Back in Black - 73 4001

chromium · September 28, 2011, 02:09:23 AM

Just sharing some photos of a 4001 that I recently adopted.

Apparently this bass must have gone through Rock and Roll Vintage at some point, and I had found these pics in a Google image search a while back. I recognized it by the wear patterns and the sharp-cornered bridge pickup surround. Haven't taken any photos of my own yet, but these do the bass better justice than any shots I could produce...

I've been GASing for an early jetglo Ric most of my life. Bought a '78 mapleglo in the late-80s when used Rics were unpopular and cheap, and that bass was (and is still) a fantastic player.

Anyway, this bass surfaced on Ebay back in August. I had bid, but didn't hit the reserve. LBOer Nokturnal emailed me a couple of weeks ago and let me know that it was back up on Ebay. I got in contact with the seller that day... Really nice guy, and we were able to work something out. The bass is everything that I could have hoped - couldn't be happier. Guess it was meant to be! Looked like he had it up for sale over at RR, but I hadn't noticed - haven't been keeping up over there.

The neck is just slightly chunkier than my (ultra-slender) 78's neck, and the fingerboard radius feels different to me - flatter. Love the feel. I'll probably end up bypassing the bridge pickup cap, but other than that I'll leave well enough alone.

Bert · September 28, 2011, 05:38:28 AM

Congrats! One day I will own a (non-fl) JG again. I love the looks of them.

ilan · September 28, 2011, 09:03:47 AM

Wow, looks like my first Ric... a classic, congrats!

Denis · September 28, 2011, 09:36:16 AM

Nice! Haha, it's nice to see a Ric with battle scars.

chromium · September 28, 2011, 10:14:48 AM

Yeahh saves me from having to wear it out myself

One of those thumb marks is actually worn about 1-2mm into the wood

You can tell this was loved. Finish is worn on the neck around the 3-5 frets, and amazingly whomever was responsible for this wear wasn't sporting a Lemmy belt buckle. Body finish is decent back there. I'll post some shots of the back later.

Frets are still original and in good shape too.

godofthunder · September 28, 2011, 01:59:33 PM

Beautiful bass, love the checkerboard binding!

jumbodbassman · September 28, 2011, 02:18:40 PM

sweet. i had a FG 74 that i still, to this day, regret the most of any bass i have ever sold. Actually traded... Enjoy

Highlander · September 28, 2011, 03:04:14 PM

[envy] You're a lucky man, Joe... [/envy]

hieronymous · September 28, 2011, 04:13:46 PM

I just drooled all over my keyboard! That is the epitome of bass for a lot of people...

Happy Face · September 29, 2011, 06:59:24 AM

Nicely done! There's always a isk on what neck dimensions you'll get when you buy a Rick online so glad it worked out.

Will you be parking the 78?

chromium · September 29, 2011, 03:58:41 PM

Thanks guys!

Quote from: Happy Face on September 29, 2011, 06:59:24 AM
Nicely done! There's always a isk on what neck dimensions you'll get when you buy a Rick online so glad it worked out.

Will you be parking the 78?

That's what I was worried about, but thankfully they are actually a lot alike in terms of feel, sound (78 has cap bypassed, though), and weight (all IMHO). I'm happy with that - mainly just wanted a black Ric instead! Wasn't sure I'd be able to get all the early cosmetics in the process, so that was a tremendous surprise. This was my dream Ric.

I've been using the 78 a lot, but now it'll be redundant.. and I probably will end up selling it. Much as I like looking at them, I can't have wall hangers. I was never a fan of MG, but chose that because it was the best of the bunch. The store I got it from was having a blow-out sale on 4001s (this was ~1987-88). I was having a field day playing all of them!

It came down to this MG and a BG, but the MG was simply the best player.

Spent the next 23 years fighting the jetglo urge. Better late than never!

Paul Boyer · September 29, 2011, 08:31:28 PM

Beautiful grain on that MG!!

ilan · September 30, 2011, 04:36:34 AM

The treble pickup surround on the '78 is backwards, you know.

SeanS · September 30, 2011, 04:58:13 AM

If there are no more holes beneath, it could be on the right way, according to the assembler on that day.

The difference in size of these certain years really shows in the pic, I would say this is probably as different as the 4001's got, wafer to chunky.

chromium · October 01, 2011, 12:16:49 PM

Pretty sure this particular pickup surround can go on either way... I remember being confused which way to put it on when I took the cover off last year. I looked back at this pic of it from 2007 as point of reference. Guess I should have compared against another 4001

Maybe I'll flip it around next time I have the strings off.

Quote from: Paul Boyer on September 29, 2011, 08:31:28 PM
Beautiful grain on that MG!!

Thanks - I had considered once getting this one refin'd black, but hated the thought of covering up that pretty grain!