4000 pictures

[Bert]

I would love to see a close up of that Ric 4000.  How do you like it ?

It is my first Rick and it will never go and I will never be happier with any bass than when I bought this one. But having said this I allways missed a neck pickup. It does have a nice neck though.

[godofthunder]

That is just beautiful ! I so wish I had never sold mine Best sounding Ric ever, I never missed the neck pickup. Thanks for posting those pictures.

[Lightyear]

I love these!  This one looks like it's been well loved.

I like the more organic feel without all of the binding and I think that one pickup is perfect. 

I wonder if Rick would build one custom?

[OldManC]

I think at one point the 4000 had routing for the neck pickup, just with the solid guard. I guess you could always 'make' one. That's a beautiful bass. And a true "S" model as well! The newer 4001S 'reissues' don't get that right, though many people don't seem to notice.

[patman]

+1...those were the best sounding Ricks ever...

[Highlander]

That is a fine lookin' Lady... 

[chromium]

That's a beauty!  Nice photos too.

[Denis]

Oh, she's a beauty indeed!

[Bert]

I think at one point the 4000 had routing for the neck pickup, just with the solid guard. I guess you could always 'make' one. That's a beautiful bass. And a true "S" model as well! The newer 4001S 'reissues' don't get that right, though many people don't seem to notice.

I did think of making a 4001s out of my 4000. But since I have another (4003)S I dont feel a need for this anymore. My 4000 is not routed for another pickup.

What do you mean by "The newer 4001S 'reissues' don't get that right, though many people don't seem to notice."? In my opinion my former 4001c64 was a perfect S. Apart from the too wide neck.

[OldManC]

Aren't all the newer S models neck thru? I thought they were but I could be mistaken. I don't know that you hear that big a difference between set and neck thru on a maple bass anyway...

[ilan]

Aren't all the newer S models neck thru?

S models (4001S, 1999RM. 4003S, 4003S/5, S/8) were in general neck-thru except for a few 4001S's that were 4000 set-necks converted to 2-pickup models. Single-pickup 4000's, OTOH, started as neck-thru's, then became set-necks (possibly when the pickguard shape changed but I'm not sure), until the few last years of production when they built them again with neck-thru's. 

[hieronymous]

Bert, that bass is beautiful! I missed the original thread, what year is it? I used to think they were pointless, but I saw the light and have been jonesing for a 4000 since seeing the Return to Forever video Stanley Clarke with a Jetglo 4000...

[Bert]

Bert, that bass is beautiful! I missed the original thread, what year is it?

There was a xlr output installed when I bought it (so the serial plate was missing). I think it is an 1975. I base this assumption on pictures of a completely simmilar 4000 from 1975.

[OldManC]

S models (4001S, 1999RM. 4003S, 4003S/5, S/8) were in general neck-thru except for a few 4001S's that were 4000 set-necks converted to 2-pickup models. Single-pickup 4000's, OTOH, started as neck-thru's, then became set-necks (possibly when the pickguard shape changed but I'm not sure), until the few last years of production when they built them again with neck-thru's. 

Ah, thanks for setting me straight on that. The first few S models I ever saw were set necks and I think I remember others saying they all were (and lamenting the fact that it changed, later), so I inadvertently believed the same thing. That's what I get for not researching more myself!

[rockinrayduke]

Loved that video.