My Rickenbacker Modification Project

[RickenBoogie]

That's really ALL that matters. Nice work.

 

[J Hud]

That's really ALL that matters. Nice work.

Thanks man. Noticed you're a fellow DFW bassist? Right on. Playing anywhere local?

 

[EagleMoon]

Sounds great! Much better than stock, IMO.

 

[12stringbassist]

My vote goes to Tort PG's.

I can't help but laugh out loud at these people who think you have "butchered the Holy
Grail". They really are missing the point. If it was a Fender, you could do whatever you
liked with it, no outcry. But, because it's a RIC, wrists are being slit. Odd.

 

[Big chicken]

no i dont own a ric

plus i guess it is up to you and i have to admit. its kinda like a gorey movie where a supermodel ends up getting her face choped off and replaced with the face of her dead boyfriend

i cant look away

That sir is siged!

 

[Webtroll]

I like it. The lack of binding, the MM pickup in the bridge position, moving the neck pickup back from the neck a little are all nice touches. If I had to critique I'd have gone with black guards to hide the mods a little better and tried to keep 4 knobs in the regular places and stack one of them. The sound is great!

 

[Darkstrike]

My word, that sounds just fantastic!

 

[RickenBoogie]

Thanks man. Noticed you're a fellow DFW bassist? Right on. Playing anywhere local?

Not any more, and not with any regularity since 1992. Only just started playing, (and buying) again in 2005, mostly for fun, parties and stuff. A few acoustic gigs at Skillman St Pub, and Lakewood Ave Bar&Grill, but who knows, right.

 

[Chopper]

it sounds great!

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Holy smokes! That thing sounds killer, however, with your skills, I would imagine you could make anything sound killer. LOL! Tasty mods and some seriously talented playing! Kudos to you sir!

 

[Ric5]

That bass sounds really really good. And you are a good player as well.

Good luck ever trying to get Rickenbacker to put a preamp in one of their basses. Rickenbacker seems to be only interested in producing clones of the 1950s 4000 bass design. There is no innovation going on at Rickenbacker. Only slight improvements on the 60 year old design. They still haven't addressed really old flaws like the pulling up tailpiece. Their history for the most part has been one of offering fewer models and fewer options as time goes on. Then when people modify the bass because the factory won't offer any options they get ridiculed mercilessly.

Good job on the bass!

 

[cassius987]

Me? I'm totally happy with it and am glad I took the risk. It sounds exactly like I want it to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XC0oCEH-vo

Thanks for these clips--like I thought it has more of a Fender-ish sound from pushing the pickups forward. But it still has Ric elements in it for sure, and the slightly improved signal fidelity of an active. I think it sounds good--it's not a mod I would do for myself but it seems like you got what you wanted so that's great. Happy for you!

 

[kcole4001]

Still retains some of the Rick tone, but more modern.

Nice job, great playing, but didn't anyone ever tell ya, ya can't slap a Rick?!?

(kidding)
Job well done, that you're happy with it is proof enough of the concept.

 

[Engine207]

Yeagh...the mods are cool and all, but maybe see about some lessons.

Seriously, the bass sounds great; looks different (but not in a bad way); and you play alot of notes really fast! Nice job all around!!

PS: I had to put headphones on to hear your coments in the mix...very low volume.

 

[schecter5string]

I have spent the better part of a hour going through this thread.
I have been very amusing. I like what you have done to YOUR bass, it looks great, I personally like the white PG, but then again if I saw it in black I may like that better??

TY for the sound clips, this thing rocks

I keep wondering what the nay-sayers are going to think when they hear the tone of this ric being slapped

Great job, and congrats on making a bass that you love

 

[J Hud]

Sounds great! Much better than stock, IMO.

I think so too. Much better fit for me.

 

[J Hud]

My word, that sounds just fantastic!

Thank you!!

 

[J Hud]

Holy smokes! That thing sounds killer, however, with your skills, I would imagine you could make anything sound killer. LOL! Tasty mods and some seriously talented playing! Kudos to you sir!

Wow. Thanks so much for the kind words man!

 

[zeroncali]

*long approving whistle* That thing sounds sweet!

 

[Askanios]

Just finished up the soldering and final fitting and now have this thing fully assembled. Here a few pics of it in all it's controversial glory.

Love, hate, lothe, admire, whatever. Fire away!

I am quite pleased with the way it turned out and, even more importantly, the way it sounds. I've just run it direct into the board here in our studio and it sounds much closer to my taste than the original specs did.

I'll get some audio up or a youtube video for ya'll to check out tomorrow.

You did a great job in my opinion, i always wondered if it was possible to install a music man-like pickup in a rick. The only thing i believe would make that bass look more sexy than it already is, is if you replace the white pickguard with a black one. Ive always been a big fan of two color basses, i think the wood finish with all black hardware would look brilliant.