grovers installed from the factory. Personally, I love the wavey Grovers despite their tendency to "explode". I like the look of them and the ones on my 73 have never given me issues, although I have spares in case they go "boom'. The one good thing about the open backed tuners, they are very reliable and their foot print covers the holes from the Grovers.

enjoy that 73! My 73 has a very distinct sound my other Rickenbackers can't duplicate

Sepp

A "heater box?" That's a new one!

Congrats on the bass, enjoy!!!

Hey guys,

Thank you for the prompt replies. I love the bass. Wanted one for a long time. I set up the bridge last night and its spot on all the way through, now. The action is as good as my 79 Precision ! Tone? Mmmmm tail pickup is into an Ampeg SVT - 3 PRO feeding a 2/10 + horn Ampeg cab and the neck pickup is in to a Hartke 3500 feeding a 15" x 4" VC loaded Sonic bass dump cab.

Noticed a couple other things while it was apart & gone through... The tail p/u has a nylon base plate, not aluminum, thus likely aftermarket oh well, I can likely make my own & just use the nylon one as a template. The bridge has a slight lift... No big deal.

Yes, I feel I got a good solid 73 for the money. It goes well in my collection.

Thanks again,
Jimmie Bo-Jangles
(Mr. Bo-Jangles younger brother)

Don't panic, I think the plastic pickup base came in 73ish so It's probably correct......

Eden.

nice one,and you're probably better off with the RIC open back tuners anyway. unless you just have a Grover fetish...not that there's anything wrong with that.

Yeah, $2200 is Jan-March '73 kind of money.

woodyng wrote:nice one,and you're probably better off with the RIC open back tuners anyway. unless you just have a Grover fetish...not that there's anything wrong with that.

I agree. had one of the Grovers fall to pieces after my bass got smack against something, and it was a pain to get a replacement.

Unfortunately, I have a Grover fetish. Not for just any Grover. It's gotta be a wavy. I've never had one explode on me, yet, but when it happens, I have a replacement standing by. It will most likely happen at the most inopportune time. I just love the way they look and feel. It was one of the must haves on my 73 4001 bass check off list. Full width inlays would have been great and so would have the gap toothed aluminum tail piece but the deal breaker was checkered binding and wavy Grovers. Mine did come with the killer slotted pole piece treble pup! Bonus!!

Sepp

Kopfjaeger wrote:Unfortunately, I have a Grover fetish. Not for just any Grover. It's gotta be a wavy. I've never had one explode on me, yet, but when it happens, I have a replacement standing by.

If it does explode, it can be repaired. I've purposely taken a couple apart and put them back together with the keyshaft the opposite way, to change which side of the headstock they will go on.

Joey, do they need to be reswaged when you put them back together this way? Or is reswaging needed only if they fail (i.e., blow up)?

FretlessOnly wrote:Joey, do they need to be reswaged when you put them back together this way? Or is reswaging needed only if they fail (i.e., blow up)?

I can answer that. They would need to be reswagged. PW had a thread with pictures on doing this a few years back IIRC.

I also remember someone mentioning drilling and tapping them for screws. Probably the safest fix.

Sepp