Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The plastic base on my '76 4001's treble pickup was shot. I bought a new one from a forum member, and when I went to remove the original plastic base, the wiring connecting to the pickup itself came off. Now I'm stuck with a potentially screwed-up pickup (it was already super beat-up cosmetically ...

OK 2 cans. Maybe I'll just get 1 can of Amber and 1 can of clear + the quart of vinyl sealer.

Do you think it's safe to use Behlen Vinyl Sealer + ColorTone color/lacquer, or should I go ALL Behlen?

what I mean is, after sanding and sealing, should I go with clear lacquer, satin, or a tinted?
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Finishes_and_solvents/ColorTone_Aerosol_Guitar_Lacquers/ColorTone_Tinted_Aerosol_Guitar_Lacquer.html?tab=Pictures#details

Maybe the Amber tinted would be ...

Great! Thanks for all your help. I'll start ordering some of these items this weekend and begin sanding the bass, too.

Just to clarify:
1- Sand bass body, neck, fretboard
2 - apply vinyl sealer (2 coats, sanding in between)
3 - spray instrument lacquer (sand in between, etc. as needed)
4 - buff ...

Might this do the trick?
http://www.woodcraft.com/Catalog/Produc ... a79bd3a8f6

Do you have a recommended Nitro brand or product?

Also, should I consider using some sort of varnish or restore-a-finish after sanding?

In other words, can I use this and call it a day to get that McCartney-esque feel? ---> http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200527 ... Quart.aspx or do I need to apply anything else? and can I use this on the fretboard if I sand that down, too?

You mentioned using Behlen's vinyl sealer after I'm done sanding. Let's say I want to keep the bass the same color (i.e. natural maple/wood color). Can I just stop there after "sealing" it and call it a day? Or do I need to do the nitro/color stuff like you mentioned? I like the color of the bass ...

I took off the old nut last night and was going to attempt to glue the new nut in place, but upon first glance I noticed the string notches on the nut come awfully close to the fretboard itself. There isn't much of a gap, is what I'm saying. I threw my old nut in place for a comparison and I was ...

Thanks for the tips. Any way I can get my original straplock holes into working order again? Fill it with wood-filler and re-drill? Or are they useless now that they are too big?

And for my fretboard? Lemon oil do the trick?

Any tips on getting rid of some of the burgundy paint-job (and the DIY refinish goop) that is all over the white binding of the body (and a little on the neck)? Should I just take some fine, fine sandpaper and have at it? Or use some sort of stripper and put painters tape on the body first? Or ...

Not the greatest, most detailed photos in the world, but I seem to have left my camera at my friend's house. These were taken on my mobile phone.

http://i49.tinypic.com/28sypsk.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2igzwpv.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/28jcdp1.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2gt5egx.jpg ...

Cool. Thanks for the great (and detailed!) information!

I suppose I have one more question. Whoever owned this bass must have had a red finish on it at one point. He then stripped it (haphazardly) and put some sort of clear coat on top of it. Still... there are red splotches here and there, and ...

#1 Where can I buy proper saddle for a '76 4001 bridge? The set currently on my bass are all marked up. I'd like a fresh set. Do they come pre-slotted? Do I NEED to slot them?

#2 I would like to replace my nut, too. How should I take off the old one and how should I put on the new one?

I bought my '76 as a beater bass. One ferrule was missing and another is cracked beyond belief. I want to replace them but I can't seem to find any black ferrules around.

Would these work? http://www.dguitarparts.com/inc/sdetail/826