Zen-On Ricky 4001

[NikNik]

Interesting set neck.

 

@Bassassin

[Bassassin]

Seen a couple of these before - very odd. I think it's a through-neck but with a piece of timber laminated in the body section to raise it to the depth of the body wings. I suppose it let them use less timber for the neck.

 

Only ever seen this on Zen-On branded Fakers, and no idea who made those - Zen-On was one of the 60s Japanese Guitar Boom brands that vanished as that decade drew to a close. Along with the likes of Teisco, Sakai, Guyatone, they're assumed to have ceased to function as a manufacturer by 1970 and like the other two, presumably the name continued to be used because it was a popular & established brand.

 

Some curious differences from most other MIJ Fakers of the era - no centre stripe, black pinstripe binding, inlays that look a lot like real MOP, and that centre section. Annoying that I can't pin down the manufacturer of such a distinctive bass!

[prowla]

I saw that - costs would ramp up by the time it's come from Japan.

As an aside, I have an "Electric Bass" TRC, though it doesn't say "Zen-On" on it.