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Rickenbacker Hardware 4003?
- Thread starter bassist22
- Start date
AFAIK, there is no way to buy a black truss rod cover, or even a white! you only can get a new truss rod cover, if you send your broken cover to rickenbacker, they do it this way to avoid copies.
Hipshot makes a black replacement Bridge:
http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=22
I dont know of any Pickup Mounting Gear in black, maybe someone else?
Rickenbackers are impossible to get spare parts from... It's easier in the States, but when I tried getting a bridge for a Rick that I bought on eBay (yep, seller DID actually write "the foam bridge is really nice", and I should have got the hint!), it was nothing less than impossible in Denmark, as Rickenbacker refused to communicate with me about it.
A friend of mine has a Midnight Blue Rick 4003 with all black hardware, truss rod plate, etc, and it's insanely beautiful...!
I'm sorry, but I think you're going to have to buy one like it to get the black hardware.
A friend of mine has a Midnight Blue Rick 4003 with all black hardware, truss rod plate, etc, and it's insanely beautiful...!
I'm sorry, but I think you're going to have to buy one like it to get the black hardware.
Sure, if he's a purist and wants a genuine Ric bridge. If not, then as was already pointed out, Hipshot makes a direct replacement in black.
Absolutely, I didn't deny that in any way (as you must be implying, or else I can't see why you're posting this), but there is more to hardware than just the bridge
It wouldn't be difficult to get an aftermarket black pickguard, but the rest is difficult, especially a truss rod cover that reads "Rickenbacker" in black with white letters. You can get the Hipshot bridge easily, but it's expensive - although I did hear that it's actually a better bridge.
I'll see if I can find a pic of my friend's MB one w/ all black hardware, then I'll post it.
I asked this same question to a friend of mine, and she thinks she can make the trc and pickup rings on Her 3D printer. Very intriguing idea, as I can't find the parts anywhere.
Yeah, I'm afraid that after market; custom made; or paying through the nose on eBay are about your only choices. And, an original black Rick bridge is not really a good idea, unless you find one of the handful that had the 2 screws in the back. Without those extra screws, the black ones had the really bad habit folding in half. High heat to cure the finish, combined with zinc alloy, made for a bad combination, evidently... And, I don't think that you can get a Rick TRC at all, anymore. You used to be able to, if you sent the old broken one in; but, IIRC, they stopped doing even that, a year or so ago. Hopefully your friend can make some of the parts you're looking for; good luck!
Hipshot makes a brass bridge that is widely available, and seems like an excellent replacement for the stock one.
Check my avatar. 2002 Ric 4003. Hipshot bridge. Hipshot HB5 tuners (black). TRC is painted black and then sanded off the Rickenbacker letters. Bridge and tuners off of eBay.
The Hipshot tuners currently available are described as only fitting pre-2012 4003's. I don't know what new design detail on the Rics 2012 and later make Hipshots not fit, and I don't want to buy some and find out the hard way. The other parts I'm pretty confident can be made with my friend's 3D printer. It's either that, or try to find someone to take the existing parts, strip the chrome, and powdercoat them black.
If one is handy, a truss rod cover can be made to look reasonably good.
A piece of plexi cut to size, and a rub on sticker from the mall.
A piece of plexi cut to size, and a rub on sticker from the mall.
