How to make a Rickenbacker lighter

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I’m looking for ideas on how to reduce the weight on a 4003s. Thanks

This is akin to trying to make a boat anchor lighter. Cut it loose and find something lighter.

 

[lowendblues]

Is this where all those deformed / chopped up vintage basses on Ebay come from?

 

[creaturegods]

Start with some light workouts to strengthen your core.

View attachment 4993159

Or this.

 

[SulzerType2]

I think you need a custom build from lightweight woods with Rickenbacker pickups in the right locations. Ricks are quite thin, so you can't shave them down much. You also wouldn't want to take out any wood under the pickguard as you would be removing material from the central plank of the instrument.

 

[fig]

Besides @skycruiser's excellent Ric Lighter, there's a Bic version, too.

I don't know what all this gibberish and jabberwocky about sanding, custom builds, and hardware changes was about...

 

[Wilmingtonian]

but IME they are already some of the lightest basses around.

Maybe your 4001 and the like is/was light? Every 4003 listed at Wildwood, there are four or so, are all 9.5 pounds and heavier. My 4003 is not what I would call light. Guessing 9+ but I haven't weighed it. I don't think a bass can be called "light" at north of 9 pounds. Adding: just looked again and realized I somehow missed all the others at Wildwood, but there is none lighter than 9.37 pounds (all mapleglos, is it the paint?).

 

[jxj]

I doubt there's much you can do to lighten a 4003 series bass. I find a Jazz is an acceptable substitute in most cases (nothing sounds just like a Ric, of course.)

I have a roasted pine Jazz Bass that weighs right around 8 lbs. I've heard Sandberg can make an even lighter one out of Empress.

 

[KidAmnesia]

I'd go for another bass. Rics are great, but playing something that doesn't cause you back problems is even better. If you are set on the Ric thing, you might get someone to build you something similar but with lighter wood and hardware.

 

[prowla]

(I was about to look for that pic!)

 

[kentiki]

Play it on the moon!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Walnut Rics are indeed lighter, around 1lb IIRC. You could try a combination of lighter bridge, Hipshot tuners and chambering under the pickguard with a forstner bit if you don't mind taking a hit on eventual resale, but most Rics are really well balanced, so it will probably neck-dive a little if you lighten the body. Get a W model Ric and play the hell out of it.

 

[bobyoung53]

It’s not a balance problem, i have back problems and want to make it as light as possible. I hear walnuts are lighter, is that true?

Have you tried a wide neck strap? I buy 3" Levy cotton neck straps which are very comfortable and distribute the weight.

 

[E2942]

Get a 4004 Cheyenne in Walnut, it's their lightest.

 

[callofcthulhu]

Getting a vintage spec pickguard will increase the area under which you can inconspicuously remove wood

 

[DrBnz]

Convert to headless ..... actually I kinda like this idea...
Mine has a baseball bat neck - sand it way down.
Bridge cover/bezels/etc in the trash - strip it like a stock car gettin ready for Friday nite races.
Rip out the controls. Go with a simple (stacked) Vol/Blend... Treble/Bass
Strap attach point moved to the center of body - upper horn cut off - edges rounded for looks
Lower horn: Whatever doesn't serve a purpose can be "contoured" (cut off).
Take a router to the back about .25 deep. Make it look nice, like one of your moms serving trays.
No strap buttons - screw your favorite strap directly to the body. Caveman style
Lets go racing

 

[moon-bass]

The Hipshot aluminum bridge is noticeably lighter than the stock one, at least on my 4001. Ultra light tuners (but I think you need to drill holes which to me is NBD). If you want to go further, remove some wood under the pickguard.

 

[Wasnex]

Like others, I suggest selling the Ric and getting something that suits you better.

I modded my Ric and although it's arguably a better bass now, I regret doing it. The total cost of the mods probably tripled the total sunk cost of the bass. It's probably worth about 1/3rd of what I could sell it for if I had left it stock.

If I could go back in time, I would slap myself.

 

[FullumMusic]

Helium balloons.

 

[satantango]

my walnut 4003 is about 8.5 lbs, but it has a super chunky neck. you can probably save another half pound on one with a slimmer neck.

all mapleglos, is it the paint

yeah, the oil finished ones all clock in lighter (and I like the natural feel of the neck/fretboard on them too).

 

[Koshchei]

It’s not a balance problem, i have back problems and want to make it as light as possible. I hear walnuts are lighter, is that true?

About 1lb lighter.