Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I ordered the vintage guard from Tony when Larry Davis was doing my 4003S to McCartney-like conversion, and there were still some issues. The biggest being the guard didn't fit beteween the end of the neck and the horseshoe pickup surround, as it is different from the stock high gain surround. Larry ...

I work for a division of a large furniture manufacturer that probably most everyone on this forum would recognize. The president of my division takes customer correspondence, be it positive or negative -very- seriously. In fact, over the years we have changed thousands of things across our product ...

I'm looking to buy a new "vintage" silver case for my lefty 4003s. I assumed since that's what Ric sells new lefties in, the silver case like listed at Musicians Friend would work. A couple of reviews of people "blindly" buying the case suggest it didn't work for their left handed basses.

Is there ...

Ok, final update as I've had the guitar since late last week. It's all I can do to put it down long enough to take a photo. :lol:

Larry had his photographer take some studio shots of it. They washed out a bit in his photos.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari/Rickenbacker%20bass ...

I have a 4003S from July 1982, and it's been a great bass. The truss rod adjustment under the pick guard is a little different, but the only time I've ever had to adjust it is when I've changed strings. It plays nice and smooth, and has been a dependable instrument.

The only problem this bass has ...

I ordered two from Tony labeled 'Rickenbacker 4003 Vintage Conversion Bass Guard'. I guess it's a hybrid of the double hump control section with the wider neck-to-treble surround section. I put one on my Mapleglo 4003S and sent the other to Larry for this conversion. I really didn't notice the ...

I do think the guard needs a little massaging to remove the double hump, but that's nothing a little time and piece of sandpaper can't fix. Other than that, I'm ecstatic that I'll finally have my holy grail bass!

Well, all Larry is waiting for now is to have his photographer schedule a proper photo shoot, and she will be coming back my way! Until then, here are the 'completed' photos from Larry's bench:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari/Rickenbacker%20bass%20project/image_zpsprqlwo5v.jpeg ...

Ok, all sanded, buffed and polished, and finally some hardware going on! Larry had to contact Tony at Pickguardian to have the pick guard modified, so that's where he's stopped for now. Until that is completed, here she is, nearly complete:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari ...

I noticed the deep slots, too. It definitely doesn't have the white nut before the Abbey Road sessions, and as long as the original black nut was there, I'd bet there was no zero fret.

Since Paul used the Hofners during Let It Be, I wonder if he had the Ric stripped during this time, which resulted ...

Ok, clear coat on, two weeks of curing time ahead and then polishing and buffing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari/Rickenbacker%20bass%20project/IMG_2727_zpsdsg8zbzc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari/Rickenbacker%20bass%20project/IMG_2724_zpsvupjc3ji.jpg
http ...

I wish they would make a left handed version of this model. I'm pretty bummed.
Ben Hall said on Facebook they would offer this is lefty, but I've got a feeling it probably won't be until they have all the righty pre-orders and inventory channels filled. And then probably after the 4003SW orders ...

The zero fret looks like it's there in the I am the walrus scene in MMT. Couldn't tell on All you need is Love,need higher resolution

From the Hey Bulldog session and no zero fret.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/f1ferrari/image_zpsoy1r2odr.jpeg

July 1969, Abbey Road sessions. A new ...

AHHHHHHHhhhhh! Sweet, sweet 1964 Fireglo finish! I'm amazed by it, and a little saddened that Rickenbacker din't put a finish like this on the 4001c64 basses. That's another discussion, though. Anyway, here's the finished Fireglo. Now there's layer upon layer of clear with sanding and polishing ...

To be honest, I've never noticed the difference in horn sizes as much as I have the headstock sizes and Fireglo finish differences. I guess everyone has things they focus their attention on. :D

And for the Fireglo gradation: no kidding on it being an art! Larry blows me away every time he sends ...