The Last Bass Outpost

Not Ebay but Reverb. Not one, not two but three 1972's, all of them non original in various ways:

Azureglo: https://reverb.com/item/10254363-rickenbacker-4001-azureglo-1972-s124


Mapleglo: https://reverb.com/item/10049290-rickenbacker-4001-1972-mapleglo-stunning-heavy-birds-eye


White 4001S neckthrough: https://reverb.com/item/10146250-rickenbacker-4001s-1972-white-neck-through

I used Slinkys and Fender rounds late 90's to early '00.  To me they sounded and felt about the same. A little brighter when new compared to D'Addario EXL. Though what made me stay with the D'Addarios once I tried them was that once the top of the bright new sound was gone they lasted longer before the tone went dead compared to the Slinkys and Fenders. Here the Fender strings mostly has been the cheapest of those three.

That's no good for me since D'Addario is EXL's and Chromes are just about the only strings I use. The Chromes has been even more expensive here (475 SEK = 58 US$) than the price you have to pay in the U.S after the price increase. If the price increase here follows yours they will be ridiculously pricey. 

Here's one discussion: http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=7618.msg123337#msg123337

Maybe you're already on to this but anyway: If you're lucky it's just a tired function switch. Looking at the schematic on Jules' site it shows that the function switch chooses the path for the rhythm pickup (compressor or not). If there's no connection between 4 and 5 on the function switch you'll get no rhythm pickup sound.

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist_circuit_diagram.php

If the switch is not the culprit, maybe follow the advice above... 

We don't need Uwe to make any jokes (though I love his wits) when Randy himself is being funny enough for himself sharing his . Out of curiousity I did some read up on Garnet and its Randy Bachman history quoted by the man himself (which is entertaining if you know the technical side of a tube output stage that is):

Gar and I developed this unit together back in '65-'66. Growing up playing violin, I loved the sustain, especially of a viola or cello. So early on in the mid '60's, I found out that by plugging a small amplifier into a bigger amplifier, I could get this sound. Now I was taking the power out, which normally would go to the speaker and plugging it into the input of another amp. The result, for a few short minutes was a cool, great new sustained sound. Gar Gillies had a tv/radio repair shop, was a cool musician, and I wasn't embarrassed to take in my amps, which were literally burned by the power misuse; fried, to say the least. Gar asked what the heck I was doing, and when I told him, he said, you're insane to do this, its very dangerous. So he offered to help me do it a safer and less destructive way. Gar proceeded to build me a tube pre-amp, which when put into another amp, got me the desired sound.

I've always been struck by the guitar sound of American Woman but never investigated what equipment was involved making it. This makes your project even cooler Jake.

Garnet rings a bell but I woud'nt have known the country of origin. Looking forward to updates to come.

Hope you buy it. That bass is really crying out for help. Even if it's a bit of a reverse Robocop transformation job I'd say it would be quite possible especially if you consider a solid finish refin. BTW, I can't see anything that would indicate it being anything other than a real 60's Bird.