Just wondered if this is a normal 4001 model? It's from 1976 but doesn't have the normal triangle fret markers. It's very different from my 1978 Mapleglo. (I know strings are high and it badly needs a setup).
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1976 Ricky without triangle fret markers normal?
- Thread starter Rat Blitz
- Start date
The brass nut and fingerboard look non-original. Maybe this bass had an improper truss rod adjustment and the original fingerboard popped. Then it was replaced with a new nut and fingerboard.
Just a thought.
Bones
Just a thought.
Bones
Factory fretless had a bazillion dots on the side of the neck.
4001S had dot inlays but didn't exist in 1976 I don't believe and didn't have binding
I'd guess a normal 4001 w a new fretboard
4001S had dot inlays but didn't exist in 1976 I don't believe and didn't have binding
I'd guess a normal 4001 w a new fretboard
godofthunder59
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My friend has had it since 1984 so if something happened to original fingerboard it happened early in the life of the bass.
I could be wrong, but I had thought RIC got rid of the shedua/skunk stripe on 4001 basses before 1976? My first thought looking at that bass is that it's a faker. Possibly a Greco or Tokai or something of the like. They were making some incredibly convincing fakes during the 70s and early 80s, right down to binding, hardware, etc. That fretboard is DEFINITELY not right for a proper Rick, though, which is my major red flag
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If memory serves, the "Rose Morris" Ricks, built for the UK market, usually had dot fretboard markers. Whether or not they were made in 1976, is a question for Paul Boyer - or someone else who's more familiar with that kind of stuff...
No, they got rid of them in 1980 I believe, I have a last month '79 4001 with the stripe. That bass had a replaced fretboard and nut otherwise looks fine at a cursory glance. That fretboard looks like ebony to me.
Dec 1979 4001 with the finish take off the fretboard, refret.
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If memory serves, the "Rose Morris" Ricks, built for the UK market, usually had dot fretboard markers. Whether or not they were made in 1976, is a question for Paul Boyer - or someone else who's more familiar with that kind of stuff...
RM-1999's but they had no binding, were basically 4001S's and have no idea if they were made that late. That bass has a replaced nut and fretboard and is a normal 4001.
Ric5
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yes replacement nut and replacement fretboard. The 4001s model will have dot but smaller dots, and the s model won't have binding.
The real question is what kind of truss rod/rods are in that bass. Chances are the rods got replaced when the board got replaced.
Yup and I've seen 4001's dated later than 1980 with skunk stripes but no 4003 has them that I've seen. Whether the later 4001's were leftovers is another question though. But I've seen them dated as late as 1985-86, although not common.
I'm going to bring it to my luthier Dave at Dave's world of Fun Stuff to get it set up and compare it with my 1978 4001. If anyone watches Dave's channel they will know how much he will enjoy 2 Ricks on his bench at the same time. 
I'm going to bring it to my luthier Dave at Dave's world of Fun Stuff to get it set up and compare it with my 1978 4001. If anyone watches Dave's channel they will know how much he will enjoy 2 Ricks on his bench at the same time.
Video it so we can listening to his pi**ing and moaning
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Cool bass. My vote goes for replaced fretboard, as the skunk stripe, body gain, and upper horn dimensions all look period correct.
If you enlarge the first photo, while it’s not exactly clear, it appears that the binding goes all the way around the body below the tailpiece, which is generally a sign of a copy rather than a genuine Ric. Do you have a clearer photo of that area? How about a photo of the output jack plate?
It's neither normal nor a special (ie. an S).
There's something about the headstock too.
Does the jack plate say "Stereo-Sound"?
Is there a 2nd screw hole just below the upper strap button?
Tokai never made a Ric bass faker, though.
Yes - my first thought was it's a faker and that's a good spot on the binding - if it goes all the way 'round behind the tailpiece, it ain't a real Ric.
There's something about the headstock too.
Does the jack plate say "Stereo-Sound"?
Is there a 2nd screw hole just below the upper strap button?
My '78 has a skunk stripe.
Tokai never made a Ric bass faker, though.
The 4001S and the 60's RM1999 were the "Special order" model and, though they did have dot markers, they had no binding (and it couldn't be invisibly retro-fitted).If memory serves, the "Rose Morris" Ricks, built for the UK market, usually had dot fretboard markers. Whether or not they were made in 1976, is a question for Paul Boyer - or someone else who's more familiar with that kind of stuff...
Yes, that doesn't look like an original Ric fingerboard.
If you blow the first picture up, you can pretty clearly see that the binding continues behind the bridge.
