4003s to 4000 conversion

[marcinkus]

Hi fellow members,
I would love to share with you my latest project. I already have three 4003 with vintage pickups and a Cheyenne and it was my intention find a 4000 model because I really appreciate its simple elegance and the 50s style layout.

About a month ago I bought one of these recent 4003s in mapleglo finish:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0075.jpg
...and I evaluated the idea of ​​converting it to the specifications of a late '60s 4000.

This '69 4000 was my reference for this project:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0062.jpg

The conversion is simple and completely reversible:

1) I removed the pickguard, the electronic and the neck pickup;
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0076.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0171.jpg

2) I filed the saddles and I replaced one since it placed the G string too close to the edge of the fretboard;
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0169.jpg

3) I bought a 4000 style pickguard from Pickguardian, along with a finger rest, two vintage style strap pins and two '60s style knobs;
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0180.jpg

4) I drilled the pickguard for the finger rest and I redid the electronics using two CTS 250k pots (no load tone pot) and a .047k capacitor;
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0184.jpg

5) I reassembled everything, regulated the trussrods, octaves, I accurately filed the nut;
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0186.jpg

What do you think? The pickup is the original one, but I'm waiting for a Classic Rick Flat-Top from Brad of Classic Amplification.
Needless to say, it already sounds so good, I'm very happy with the result!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0190.jpg

[woodyng]

Fantastic,Marcello! Bellisimo!
Oh,and i can tell you,you're gonna LOVE that CA flattop pickup.
The one i have in my Laredo custom sounds very similar to the original higain in my '74 4000. (Minus the noise!)

[marcinkus]

Woody, I got the Flat Top because I feel that the current Hi-Gain units are a little too much "Hi" and I am tired to unwind them. Cannot wait for it!

[woodyng]

Woody, I got the Flat Top because I feel that the current Hi-Gain units are a little too much "Hi" and I am tired to unwind them. Cannot wait for it!

Yep,exactly. I was going to use a '72 higain i had,but it didn't work out,so i think i have the best thing i could find on short notice. It also pairs really nicely with my RIC scatterwound toaster.

[jps]

Woody, I got the Flat Top because I feel that the current Hi-Gain units are a little too much "Hi" and I am tired to unwind them. Cannot wait for it!

I have a nice bridge hi-gain pickup from mid 1973 up for sale. Should sound great in that bass.

[cassius987]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0190.jpg

Wow. So classy. Great job!

[antipodean]

That's a knock-out!

[marcinkus]

7)
CA flat top pickup! It is wound to 8.8k and now the bass sounds clear and solid. Really great pickup!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0396.jpg

[prowla]

Will, it's a nice bass, but I have to say that I think the neck pickup is the keystone of the Ric sound (in fact one or two famous players have had their Ric's treble pickups demagnetize and have carried on using them as-is).

Back in the day, I once contemplated getting a 4000 and converting it to a 4001!

Funny old world, isn't it?

[marcinkus]

I am not that famous but I think that the bridge pickup is the keystone of a great rickenbacker sound, instead
"De gustibus non est disputandum"!

[jps]

My 4004L SPC has THE sound from just the neck toaster. The bridge toaster adds sparkle and when it is solo's that pickup has the tone of a capped horseshoe pickup. Bliss!

[teeder]

This '69 4000 was my reference for this project:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0062.jpg

This '69 was mine!

I could have sent you a lot more detailed pictures.


Your bass looks great, BTW!

[woodyng]

7)
CA flat top pickup! It is wound to 8.8k and now the bass sounds clear and solid. Really great pickup!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/ ... G_0396.jpg

Glad you're liking it.
I'm really enjoying mine,it's a very classic sort of tone,lots of edge and clarity.

[spongebob]

Very classy job, excellent work that man!

[Kiddwad57]

Nice job, Marcello! I have dreamed of doing a similar 4003s remake, also using a mapleglo 4003s. The next step (for me) would be replacing the fingerboard with a fretless rosewood board with traditionally placed dots on the face and side markers next to the appropriate fret locations. A 4000fl has been on my wish-list for years! Enjoy that bass! I'm going to check into those pickups.