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It would be easy enough to make your own 4000 if you were so inclined. Have a luthier replace the routed wood with some decent maple and "finish match" (no need to actually refinish) it just in case the difference would show through the pickguard, if yours were semi-translucent. Then you just replace the harness with a single pickup harness, and your treble pickup will now sound just like it does in Ric-O-Sound because the impedance is lower. What to do with the other jack? Hm, why not an XLR out?
If RIC is going to reissue any more stuff, I hope it's the 4002. All of the stuff reissued up till now has basically been Paul McCartney-related, meh, and very similar to the flagship 4003 anyways--the main differences are basically cosmetic, and the pickups are basically interchangeable. Now, the 4002 is just a completely different animal, more separated from the 4001/4003 than the currently made 4004 is. It would add some really nice diversity back into the Ric product line, and the 4002 is a total beast anyways. I would reserve one immediately if they were announced. By the way, I'm not saying all this without having some experience... I've gigged a friend's 4002 a couple of times. Amazing!
Of course the reality is this: with the current backlog and demand (which does appear to have decreased a little bit with the recession, but not a lot), RIC is probably going to just stick with the 4003 and 4004 and if that's all they do that's fine with me. In fact I'd rather they do that than continue on reissuing more PMC stuff in addition to the flagship models. If they just focus on bread and butter, they'll really steamline their process and by the time they do get out of the backlog they'll have a whole slew of new factory techniques and equipment to put towards any reissues, or whole new models...
If RIC is going to reissue any more stuff, I hope it's the 4002. All of the stuff reissued up till now has basically been Paul McCartney-related, meh, and very similar to the flagship 4003 anyways--the main differences are basically cosmetic, and the pickups are basically interchangeable. Now, the 4002 is just a completely different animal, more separated from the 4001/4003 than the currently made 4004 is. It would add some really nice diversity back into the Ric product line, and the 4002 is a total beast anyways. I would reserve one immediately if they were announced. By the way, I'm not saying all this without having some experience... I've gigged a friend's 4002 a couple of times. Amazing!
Of course the reality is this: with the current backlog and demand (which does appear to have decreased a little bit with the recession, but not a lot), RIC is probably going to just stick with the 4003 and 4004 and if that's all they do that's fine with me. In fact I'd rather they do that than continue on reissuing more PMC stuff in addition to the flagship models. If they just focus on bread and butter, they'll really steamline their process and by the time they do get out of the backlog they'll have a whole slew of new factory techniques and equipment to put towards any reissues, or whole new models...
I thought about having a 'conversion' done. I just hate to alter stuff, especially an instrument like a Ric. I was thinking of getting a 4001 C64 in Mapleglow and having it converted.
I'll keep looking for an original in the mean time. The few that I've seen up for sale have been sort of 'hacked-up.' They were routed to accomodate Fender Precision pick-ups or what have you, and I've stayed clear of them. If the bass were something I was going to use as an instrument to just gig out with that would be one thing, but I usually have one eye on the collectability factor.
I like originallity, which is why I've refrained from the 'conversion.' But, who knows what time will bring... Hopefully an all original, mint condition, 4000, in Burgandyglow.
I'll keep looking for an original in the mean time. The few that I've seen up for sale have been sort of 'hacked-up.' They were routed to accomodate Fender Precision pick-ups or what have you, and I've stayed clear of them. If the bass were something I was going to use as an instrument to just gig out with that would be one thing, but I usually have one eye on the collectability factor.
I like originallity, which is why I've refrained from the 'conversion.' But, who knows what time will bring... Hopefully an all original, mint condition, 4000, in Burgandyglow.
........... Hopefully an all original, mint condition, 4000, in Burgandyglow.
You do have an eye for rare stuff!
Good luck!
There surely aren't many 4000 around in Burgundy, it's a great finish, actually rather translucent at times.
Mines a great bass, a bit more bite than a 4001, and it's light. Not sure whether that's a universal characteristic, probably more down to the individual pieces of wood.
A conversion from an S model bass would really only need a new 'gaurd made and wired up to be convincing. Pickgaurdian is a good choice for this, just send them the 4001s 'gaurd to use as an exact template, or you could make your own from clear plexi and backpaint it. I've done that for my '77 4001.
Black is easy, white is a bit more finicky, but easily doable.
I've seen one or two done and you'd never know the difference and there is no modding necessary other than the resoldering of the jack leads.
Totally reversible.
It's also got less impedance on the pickup because the harness is half as big, which is also true of Ric-O-Sound on a 4001. Dropping the impedance makes a surprisingly noticeable difference in the sound... more clarity IMO.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
That mapleglow sure is sweet!
I read somewhere that there MIGHT be the potential for more bridge lift on the black bridges because of the heat treating process. Is that just a myth / missinformation?
The black powder coated tailpieces do fail more than the chrome ones. All of the worst failures That I have seen were black and not chrome. There is a simple fix ... add 2 screws. Or use a hipshot replacement.
Here another shot of the mapleglo ...
I finally got my Ric a proper setup. Hopefully that will change the relationship form love and hate to just love. So far so good - it plays A LOT better now.
That wonderfull '00 4001 V63 keeps calling my name followed by one word - adoption!
over the xmas time that v63 will get a black pickguard and tussrodcover.
i think its going to be a real bad ass look.
edit:
my vision:
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I'm 99% sure that (if you want to) you can contact RIC and exchange the TRC you have now for a black one; you have to pay some cash of course, but I don't know how much. It may look more professional that way.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I'm in the beginning stages of getting a black pearloid pickguard made up for my JG 4003S/5. I'm seeing if I can get a TRC made from the same stuff.
It likely won't be ready for a month, though.
I still need to find me some Schaller M4s in black... although not the new style M4 since they have the screws in the wrong place.
Then I'd need a black bridge but one step at a time, ya know?
I just put some Roto TruBass black nylon flats on it and it'll be super black before long.
Hopefully the pearloid won't look too tacky. If so, a black pickguard is just a phone call away... or a dremel tool and a trip to the hardware store away.
But why can't anything be easy? I thought these puters were sposed to make things simpler. Instead everything is even more complex.
It likely won't be ready for a month, though.
I still need to find me some Schaller M4s in black... although not the new style M4 since they have the screws in the wrong place.
Then I'd need a black bridge but one step at a time, ya know?
I just put some Roto TruBass black nylon flats on it and it'll be super black before long.
Hopefully the pearloid won't look too tacky. If so, a black pickguard is just a phone call away... or a dremel tool and a trip to the hardware store away.
But why can't anything be easy? I thought these puters were sposed to make things simpler. Instead everything is even more complex.
I'm in the beginning stages of getting a black pearloid pickguard made up for my JG 4003S/5. I'm seeing if I can get a TRC made from the same stuff.
It likely won't be ready for a month, though.
I still need to find me some Schaller M4s in black... although not the new style M4 since they have the screws in the wrong place.
Then I'd need a black bridge but one step at a time, ya know?
I just put some Roto TruBass black nylon flats on it and it'll be super black before long.
Hopefully the pearloid won't look too tacky. If so, a black pickguard is just a phone call away... or a dremel tool and a trip to the hardware store away.
But why can't anything be easy? I thought these puters were sposed to make things simpler. Instead everything is even more complex.
Do post pics when you are finished, i'm really courious how that would look
Unfortunately no it hasn't surefaced.
I'm sure that the person who has it knows it's a high profile instrument, so I don't expect it to surface anytime soon. But you never know. I'll keep my reward offer open.
TD
Have you placed an add/notice in Vintage Guitar magazine? I've seen people do that. It's something that might help.
I remember you spoke favorably of the 4002 in another thread. I've never played one, but after hearing your view I'd like to give one a try. From what I understand they are tough to find, especially in original condition.
And the beat goes on...
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