My Rickenbacker Modification Project

[Engine207]

I want in on that club!!!

Hey, you guys are gonna love these botched 5-bangers. And JR knows his way around a camera, too!

 

[J Hud]

Photos added, but I liked Rickenbotcher better...

Welcome aboard # 4!

 

[Schlyder]

I really like the mod you made to that Rick. I don't like the stock pickups either.... or the bridge.
The only change I would make though, would be getting a one piece PG made. (In whatever color, black/ white suits you) but a one piece PG would look much better IMO.
But I say well done. I would, for sure, buy one that looked like your modded one, over a stock one.

 

[Korladis]

You could also try this to replace the bridge pup surround:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Personally I think the metal bezel looks nicer.

Not really a concern of mine, because I like the pickup cover.

 

[J Hud]

I really like the mod you made to that Rick. I don't like the stock pickups either.... or the bridge.
The only change I would make though, would be getting a one piece PG made. (In whatever color, black/ white suits you) but a one piece PG would look much better IMO.
But I say well done. I would, for sure, buy one that looked like your modded one, over a stock one.

Thanks for your feedback and the kind words!

 

[Korladis]

I really like the mod you made to that Rick. I don't like the stock pickups either.... or the bridge.
The only change I would make though, would be getting a one piece PG made. (In whatever color, black/ white suits you) but a one piece PG would look much better IMO.
But I say well done. I would, for sure, buy one that looked like your modded one, over a stock one.

I disagree. Ricks with one-piece pickguards that extend the bridge pickup look hideous to me. Definitely not an aesthetic I like.

The black-white-black look he's got going with the surround, pickguard and TRC is actually growing on me, though at first I thought the white pickguard looked stupid. Black would look cool, too. Still, the two pieces to me keep it looking very... rickish. Which is good, IMO.

 

[Korladis]

+1

I had a 4004 Cheyenne and found it to be super comfy. If you don't like the humbuckers they come with, you can replace them with the Toaster Tops pretty easily.

I want to try a 4004, they look nice. Have never seen one in the wild, though. Seems it's a rare beast.

 

[J Hud]

I disagree. Ricks with one-piece pickguards that extend the bridge pickup look hideous to me.

The black-white-black look he's got going with the surround, pickguard and TRC is actually growing on me, though at first I thought the white pickguard looked stupid. Black would look cool, too. Still, the two pieces to me keep it looking very... rickish. Which is good, IMO.

Agreed with 2pc vs 1pc and the white guard is totally doing it for me. I LOVE the way it currently looks!

Link Removed

 

[J Hud]

I want to try a 4004, they look nice. Have never seen one in the wild, though. Seems it's a rare beast.

Yeah, I think there are very few who ever find themselves to "try before they buy" and 4004. Most would have to take a leap of faith, just buy one online and hope for the best. I did and I was happy with the experience.

 

[electracoyote]

Agreed with 2pc vs 1pc and the white guard is totally doing it for me. I LOVE the way it currently looks!

Yeah, I like the look too. With the two-tone pickup surrounds and all the extra knobs and switches, it looks like a futuristic beast, serious business, with tone to match.

 

[J Hud]

I think I'm of the mind to unsubscribe from this thread & start up the Rickenmoder Club thread. Would be fun to have an outlet for like-minded souls to show off their Ric-related handy work.

 

[J Hud]

Yeah, I like the look too. With the two-tone pickup surrounds and all the extra knobs and switches, it looks like a futuristic beast, serious business, with tone to match.

Thanks man!

 

[J Hud]

Club has been started. The Club thread is -
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9653704#post9653704

With that, I'm unsubb-ing from this thread.

Best,
JH

 

[Corey Y]

Try a 4003S or 4001S maybe? And perhaps replace the pickup cover with [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]?

Or maybe get a 4004? They have contoured sides.

Thanks for the link to that bezel, very helpful. I'm not a big fan of the 4004 series personally. The binding on the face isn't really enough scare me off my 4003 though, already been playing it for 5 years. If I ever get the wild impulse to want it natural finished instead of black maybe I'll have the binding removed and edges smoothed, but there's no telling what's under that paint.

 

[Korladis]

Thanks for the link to that bezel, very helpful. I'm not a big fan of the 4004 series personally. The binding on the face isn't really enough scare me off my 4003 though, already been playing it for 5 years. If I ever get the wild impulse to want it natural finished instead of black maybe I'll have the binding removed and edges smoothed, but there's no telling what's under that paint.

You're welcome.

I'd like to have a 4003S, myself, like the one J Hud modded, as they have no binding.

As for what's under the paint? Who knows. Could be really nice, could be boring.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Heck, I say do what you want to do to your bass. If you're going to keep it I say make it your own.

I've modified many a bass to be what I want them to be.

 

[cassius987]

Hell, I would like a # in this highly exclusive club. Here's my 4001FL that is always moving a little further away from stock as time passes.

The picture is in need of update, the neck pickup is now 1/2'' spacing thanks to my Forstner bit... Thinking about getting Bart 6RTs to replace the Toasters since I can't seem to pull the magnets out to convert one to RWRP. Eventually I'll get rid of the Hipshot in favor of a "normal" Ric bridge, as I don't like the Hipshot much.

The wiring harness is the only thing that remains stock; I like the unique sound the vintage harness imparts to the overall tone.

 

[Ric5]

Here's a cell phone video of me playing one of my modded 4004 Rics. It has single coil pickups and 5 strings.

Link Removed

 

[Korladis]

Even with the cell phone sound quality, that's a pretty nice bass sound you've got going there. Fat and punchy.

 

[Chopper]

Welcome to the club!

#2 & #3, post your pics!