My Rickenbacker Modification Project

[Arrachion]

Get off the compy and get on that rick!!

 

[Korladis]

So, the most important question...


How does it sound?

 

[Korladis]

Naive? Yeah, no. Seriously, who would have suspected this many would be this freaked out by something that they are not remotely invested in on any legitimate level?

A few nay-sayers, sure, but this sort of assault by way of 3 different websites? C'mon boy, this is unreal.

I thought this site was "Talkbass". I had no idea it was actually "Bitchgripejudgewhinecomplainbass".

I stand corrected & amused.

Naive YES. Modding can be very controversial, especially really drastic mods.

Again, I don't think it was wrong at all to mod your bass. I do think it was silly not to expect some people to get upset about it.

And don't call me boy. It's disrespectful.

 

[Korladis]

Elaborate? I'm curious as to how glue would correct this issue without creating a new issue (of having saddles glued down or together). Perhaps I'm not following you.

Well, the exact nature of the issue should probably be described.

On my hipshot bridge I had an issue of the saddle height adjustment screws being too loose and so the saddles would drop down gradually with play.

When I had it set up recently, I asked them if they could do anything about that. Apparently it's a problem on all kinds of bridges now and then. The solution is a tiny drop of glue (either wood glue or elmer's, I can't remember which) on the screws. This is strong enough to hold them in place, but weak enough to be broken with a twist of an allen wrench.

If the wobble is side to side, perhaps a similar solution could be found by putting a drop of glue under the screws. Again, strong enough to hold in place, but weak enough to be broken without any effort.

 

[Korladis]

regarding Paul Mccartney's, all he did was a poor refin (sloppily sanded) but he's Paul McCartney, and that bass is worth a fortune because of it. and he didn't go routing big holes in it.

and on Chris Squire's, he refinned it too (thinning down the body in the process), but again Squire's bass would also be woth a fortune, whereas the OP's bass IMO, went from being a beauty worth about $2K to a piece of junk worth $400.

and both Paul and Chris did their mods back in the days when people didn't know any better.

IME, most people that do something like this eventually realize that it was a huge mistake and regret it, and end up with an instrument that didn't improve it's sound or performance.

i've spent many years restoring thousands of vintage guitars and basses (since 1973) and it always pains me to see something like this happen to a nice bass, since it now is only desirable to a very small group of people, but to each his own.

It doesn't matter how much it's worth on the market if he keeps it.

But yeah, if the bass was on the market now, I'd pay maybe $400 for it.

Hence why I hope he likes it as much as he thought it would and keeps it forever. Because then it's perfect for him, and no one else has to deal with it.

 

[Korladis]

Personal opinion: tort looks weird on a Rick. I'd stick with black.

I agree. The black pickguard would look really nice.

 

[Darkstrike]

regarding Paul Mccartney's, all he did was a poor refin (sloppily sanded) but he's Paul McCartney, and that bass is worth a fortune because of it. and he didn't go routing big holes in it.

He also shaved the binding off, since it hurts your arm.

Not to mention that he plays the bass, should we all not bother playing bass because we're not McCartney?

and on Chris Squire's, he refinned it too (thinning down the body in the process), but again Squire's bass would also be woth a fortune, whereas the OP's bass IMO, went from being a beauty worth about $2K to a piece of junk worth $400.

Yup, and he also gutted the wiring and re-done it to suit, as stock it wasn't doing what he needed.

As for the op's bass, wasn't doing what he needed, so he's fixing that, who gives a damn about money as long as he's happy?

and both Paul and Chris did their mods back in the days when people didn't know any better.

Or maybe they did know better? Or is it just that fame instantly means you're a genious and can do anything you like...


Seriously, it was just a bit of wood, wire, magnets and plastic.
Now it's the same, with the benefit of fitting the OP better.

 

[johnk_10]

It doesn't matter how much it's worth on the market if he keeps it.

i agree, and everyone 'thinks' that while they're doing it, but you wouldn't believe how many times i've heard complaints from the same people eventually having problems selling one once they tire of their 'improvements' and later realize that the stock pickups in a ric actually sound great the way that they were.

 

[johnk_10]

He also shaved the binding off, since it hurts your arm.

wrong. Paul's ric never had binding. it's an unbound dot neck like the OP's bass.

As for the op's bass, wasn't doing what he needed, so he's fixing that, who gives a damn about money as long as he's happy?

yeah, but for how 'long'?

 

[johnk_10]

As for the op's bass, wasn't doing what he needed......

then, IMO, he should have bought one that did in the first place, instead of destroying one that didn't.

 

[cheesybass]

J Hud, I think the bass looks great! It's your bass, your money, your time and effort - ENJOY!

 

[Darkstrike]

wrong. Paul's ric never had binding. it's an unbound dot neck like the OP's bass.

Ah well.

 

[Darkstrike]

then, IMO, he should have bought one that did in the first place, instead of destroying one that didn't.

How many people buy J's and P's and many other basses that they like the neck, or looks of, and change the hardware, or electronics for a tone that they prefer?

Why the hell should it be so taboo to do just that to a Ric?

Pretty sure Rickenbacker can make more.

 

[johnk_10]

Ah well.

that's what i thought.

 

[cassius987]

Pretty sure Rickenbacker can make more.

That's why this is controversial for some. Rickenbacker has not made this model for many years, and lots of people REALLY want a pristine "S" model like this was because it's essentially a stock Ric with no binding and small inlays (as well as mono output which I think sucks ).

This is likely the reason this has generated the trans-forum response it has. I doubt hdracer would have gone to Ric.com had it been a less rare, less pristine Ric and I doubt whoever posted at RRF would have under the same conditions. For those who appreciate vintage stock Rics (they have as much right to that as those who mod have the right to mod so quit throwing rocks at each other...) this was somewhat like seeing a pre-CBS Jazz Bass routed for some crazy extra pickup or a floating tailpiece/wammy bar, what have you. It's not the same as if a common, still-produced model were modded or if a beat-to-hell model were modded. That's the truth based on the former market value of the bass, not just me saying it--and it's not a "good or bad" statement, it's just this is how it is. Clearly it IS naive to think people wouldn't get a little extra snippy over this one even though it's silly that we should have to expect that. At the same time people have every right to say, "Wow, this was a dumb idea," and not be labeled an elitist for it. Maybe they just think how it was modded was a bit askew--I kind of do actually. But I'm hopeful for the OP that he likes it and won't have to take a loss selling it and now I just want to hear sound clips of the new neck pickup, as it's the only time I've seen a Ric neck pickup pushed that far forward besides the 4002. I'm not excited by the new bridge pickup but I'll listen to clips of it too if they crop up.

 

[johnk_10]

How many people buy J's and P's and many other basses that they like the neck, or looks of, and change the hardware, or electronics for a tone that they prefer?

swapping pickups or bridges is one thing, IMO, routing big pickup relocation holes in one is another.

Why the hell should it be so taboo to do just that to a Ric?

Pretty sure Rickenbacker can make more.

you're not very familiar with rics are you?
Ric doesn't make that model anymore. i wouldn't have as much of a problem if he took a new 4003 and did it, but i certainly do hacking into that one.

 

[Darkstrike]

That's why this is controversial for some. Rickenbacker has not made this model for many years, and lots of people REALLY want an "S" model like this because it's essentially a stock Ric with no binding and small inlays (as well as mono output which I think sucks ).

Isn't it the essentially the same as a 4001C64S, which they do make now, even on MF.

 

[J Hud]

Naive YES. Modding can be very controversial, especially really drastic mods.

Again, I don't think it was wrong at all to mod your bass. I do think it was silly not to expect some people to get upset about it.

And don't call me boy. It's disrespectful.

Make a deal with you boy. You stop assuming you know me and calling me naive and I'll stop calling you boy.

xxoo

 

[Super Dwarf]

what does it matter what he does with his stuff? he is gonna use it and if he does not who cares? i think he should take 1/2'' old used hole saws and make a smiley face in the body just for everyone worrying. or carve in "HI TBER'S" with a dull chisel. i noticed on the rick resource pages there is a choice for your hacked up ricks, hacked up.

J Hub do me a favor and put a PU on the headstock so you can pluck the little bit of string there.

 

[cassius987]

Isn't it the essentially the same as a 4001C64S, which they do make now, even on MF.

No, it isn't, based both on vintage and pickup specs. Late 80s S does not equal modern C Series.

what does it matter what he does with his stuff? he is gonna use it and if he does not who cares?

Yeah I think we all agree on that. On the other hand he posted his work publicly and people are putting in their two cents--and why is THAT surprising or worthy of condemnation either? Yeah some people HAVE been jerks and there are one or more I'd like to slap around for various reasons (partially extraneous) but a lot of what is being labeled snobbery is just people knee-jerk reacting to what they think was a poor choice/execution of modding. And they are entitled to that opinion as much as those who like the work are entitled to praise it.

I'll just keep repeating my mantra, the hardware and plexi should all be black.