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My Rickenbacker Modification Project

#323
As much as I was shocked at first, I dig it, not that I am asserting approval. I feel, and maybe hope, this might give Rickenbacker some ideas for new options or models. They have had many variations in the past. There are already Chinese or Korean Rickenfakers out with these alterations/additions. I feel, that even though Ricks have that amazing vanilla flavor as a trademark, this is a direction they should venture into now. A new series of accessible bolt on Ricks without that wart of a pickup bezel would be nice, too. Didn't Musicman have a S.U.B. series for a while?
 
#331
Ric5 said:
Part of the tone comes from the maple body and the finished bubinga fretboard.
Click to expand...

yeah, i know. i've replaced pickups in rics years ago for my customers when i had my guitar shop (but never routed and relocated them so it could be put back to stock). IME, rics have an inherent tone of their own no matter what pickups you put in them.
 
#335
12bass said:
The Ric sound can be clearly heard if you put your ear to the wood.
Click to expand...

Definitely, sometimes in "the green room" I have placed the back of the neck against one of my ears to make sure my fretless intonation is alright pre-show. But it can get deafening so you gotta be careful not to blow an eardrum--the maple is highly resonant.

I agree with Ric5 that the maple and bubinga seem to create an inherent sound. Also, the neck through, and the medium-weight zinc bridge, must have something to do with it as well.
 
#336
J Hud said:
+ infinity..

I agree about the bridge. It is a thin, low-mass archaic piece of crap. It lacks basic minimal string-specific adjustability, it has to be screwed in from basically every conceivable angle to prevent it from folding & bending due to the inappropriate metal gauge chosen for it. I could go on for days....

BUT, the Hipshot Ric bridge has that saddle wobble issue which is inescapable when the action is really low so I'm out on that one and stuck with the stock unit.

I have been considering going with a hipshot and modding it for string-thru use to increase the downward pressure on the saddles which could eliminate the saddle wobble issue?
Click to expand...

I ended up settling on a badass 1 bridge for mine. I tried the hipshot one but you are 100% right about the saddle wobble...its totally unacceptable. The badass works very well for the most part but you do have to route the body in order to get really low action. I didn't bother with any routing since the rick sound seems to lend itself well to slighty higher than average action. I like a bit of modding but I'm not nearly as adventurous as you haha.
 
#337
I'm a ric fan, I've got a ric that I would never mod because it was exactly what I wanted tone wise as it came. Hats off to you though, thats a good looking and sounding bass. If i found one of those in a shop my credit card would be sorry straight away. Excellent job.
 
#338
J Hud if you are willing and have the spare time could you give me details on all the knobs and 3-band EQ in a PM? Basicly just what each knob does, as well as where you bought them. I'm thinking about, down the road after I get my first Bass to mod that customization into mine. I also think the knobs n' such look quite cool.

Secondly, don't worry about flamers if you posted your video publicly. I'm more in the ball park that the Bass finds you or you find it. While Rickenbacker's are awesome I think that noone should care about you turning your property into a cherished possession.
 

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