4001 Question(s)

[saltymonkey]

I've been itching to add a Rick to my stable for a while now.  I've played a couple newer 4003s but they both had pretty thick necks.  I've read in Rick threads where a lot is said about old ones having skinny necks. But not consistently. I've been looking at a couple of vintage 4001s. By looking I mean online and asking the sellers questions. Neither is close to me to be able to play. Both 4001s are for sale from reputable dealers. One is a 74 and the other a 76 both all original nice clean basses. Of course the neck pickup on these basses are in two different positions. In your opinions is one more desirable than the other. Or just different? Are there any other differences that deserve mention? Also both necks have been described to me as rounded and nice feeling in the hand, not clubby nor wide, shallow and flat. I know neck profile is a very subjective thing but since I can't play them. I can only ask the questions. I'd ideally like to find one without a big thick neck. Don't really care that it's vintage, just comfortably playable. Here is a youtube video of a 74, not the one I'm thinking of buying, that I think has really nice tone. Thank you guys for any opinions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pRXbUWeL74&index=2&list=FLqRZ268Ck3FxrpJwaPKMIoA

[chromium]

Also both necks have been described to me as rounded and nice feeling in the hand, not clubby nor wide, shallow and flat. I know neck profile is a very subjective thing but since I can't play them. I can only ask the questions. I'd ideally like to find one without a big thick neck.

If it helps, these are the measurements I had taken off of my '78 when I was selling it:

Width:
1 11/16" @nut
2 1/16" @12th fret
2 1/4" @20th fret

Depth/thickness:
13/16" under 1st fret
7/8" under 12th fret


I really liked the neck on that one - had a very shallow profile all the way up.  My '73 gets chunkier up past the 12th fret, but it still has a great feel.

Not sure about the 74 and 76 you're considering, but there may also be some differences in the body shapes (upper horns, as seen in this pic):




I liked 'em both, but I had always wanted one in jetglo - and so after that one came into the mix the MG ultimately moved on.

[ilan]

All other things being equal, I'd go for the '74 because of the half-inch spacing. To me it looks "correct". 4001v63 and C64's also have 1/2" spacing. The white bass in the video looks exactly like my white '73 before I changed the pickups for reissue horseshoe and toaster.

[saltymonkey]

Thanks for your help guys. I didn't notice the difference in body shape because they aren't next to each other but they are indeed different.

[hieronymous]

Sorry, meant to jump in on this earlier...

I find that Rick necks feel different because the ones I have played are pretty wide at the nut - I wonder if that has anything to do with the perception that the necks are chunky? They don't taper like a Jazz or Precision. Just a theory!

I have found with my '76 4001, the pickups are pretty low output. Early on I put in Seymour Duncan pickups - 

I had them out within a couple of days! Later on, I realized that though the pickups were low output, they sounded great. I don't know for a fact that all the late-'70s ones had lower output, but I have heard a couple of people say they had similar experiences.

My impression is that for many, the '76 is less desirable, but it also depends what you desire! For some, full-width inlays would be high on the list, for others a real horseshoe pickup. I really love my '76, but a lot of that has to do with the circumstances that resulting in my becoming the caretaker.

[gearHed289]

Ric necks got chunky for a decade or so after they got a new CNC router in 1999. Headstock shape got weird too. I believe in 2011, they came out with a new, slimmer, two piece neck. At the nut, they all seem pretty consistent at around 1-5/8'' to 1-11/16''. About the same or less than a P-Bass. And as mentioned, there's very little taper going up. My personal favorites come from the late 80s/early 90s.

Pickups were kind of low output up until about 1990. They're much ballsier now, and I like them a lot. There also used to be a low-cut capacitor on the bridge ("treble" in Ric-speak) pickup that went away mid 80s.

[saltymonkey]

Thanks for all of your input. I bought the 74. It's Jetglo and really clean. It's coming from a small music store in Nashville. I should have it on Saturday. The seller measured the neck for me. 1 5/8" wide at the nut and
2 1/16" at the 12th fret. He didn't have calipers but his thickness measurements just using a tape measure were also pretty much in line with Chromium's measurements above. I'll take and post some pix after I get it. Here's a couple from the seller:

[Dave W]

Congrats, I think you made the right choice.

[hieronymous]

Congrats, I think you made the right choice.

Hear, Hear! Looks great!

[Highlander]

Beautiful...

I last handled a Ric on my 21st when I was given a wad of cash by my parents as a gift and (don't look too horrified at this admission) but I opted for an Ibanez 12 string acoustic, which was within my budget (new with case) whereas the Jetglo (s/h - similar age - no case) was just outside it - it was a long-term thing: if I'd come home with yet another bass I'd have got the "why do you need another one of etc, etc... I still live with that, and as long as those items remain in the shed I will continue to do so...

(still want one, btw - maybe post relocation and into '16...)

[ilan]

Looks amazing. I'm sure you have made the right choice.

[gearHed289]

Good choice! Just like Geddy Lee's original.

[chromium]

Right on - that's beautiful!  Looks really clean.

Bonus points for jetglo 

[saltymonkey]

Here it is! It's really great! It plays effortlessly. The neck is absolutely perfect. Just the slightest bit of relief and perfect low consistent action the whole way up the neck. I wouldn't call the neck skinny or thin but its not fat either very comfortable nice and round in the hand. It sounds fantastic. So nice and growly. I'm not much for trying to describe tone but I plugged it in and started playing and didn't want to change a thing. It was already there. Other than some really light finish checking on the body there's just one paint chip on the side of the headstock. I'm really really happy I went with this particular bass. Had a great afternoon playing it. Thanks again to you all for your insights and opinions.

[Hörnisse]

Does it have the red dots on the side of the fingerboard?  I believe all 74's do.  Great looking bass.