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My Rickenbacker Modification Project
- Thread starter J Hud
- Start date
I'm very impressed with your vision and handy-work, J Hud
. Hope you enjoy your 'new' bass.I have to say though, I think that the black p/g would have tied everything together better and might have looked more like a factory finish
. Just my opinion 
!JHud...
This is absolutely beautiful work. Can't wait to hear how it sounds when I get home from work!
Also, I've got to give you a high-five for dumping metric asstons of sand into a bunch of uptight craws... I don't like people who tell me what I should and shouldn't do with my own property, either.
This is absolutely beautiful work. Can't wait to hear how it sounds when I get home from work!
Also, I've got to give you a high-five for dumping metric asstons of sand into a bunch of uptight craws... I don't like people who tell me what I should and shouldn't do with my own property, either.
Had I seen one of those 4003S models around anywhere when I purchased my 4003, I probably would have gone that direction. Too bad Rickenbacker doesn't still offer that option in the 4003 series.
I've had some surprises both elating and horrifying stripping finish off of instruments in the past. I have a 1980 SG Standard guitar that was beat up and coated in yellow house paint when I bought it for $500 years ago and when I stripped that it was all perfect, beautiful mahogany and I liked it so much I had it refinished with a burst to show off the grain. Having seen some of the natural finished Rics of the past few years I would have some serious reservations about doing the same to my 4003, but who knows.
Just that I've seen some grossly mismatched grain on some of them. I don't know if that's the exception or the majority, since there's not many to be seen in local shops. My overly cautious nature just makes me nervous that if I see that on stain grade instruments, what might the painted ones look like? I've seen lots of beautiful Mapleglo Rics as well, so it's not a certainty.
Won't be happening soon at any rate, lacking the personal expertise and/or the funds at the moment. I did order that bezel, however.
Won't be happening soon at any rate, lacking the personal expertise and/or the funds at the moment. I did order that bezel, however.
"Grossly mismatched grain" is by far the majority of MGs/FGs because RIC is aiming for a different aesthetic than most guitar companies, who like to do the perfectly symmetrical thing with wood grain. Honestly, I prefer the way RIC does it, with its wabi-sabi character.
Yeah, I like the way MG/FG Rics look. From what I've heard there's nothing wrong with the Jetglo wood, it's often just not as aesthetically exciting.
Yeah, it's like alder versus swamp ash as far as the difference goes. Ben Hall seems to play a big role in these decisions--there was one posted on Ric.com by a new owner complaining about a MG finish that was really to my liking, another wabi-sabi, and he was hoping for one of those symmetrical style grains that I see mostly on boutique basses and guitars by PRS. I'm glad Ben shares my way of thinking on this stuff. Actually most of the people who saw photos of the bass said it they liked the look. It was typical recent Mapleglo: heavy grain on the upper bout, straight grain in the neck section, and similar but less grain in the lower bout.
Obviously back to the alder v. ash, ash looks better which is why EBMM preferentially used it on trans finishes, until they went to all ash apparently. But I think this illustrates the difference between the maple split up for trans and opaque finishes at RIC as well.
This isn't the first time RIC ruffled feathers with "different strokes" finish decisions, they briefly added a matte finish to Jetglo basses in 2007 and that really irked some folks. On the other hand my friend Derek got one of them and loved it, and later I played a 4001C64S finish and really admired it. I guess you could always send it back, but it seems like one of those "GrayGlos" ought to be rather valuable after the economy picks back up.
Obviously back to the alder v. ash, ash looks better which is why EBMM preferentially used it on trans finishes, until they went to all ash apparently. But I think this illustrates the difference between the maple split up for trans and opaque finishes at RIC as well.
This isn't the first time RIC ruffled feathers with "different strokes" finish decisions, they briefly added a matte finish to Jetglo basses in 2007 and that really irked some folks. On the other hand my friend Derek got one of them and loved it, and later I played a 4001C64S finish and really admired it. I guess you could always send it back, but it seems like one of those "GrayGlos" ought to be rather valuable after the economy picks back up.
Yeah, you're right, that is the general pattern for MG. And it makes sense, because the upper wing is the part of the bass where, on the front at least, the grain of the wood is most visible.
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
I shudder to think what excuse to my wife would be employed if a greyburst to black Ric bass with contoured body were readily available...
Instead of selling my Rick recently I shouldda gotten Alembic pickups for it they do make em and I love the Alembic sound very well defined 1,000,000 x's more than a rick and not a one trick poney like most would say.
i don't own a Ric.. (YET) .. i also feel they are awesome from the factory (when they are set up right).. If I were to mod a ric.. I certainly would be contacting you for advice.. CONGRATS.. you have a one of a kind and it looks like you improved on something that is outstanding to begin with ... Good for you....
I do not think the rick is a "one trick pony." Most have two pickups. That's two distinct sounds right there, without even twiddling any knobs.
how is that different than modding an alembic? your description of a ric fits just as well on an alembic.
I've only played a Ric 4003 in my life and it was one of the most beautiful feelings, nice tone, terrific sustain... etc.
I think Ric's are amazing basses. Like a guy in the first page said: It's your bass and you can do whatever you want with it.
I could compare it with this.
Imagine (or not) that you have a Bentley Continental GT and you take out that beautiful W12 engine and put a V6 engine in it... Just MHO.
I think Ric's are amazing basses. Like a guy in the first page said: It's your bass and you can do whatever you want with it.
I could compare it with this.
Imagine (or not) that you have a Bentley Continental GT and you take out that beautiful W12 engine and put a V6 engine in it... Just MHO.
I think it sounds awesome. Definitely sounds better than it did before.
Oops. I said it.
If you ever want to offload it, send me a PM.
Oops. I said it.
If you ever want to offload it, send me a PM.
