Love the sound, dont like the looks. I think this would be a real stunner with no pickguard if the routes would allow it.
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My Rickenbacker Modification Project
- Thread starter J Hud
- Start date
Hey Jeff. What's new brother? How's that Metro treating you (or did it move on)?
Well done sir!
I just want to add that I'm a bit of a Ric purist myself, I really appreciate the tone, feel, and playability of a stock Ric. I own three 4003's and they are all as close to stock as I can keep them.
However, I think your mods are badass. If a Ric must be modded, it should be with this kind of foresight and skill.
The video is awesome, that thing is a monster! I predict yours will not be the last Ric to receive those mods.
And I agree with john_k and others, I can still hear the Ric in it. I've heard a few other Rics with significant electronics mods, and they still sound somewhat Ric-like. Yours just sounds like a Ric on steroids.
Thanks for sharing, this thread delivers.
Routes won't allow that. See all the pics on page one.
I checked out your Les Paul knockoff build. Very interesting project. How much does that pc of Hog weight now that you've cut it into a basic shape?
Like your project, don't like the headstock shape you've drawn. You might want to revisit that before cutting to the point of commitment. Not very attractive as it currently is.
All cool other than that.
When are you going to post more pics of your progress??
- Feb 2, 2001
- 12,719
- 1,291
- Disclosures
- Builder: Valenti Basses
yea kiddo that's why i said "less than welcoming" and not "absolutely negative". bit of a difference there.
it seems that by calling people that take pride in their stock rickenbackers, some feel the need to insult them and call them 'rickenbitches.
.....so i have created a term for those people that modify and route their rics way beyond be able to return them back to stock, i hereby name them 'rickenbotchers'.
touche'.
Here's my '79 4001 in autumnglo...
All stock. The headstock was modded in a house fire, and then I put a decal on the body. Much cooler now and oozes with "mojo". Definitely worth the $330 I paid for it.
That video shows what a change you've made to the bass. All great stuff, too.
My personal perference would be for matching pickguard and pickup mount plates - either black or white would be fine. I would have made the bridge surround plate narrower front-to-rear, nearer to the size of the original. I'd also match all the control knobs up, though I can imagine why you've kept them different, to differentiate between their functions.
I don't see any reason that the TRC should be removed, as someone mentioned earlier. It's a Ric that you've SERIOUSLY upgraded.
Whatever people may think about that bass, I'm totally sure there are a great many who wish Ric would come up with something radically different like that. I know exactly why they can't. They are committed to fulfilling their endless existing back-orders.
I think all Ric lovers would love to see a new variation on the 4000 series theme at some point. Hats off to you for your excellent job and probably showing them which way to go.
My personal perference would be for matching pickguard and pickup mount plates - either black or white would be fine. I would have made the bridge surround plate narrower front-to-rear, nearer to the size of the original. I'd also match all the control knobs up, though I can imagine why you've kept them different, to differentiate between their functions.
I don't see any reason that the TRC should be removed, as someone mentioned earlier. It's a Ric that you've SERIOUSLY upgraded.
Whatever people may think about that bass, I'm totally sure there are a great many who wish Ric would come up with something radically different like that. I know exactly why they can't. They are committed to fulfilling their endless existing back-orders.
I think all Ric lovers would love to see a new variation on the 4000 series theme at some point. Hats off to you for your excellent job and probably showing them which way to go.
Cool project, I'm not into those particular mods but I think modifying an instrument to your specific tastes and needs is cool. I have a stock Ric, love the sound, but there are a few things I would change about it if I could. I like the binding aesthetically but hate the feel of a sharp corner digging into my wrist or arm when I play, playing my P bass afterward is like a vacation in comparison. I absolutely hate the pickup surround. I've cut myself open on it more than once (and then half the chrome flaked off of it, which is a separate gripe). I've looked for alternate replacements, but there aren't a lot of aftermarket alternative parts made for Rics. I don't have the balls to try beveling the edge of the face myself, just for fear I'd ruin it by accident.
This bass NEEDS a black pickguard.
Do with it what you will, it's you bass.
Hey Nino. Your opinion is duly noted.
I have a black guard already (mentioned previoulsy in the thread w/ a pic). But, since I prefer it with the white, I'll be sticking with that until I tire of it.
Thanks for the compliments!
Regarding the dims of the current bridge pup surround, previously in the thread there is a pic of the bass with it off that shows the change to cavity dims and why it is so large. In addition, also in the thread, is a detailed explaination of "why". In addition, I stated it is modeled after the shape & larger footprint of the pup surround found on the 4001C64 (for example) and not the smaller version found on the current 4003 (again, for example).
