Horseshoes? Toasters? Ashtrays? Is this a bass or a hardware shop? Calling Ricksperts!

[bassmachine2112]

hi,just get a 4003,flick the selector to bridge pup and engage vintage push /pull switch-bingo,as close as you,ll get to a 4000.
Newer 4003,s have a push/pull switch to give the 4001 circuit.
You can retrofit this to older 4003,s.I,ve done this to mine which is a 99 4003.I got mine for £15 and 1/2 hour with soldering iron it was up and running.The vintage circuit kit not the bass.
Switch in-4003 sound,switch out-4001 sound,pretty good trick.Two basses for the price of one or maybe 3
Necks have been fatter ,thinner over the years and body shapes have changed slightly but in essence the song remains the same.
Only problem with a Ricky is-which colour
If I was getting another one I would get a newer 4003 with the vintage circuit and I would struggle to pick a colour as I,ve got a jetglo.
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[4000]

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1348302464' post='1811995']
hi,just get a 4003,flick the selector to bridge pup and engage vintage push /pull switch-bingo,as close as you,ll get to a 4000.

[/quote]

My 4000 sounded quite different to any of my 4001s (or 3s) in bridge pickup mode. I don't know if it was the set neck (as opposed to through-neck on the others) or just that particular bass (quite possible) but it really was far more annoyed-sounding.

FWIW my old 4001s don't sound much like any of the 4003s I've played, vintage selector or not. I think with Ricks, like most basses, you've got to keep playing them until you find one that suits. I rather like that process; of course some don't.

[4000]

Old photo - '91 4001CS, '73 4000 (set-neck), '72 4001.

And my current ones, both '72s (the Fireglo is the same as in the above pic):

[4 Strings]

Very nice 4000, in particular the '72 Fireglo. Would still fancy the 4000 though, I like Esquires for the same reason, but I don't know what it is!

Thanks to all for the info all, any more always appreciated.

[4 Strings]

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1348316479' post='1812241'] Old photo - '91 4001CS, '73 4000 (set-neck), '72 4001. And my current ones, both '72s (the Fireglo is the same as in the above pic): [/quote]

So the creamy one has reissue pups but is a 4001S as it has no binding and dots. The black one is clearly a 4000 (did they all come with no binding and dots?) and the '72 is a standard issue 4001 of the time.

[4000]

The reissues aren't really classed as a 4001S. They are what they are; V63 reissue, 4001CS Chris Squire Signature (that's "the creamy one" in the pic), C-Series, and are referred to as such.

(Probably) all 4000 single-pickup basses are unbound with dot necks. Originally they were neck-though but around '72-'73 (IIRC) became set necked, although there are possibly exceptions, as there always are with Ricks. Both the '72s are standard for the time (if there is such a thing) but their spec is slightly different. The heads are slightly different shapes and the Fireglo has the walnut headstock wings, the Azure has a skunk stripe under the paint and has a slightly smaller body. The back pickup is slightly different too, although so slightly that many wouldn't notice.

As I said before, you're best going on Rick Resource for all the details because it really isn't all that simple. There are lots of variations and lots of exceptions to the rules, not just from year to year but from month to month and even from bass to bass.