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NBD Rickenbacker 4003sw

#21
I hate to drill into the body, but making it playable it more important to me than authenticity. I guess I'll disassemble it, try to (slowly) flatten the tailpiece in a bench vise, and then drill the holes and see what happens.

You're right, it's just the tailpiece, but I sure wish there was a true separately intonateable bridge with 8 saddles. I see that someone builds them for the 12 string guitars, but does anyone do an 8 saddle bass replacement bridge?

I don't suppose the guitar and bass bridges are spec compatible? That 12 string bridge would work if it fit - though it would look strange.
 
#23
I've been trying to dream up a design where I could take the shell of a Hipshot replacement bridge, gutted, and somehow rework the guts of an actual 8 string bridge to go into it - but I suspect the custom machinist route is more viable.
 
#25
bholder said:
I can confirm this, especially the black ones, which of course, mine is. Story was that something about the baking process for the black finish weakened the steel? I don't know whether I buy that, but mine is folded pretty darned good. Almost no downforce on the bridge saddles.
Click to expand...

Sometimes you can add 2 or 4 extra screws and force it back down. But if it is too bent then it will crack the metal.

Your best option may be to but a new chrome tailpiece and then drill 4 new string holes and then have it black powder coated and then install it and of course put in 2 extra screws to hold it in place.
 
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#27
blindrabbit said:
Do you find there to be any difference in the neck profile/feel/dimensions etc of the "s" basses as compared to the regular line?
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They all use the same necks. The only difference is the inlays and binding. Any bass neck without binding that is in a low humidity environment will eventually need the ends of the frets dressed because the wood will shrink and the metal will then protrude a few thousands of an inch and expose the sharp edges. I use a dremmel tool with a diamond bit to fix all of my basses (Ric and non-Ric) that have bass necks without binding ... which is pretty much every bass I own.

Also it is interesting that Rics are made one CNC machines and yet the necks vary ... some thinner and some thicker. The width of the fretboard is consistent, but the thickness front to back varies.
 
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#28
Ric5 said:
They all use the same necks. The only difference is the inlays and binding. Any bass neck without binding that is in a low humidity environment will eventually need the ends of the frets dressed because the wood will shrink and the metal will then protrude a few thousands of an inch and expose the sharp edges. I use a dremmel tool with a diamond bit to fix all of my basses (Ric and non-Ric) that have bass necks without binding ... which is pretty much every bass I own.

Also it is interesting that Rics are made one CNC machines and yet the necks vary ... some thinner and some thicker. The width of the fretboard is consistent, but the thickness front to back varies.
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a lot of variation in that thickness, and I wondered if maybe the s necks were being made apart from the other ones due to inlay differences (or even fretboard differences in the case of the whole W line), thus resulting in a different profile.

Just wishful wondering I guess, as the current Ric necks don't work for me at all, but I thought the thin 4001 necks were wonderful.
 
#29
I saw where somewhere somebody made a 4003s8 bridge that had seperate saddles for each string ... so it had 8 saddles.

Also Schaller makes a good 8 string bridge.

4686123231_2bc932f498_b.jpg


maybe you could take this bridge and combine it with one of the Hipshot Ric bridges

kyiuzrsks0ohl2t3ol8k.jpg


Maybe that could be frankensteined together?
 
#31
Ric5 said:
I saw where somewhere somebody made a 4003s8 bridge that had seperate saddles for each string ... so it had 8 saddles.

Also Schaller makes a good 8 string bridge.

4686123231_2bc932f498_b.jpg


maybe you could take this bridge and combine it with one of the Hipshot Ric bridges

kyiuzrsks0ohl2t3ol8k.jpg


Maybe that could be frankensteined together?
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've stared at that comparison with both in hand hoping to make it work, but it's still something for a machinist better than I. If the Schaller used all "left side" saddle pieces, it would almost work, but it's 2 and 2.
 
#34
bholder said:
Yeah, I've stared at that comparison with both in hand hoping to make it work, but it's still something for a machinist better than I. If the Schaller used all "left side" saddle pieces, it would almost work, but it's 2 and 2.
Click to expand...
I've written Hipshot about it a couple of times, no help yet, but maybe I should ask them if they'd sell me a bridge blank, without the saddles and with the back holes for the strings and intonation screws undrilled. That might just do it. Well, I still don't have the tools, but that's an easier assignment to define adequately for a machinist.
 
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#36
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#38
Ric5 said:
New nut, 5 new tuners, new bridge, modify the tailpiece, modify or replace the pickups, and drill a new hole in the headstock, and a basic setup, and a new set of strings.

4 to 5 bass conversion

2005 Rickenbacker 4003-5 black
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The G and B strings seem close to the edges of the neck and frets... I guess its cool though as Im sure if it were a poblem the spacing would just tighten up slightly.... Always wondered about a five string Ric as I never remember seeing one. I looked and found that they're made - I guess not easy to get ae? Just curious... is there a little dough to be made here in this or just something you always wanted to do?
 
#39
JaredBT said:
The G and B strings seem close to the edges of the neck and frets... I guess its cool though as Im sure if it were a poblem the spacing would just tighten up slightly.... Always wondered about a five string Ric as I never remember seeing one. I looked and found that they're made - I guess not easy to get ae? Just curious... is there a little dough to be made here in this or just something you always wanted to do?
Click to expand...

When you put 5 strings on a 4 string neck it does get a little tight ...

Rickenbacker made 3 different 5 string basses ... one was a 4005 ... I have never seen a picture of this ... it must have been a one off. Go here to see a 4005 6 string bass. 60s Rickenbacker 4005 6 string bass guitar

Here are some links to the 4003s5 ...

1989 Rickenbacker 4003s5 bass guitar
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5

And here is a link to the 4004cii5

Rare 2004 4004cii5 Rickenbacker 5 String Bass

I believe that my 4-2-5 conversions are actually better 5 string basses than the factory made 5 string basses.
 
#40
Ric5 said:
When you put 5 strings on a 4 string neck it does get a little tight ...

Rickenbacker made 3 different 5 string basses ... one was a 4005 ... I have never seen a picture of this ... it must have been a one off. Go here to see a 4005 6 string bass. 60s Rickenbacker 4005 6 string bass guitar

Here are some links to the 4003s5 ...

1989 Rickenbacker 4003s5 bass guitar
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5
1990 Rickenbacker 4003s5

And here is a link to the 4004cii5

Rare 2004 4004cii5 Rickenbacker 5 String Bass

I believe that my 4-2-5 conversions are actually better 5 string basses than the factory made 5 string basses.
Click to expand...
Im sure they are... hats off to you. I would like to have a fiver if the necks didnt feel like a Louisville Slugger. What does the string spacing end up being?
 

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