So now that my Leafenbacker is pretty much finished, I thought I'd start a new thread for my newest project. Surfing through Ebay over the last few weeks, I noticed that some people were parting out Rickenbacker 4001 basses. It seems they can make more money selling the bass as parts, than as a complete bass. A shame, really, when the sum of it's parts is worth less than each part individually. In any event, I saw the opportunity to refurbish, or really rebuild, a 4001, and trying some new things in the process.
So this bass started life as a 1975 Jetglo 4001, in August of that year, according to the serial number tools on line. It was last registered in May of this year, from Nevada. It was in pretty bad shape.
In fact, I was unable to salvage most of the bass. But I was able to obtain the most important part.
It was less expensive than many similar parts I've seen, so I thought I'd try to bring it back to its former glory.
Really, all it needs is a new neck and body, the electronics, and the hardware, and it'll be as good as new. I have a slab of maple already, and the lumber yard is running a sale on walnut this month, so I figured I'd pick up a piece for the skunk stripe and headstock wings. I'd like to try and build (or rebuild
) my own neck, to Ric specs, and try my hand at fretting. I know I can build a body, pickups, and the wiring, and the rest of the hardware can be had if one looks for it.
And of course, I'll "refinish" it in Mapleglo.
I haven't decided if I'll use the horseshoe bridge pickup, or the toaster neck pickup, but I'll see what's available when the time comes. And while I've grown to really like the headstock design I used for the Leafenbacker (Thanks JIO!), I'm going to try and stay true to the original design specs of the bass.
This build will likely progress at a slow pace, as I'm still paying down my credit card, and I've got a pretty full plate. But I'm looking forward to this build.
So this bass started life as a 1975 Jetglo 4001, in August of that year, according to the serial number tools on line. It was last registered in May of this year, from Nevada. It was in pretty bad shape.
In fact, I was unable to salvage most of the bass. But I was able to obtain the most important part.
It was less expensive than many similar parts I've seen, so I thought I'd try to bring it back to its former glory.
Really, all it needs is a new neck and body, the electronics, and the hardware, and it'll be as good as new. I have a slab of maple already, and the lumber yard is running a sale on walnut this month, so I figured I'd pick up a piece for the skunk stripe and headstock wings. I'd like to try and build (or rebuild
) my own neck, to Ric specs, and try my hand at fretting. I know I can build a body, pickups, and the wiring, and the rest of the hardware can be had if one looks for it.And of course, I'll "refinish" it in Mapleglo.
I haven't decided if I'll use the horseshoe bridge pickup, or the toaster neck pickup, but I'll see what's available when the time comes. And while I've grown to really like the headstock design I used for the Leafenbacker (Thanks JIO!), I'm going to try and stay true to the original design specs of the bass.
This build will likely progress at a slow pace, as I'm still paying down my credit card, and I've got a pretty full plate. But I'm looking forward to this build.
