The Rickenbacker Club Part Nine

[Gaolee]

It has a slightly raspy voice no matter what, and that's good. But, the hot pickups mean that if you play it hard and slap it around, you get a whole lot more clicking from the strings hitting the fretboard or the pickups than on the other basses I have. Playing a P, I can snap the string in any direction and it sounds like a P. The Ric needs to be played more precisely, with the finger action parallel to the top of the instrument instead of down toward the bass body a bit. It is just a different technique. Other than that, it is physically much easier to play.

 

[Korladis]

I actually like slamming the strings into the fretboard.

 

[kcole4001]

Bought this 1974 Ric 4001 this past weekend. Missing the original bridge and tuners and truss cover. Finish has been stripped. I think it was originally black!
Here are some pics.

Serial number says its a Feb. 1974 build.
Nice bass!

The black paint in the bridge pup cavity (and likely in the control and truss rod cavities) does indeed point to being black before the stripping, possibly the original colour.

If there is a masked area in the control cavity with initials that hasn't been painted over, then black (JetGlo) was the original finish.

 

[dougazbass]

Serial number says its a Feb. 1974 build.
Nice bass!

The black paint in the bridge pup cavity (and likely in the control and truss rod cavities) does indeed point to being black before the stripping, possibly the original colour.

If there is a masked area in the control cavity with initials that hasn't been painted over, then black (JetGlo) was the original finish.

Thanks Kcole, I'm new to Rics so, don't know much. I'll check the control cavity tonight. My used Ric bridge came in so I'll be installing that tonight too.
I am seriously thinking about refinishing it. I'm wondering Laquer or Urethane? Original color or something different?

 

[Tarrbot]

Thanks Kcole, I'm new to Rics so, don't know much. I'll check the control cavity tonight. My used Ric bridge came in so I'll be installing that tonight too.
I am seriously thinking about refinishing it. I'm wondering Laquer or Urethane? Original color or something different?

It's entirely up to you. I can appreciate either direction you choose on colors. I envy the choice of an original custom color scheme but nothing is wrong with any classic color scheme either.

 

[sloppy_phil]

It has a slightly raspy voice no matter what, and that's good. But, the hot pickups mean that if you play it hard and slap it around, you get a whole lot more clicking from the strings hitting the fretboard or the pickups than on the other basses I have. Playing a P, I can snap the string in any direction and it sounds like a P. The Ric needs to be played more precisely, with the finger action parallel to the top of the instrument instead of down toward the bass body a bit. It is just a different technique. Other than that, it is physically much easier to play.

maybe you should try lowering the pickups on yours a hair or two? i can hit the ba-jeebus out of my strings, and the sound is still quite musical, if a little clangy. I really like it, though. I have the p'ups on my bass set fairly low to compensate, though, which makes it a little lower in output than most basses. But since my amp is 500w, it doesn't matter terribly much!

 

[RyanJD]

Hello Ric enthusiasts!
I have a question for you guys.

Is there anyone out there who would be willing to make either a blank Ric truss rod cover or one that says 'Fakenbacker' or something to that extent?
I would pay well for it.

I have a MIJ Ric copy, but I have no idea what brand it is. (Otherwise I would want that name on the TRC.)
I certinaly don't want to pass it off as the real thing, it's just that when I got it, there was no cover there at all.
It's just the exposed wood and three screw holes. I only want to cover it up with something that looks remotely good and keep dirt out of the cavity.
I see people making these covers themselves and I'd be willing to pay for one.

Or can someone point me in another direction here?
Suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[RandomBox]

Finally got the rest of mine paid off.

http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Der-Bassist/library/?sort=3&page=1

(Sorry, photos are from when it was still on layaway. )

 

[Jeff Scott]

Finally got the rest of mine paid off.

http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Der-Bassist/library/?sort=3&page=1

(Sorry, photos are from when it was still on layaway. )

Good for you. Congrats, RB.

 

[RVRSCO]

Can I join?!?! Got my first Ric ever today. 1990 with the modern/vintage mod. Plays great and sounds MEAN

Was this the one in GC Manchester? If so, I played it...nice action and a good growl. Good pick up!

 

[Gaolee]

maybe you should try lowering the pickups on yours a hair or two? i can hit the ba-jeebus out of my strings, and the sound is still quite musical, if a little clangy. I really like it, though. I have the p'ups on my bass set fairly low to compensate, though, which makes it a little lower in output than most basses. But since my amp is 500w, it doesn't matter terribly much!

I have been experimenting with the pickup height a bit, but I still don't like what it does when the strings hit the fretboard. It's probably just what I like and don't like to hear.

 

[inthebassclef]

Would like to join the group
My 2012 Midnight blue

 

[HeavyRockBasser]

Ryan, Pickguard Heaven makes truss covers as blanks. Nice selection of materials, too. However, nobody makes em with the logo. Rickenbacker is hyper protective of their name, and they have aggressively gone after anyone that had tried to make anything with their name on it.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ryan, Pickguard Heaven makes truss covers as blanks. Nice selection of materials, too. However, nobody makes em with the logo. Rickenbacker is hyper protective of their name, and they have aggressively gone after anyone that had tried to make anything with their name on it.

As is their legal right to do so.

 

[Aceonbass]

The shape of the truss rod cover is trademarked as well, so if Pickguard Heaven makes one for a Rick, they do so st their own risk.

 

[EBMatt]

Was this the one in GC Manchester? If so, I played it...nice action and a good growl. Good pick up!

This isn't the one in Manchester, but I know exactly what one you're talking about. I tried to get my buddy to buy that one, but it was a bit overpriced and I don't think that bridge pickup was original. It did play great and had a cool sound with the humbucker. I may be bias, but I prefer mine.

 

[frankieC]

Ryan, Pickguard Heaven makes truss covers as blanks. Nice selection of materials, too. However, nobody makes em with the logo. Rickenbacker is hyper protective of their name, and they have aggressively gone after anyone that had tried to make anything with their name on it.

I believe they also sued Ibanez for building a copy of the 4001 (4003).

 

[RyanJD]

Ryan, Pickguard Heaven makes truss covers as blanks. Nice selection of materials, too. However, nobody makes em with the logo. Rickenbacker is hyper protective of their name, and they have aggressively gone after anyone that had tried to make anything with their name on it.

Yeah, and it makes perfect sense why they would do that.
I only want a blank one.

I'll look at their site. Thanks.

Edit:
They require a tracing of the original cover, which I don't have and can't find.
I'm still stuck.

 

[Spectrum]

Wonder how hard it would be to make your own with some heavy styrene sheet plastic and some hobby tools. Use a photo off the net as a shape guide, maybe?

 

[Dave W]

Wonder how hard it would be to make your own with some heavy styrene sheet plastic and some hobby tools. Use a photo off the net as a shape guide, maybe?

Pretty hard to make look good once it's done.