Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

and checkerboard binding

Finally got a new satin Checker-bound 4003 to add to the stable!

Ta Da!! All finished 4003s V63 conversion.

... it is a knee mill like a Bridgeport using a normal 2-flute wood router bit. Normally a router bit runs >20K RPM and all I could get out of this setup was 2250 RPM so I had to be mindful of chipping. Being careful of my feeds and speeds I got pretty decent results. Not that any of this matters W...

I think it's a router. I don’t know a single person who owns a piece of kit like that! Most don't, but my employer does!! This photo is from an after hours "government" project session. And yes it is a knee mill like a Bridgeport using a normal 2-flute wood router bit. Normally a router b...

Just waiting for one of Tony's fine Pickguardian vintage guards.

Here are two I know of. I picked up one of the 3 4003 Satin MG Checkerbound basses a few months ago from Sweetwater. I swapped out the white plastic for black, the hi-gains for HB1's, and rewired it. Best bass I've ever owned, and ZERO defects! ...or full coverage guard, plexi TRC, Toaster/reissue ...

Red dot seem to be in the summer months of 1974. I have found June and July examples in Jetlgo and Mapleglo - possibbly one Burgandyglo but's hard to tell from pic. Awhile back Dale Fortune explained this as RIC ran out of black dot material for a short time and used what they had - red and rumored ...

bluewhale wrote:Nice work. Does your bass have the push/pull knob for the cap?

Yes I believe that has been standard on 4003 since 2012 or so.

Specific for educational purposes: Has there ever been a sighting of a '74 4001 that is factory white with black trim (body binding, pickguard), that has red side marker dots on white neck binding? I say no - prove me wrong.

DO most or all 1974 basses/guitars have red side marker dots? I have seen plenty of Jetglo and Mapleglo 4001 examples. Has anyone ever seen a white with BT that has red markers? There are never clear pictures of this feature but since the neck binding is white and the factory was out of black materi...

jps wrote:

ricosound wrote:...of note if it has not been discussed elsewhere is that RIC (4003 anyways) have gone to a single truss rod!

Not all of them yet, AFAIK.

Attached picture was my 4003 as received 2 weeks ago, built 35th week (Aug 24-30) 2020.

So Jeff what year is the Jetglo that you have wide swirl (not pearl) inlays but fat horns? Seems RIC changed the treble bout to meet the neck at the end of the fretboard in mid-2000's, but this would coincide with reintroduction of full width inlays? Seems yours comes in closer to the 20th fret, wh...

Looks great, Wes! Now, you have to do the 1/2" toaster relocation. :wink: Sadly, no CB on this one, but the body and horns are the right proportion. :) Besides the pickguard that matches the inlay material, Tony had made a standard white material PG for me, too. And, that's a rebuilt early '60...

bassduke49 wrote:So they featured the Toaster on this special? Neat!

NO the Toaster and Horseshoe were my add. I didn't put Toaster @ 1/2" cuz I just couldn't route a brand new bass quite yet. I may in the future!