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My Rickenbacker Modification Project

#241
both of my rics are 9lbs, so to me, they're not too bad (heavy). i wouldn'tve minded if they were 8 lbs though. ;)

IMO, he didn't round the horns to save weight (which wouldn't remove even an ounce anyway), he rounded them using heavy grit sandpaper to remove the psychedelic magical mystery tour paint job. it was originally fireglo.
 
#243
Darkstrike said:
So, outside of age, the pickups are wound slightly differently?

Dosen't seem that big of an issue to me.
Click to expand...
There's a lot more than that. If you've ever seen a 4001C64S, you'd know it. The HEAD IS ON BACKWARDS!!! And the TRC is upside down with the lettering right side up.

For that reason alone, there's a lot of people that don't like them. And for that reason alone, there's a lot of people that do like them.

The 4003S like the one used here is almost universally liked. In fact, many people--myself included, love the 4003S and the older 4001S models more than any other.

J Hud, if you get a chance, get some black pearloid for the pickguards. Or even white pearloid if you're leaning toward the white trim.

I'm using black pearloid on mine and I must say it's rather impressive. You can get these from pickguardian and if you want you can send one of your pickguards there and they can cut it for you.

Something to think about.
 
#244
I've used photoshop to fill in pickguards in pics of my basses just to see what I liked and what I didn't.
Just save a copy of the sample postedon Pickguardian's site and give it a try, it'll be close enough to give you an idea if you'll like a colour combo or not.

Although, sometimes you get surprised. I have seen pics of other people's guitars that sported a combo I tried and passed on, but looked quite good in reality. Midnite Blue and silver plastic for one example, looked very good.
 
#245
Here's a pic of my mod'd 1973 Rickenbacker 4001. It sounds like I've always imagined, plays as comfortably as I could ever want, and looks amazing - to me. J Hud, you absolutely rule. Mine's not nearly as mod'd, but I'm as happy with mine as you are with yours. Yours has a Yin-Yang quality to it with the chrome bridge on black hardware and black pickup on white pickguard. Sort of summarizes this whole thread! I bought mine brand spankin' new in March of 1974. I love this bass even more for the mods.
 

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#246
This thread has reminded my of the unpleasant reality that Rickenbacker ownership can sometimes lead to a cult like mentality. It is like the Rickenbacker bass is some sort of holy relic to be worshipped, and those who modify their Rics are infidels who are worthy of hatred and scorn and endless belittlement. Nobody gave me any grief for building several fenderbirds, or modifying an sg bass, or modifying Jazz and p-basses. But somebody modifies a Rickenbacker and all hell breaks loose. Or somebody builds a copy of a Rickenbacker and it is like they have committed high treason and should be sentenced to life in prison. Hey Ric owners LIGHTEN UP. THEY ARE JUST MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, YOU KNOW WOOD METAL AND PLASTIC. THEY WEREN’T MADE BY GOD THEY WERE MADE IN A FACTORY. (yes I was yelling there) Now I know why the Rick Resource forum kicked me out. They can’t handle my simple logic and reasoning. They have been drinking the cult of Rickenbacker kool-aid too long. Hey guys John Hall is not a prophet … he is just a ceo of a corporation. Rickenbackers are nice musical instruments, but they are not perfect. Modifying a Rickenbacker is not a sin against God and nature. We call the mods IMPROVEMENTS.

To all of my friends and enemies at RRF I have a suggestion … “GET A LIFE”

Next time you see a modded Rick you don't have to scream bloody murder. Just let it go.
 
#248
Ric5 said:
This thread has reminded my of the unpleasant reality that Rickenbacker ownership can sometimes lead to a cult like mentality. It is like the Rickenbacker bass is some sort of holy relic to be worshipped, and those who modify their Rics are infidels who are worthy of hatred and scorn and endless belittlement. Nobody gave me any grief for building several fenderbirds, or modifying an sg bass, or modifying Jazz and p-basses. But somebody modifies a Rickenbacker and all hell breaks loose. Or somebody builds a copy of a Rickenbacker and it is like they have committed high treason and should be sentenced to life in prison. Hey Ric owners LIGHTEN UP. THEY ARE JUST MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, YOU KNOW WOOD METAL AND PLASTIC. THEY WEREN’T MADE BY GOD THEY WERE MADE IN A FACTORY. (yes I was yelling there) Now I know why the Rick Resource forum kicked me out. They can’t handle my simple logic and reasoning. They have been drinking the cult of Rickenbacker kool-aid too long. Hey guys John Hall is not a prophet … he is just a ceo of a corporation. Rickenbackers are nice musical instruments, but they are not perfect. Modifying a Rickenbacker is not a sin against God and nature. We call the mods IMPROVEMENTS.

To all of my friends and enemies at RRF I have a suggestion … “GET A LIFE”

Next time you see a modded Rick you don't have to scream bloody murder. Just let it go.
Click to expand...


+1

Very well put, amigo.
 
#249
I'd feel better about Rickenbacker if they would fix a few things... like using reverse-wound, reverse-polarity pickups which hum-cancel like a Jazz bass. That's a minor change which would eliminate the hum without changing the tone. A better bridge design wouldn't hurt either....
 
#251
Ric5 said:
This thread has reminded my of the unpleasant reality that Rickenbacker ownership can sometimes lead to a cult like mentality. It is like the Rickenbacker bass is some sort of holy relic to be worshipped, and those who modify their Rics are infidels who are worthy of hatred and scorn and endless belittlement. Nobody gave me any grief for building several fenderbirds, or modifying an sg bass, or modifying Jazz and p-basses. But somebody modifies a Rickenbacker and all hell breaks loose. Or somebody builds a copy of a Rickenbacker and it is like they have committed high treason and should be sentenced to life in prison. Hey Ric owners LIGHTEN UP. THEY ARE JUST MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, YOU KNOW WOOD METAL AND PLASTIC. THEY WEREN’T MADE BY GOD THEY WERE MADE IN A FACTORY. (yes I was yelling there) Now I know why the Rick Resource forum kicked me out. They can’t handle my simple logic and reasoning. They have been drinking the cult of Rickenbacker kool-aid too long. Hey guys John Hall is not a prophet … he is just a ceo of a corporation. Rickenbackers are nice musical instruments, but they are not perfect. Modifying a Rickenbacker is not a sin against God and nature. We call the mods IMPROVEMENTS.

To all of my friends and enemies at RRF I have a suggestion … “GET A LIFE”

Next time you see a modded Rick you don't have to scream bloody murder. Just let it go.
Click to expand...

+1...You go JR!
 
#254
I would love to do so much worse to a ric. >: D

This thread is awesome. No mass-produced bass is any more special than a nice set of cabinets-- and everyone's cool with those being modified to suit your kitchen.

Awesome work. There's no harm in doing what you have to do to get exactly what you want!

And great woodwork, as well. Way better than I can do!
 
#255
johnk_10 said:
both of my rics are 9lbs, so to me, they're not too bad (heavy). i wouldn'tve minded if they were 8 lbs though. ;)

IMO, he didn't round the horns to save weight (which wouldn't remove even an ounce anyway), he rounded them using heavy grit sandpaper to remove the psychedelic magical mystery tour paint job. it was originally fireglo.
Click to expand...

Your correct about it being fireglow made in january of '64 its one of the first 2 left rick basses, possibly the first, but Paul sent it to rickenbacker to be refinished so i dont believe he did the sanding, this was in '68 and in 69'and 70' the bass had regular horns still and the refin done by rickenbacker on it.

haha anways this is getting slightly OT.
 
#259
cheesybass said:
Here's a pic of my mod'd 1973 Rickenbacker 4001. It sounds like I've always imagined, plays as comfortably as I could ever want, and looks amazing - to me. J Hud, you absolutely rule. Mine's not nearly as mod'd, but I'm as happy with mine as you are with yours. Yours has a Yin-Yang quality to it with the chrome bridge on black hardware and black pickup on white pickguard. Sort of summarizes this whole thread! I bought mine brand spankin' new in March of 1974. I love this bass even more for the mods.
Click to expand...

I love the tort on the FG. Nice work!!

What is the wee little toggle for?
 

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