4004CII 4-2-5 conversion

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:49 pm

Here is Paul Alverez's new 4004CII-5 bass freshly converted ...

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:56 pm

Nice work as always Jeff ... Maple looks stunning !!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:43 pm

Wow! That is some fine lookin' wood right there. I think that's the nicest figured top i've ever seen on a Rick.

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:35 pm

Jeff, thats awsome how does she sound??Have you ever thought of making an eight string?

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:39 pm

You guys keep going, you're gonna end up with a harp!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:59 pm

yes I have thought about making an eight ... and a ten string bass ...

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:27 pm

Can you do a 5-2-4 conversion for me ?

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:36 pm

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:23 pm

Jeff, you are the best Rick luthier I know of. Your work is professional and clean. Looking forward to the comments from Paul about the sounding now.

Jeff, please keep that exclusive service for the use of the forum members. No one else can do it so well.

pepsican · Post by **pepsican** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:29 pm

I'd love to know how much this would cost a person if they happened to be interested....

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:40 am

Jeff has this process down to an art form. From the string spacing to the pickup coverage and the dimension of the fretboard, these basses are very cool and play great.
I think I have played every one (except for this one) and they are all impressive, especially compared to his 4003s5's, which are on hand for side-by-side comparisons.
Nice work, my friend. Paul is going to be a happy man!!

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:09 am

"Can you do a 5-2-4 conversion for me ?"

To your Lemmy?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:33 am

I am not a luthier ... and my work is not Ric factory quality ... but I am good a setting up ric basses and making a few modifications ... I don't replace fretboards, I don't install binding, etc ... it is kind of scary to take a really nice Ric bass and drill holes in it ...

This bass turned out good ... the 4004CII basses have a nice sound ... they are different than the 4004CI or the 4004L basses ... also the ones with the pickup location 1" off the neck are brighter than the ones with the pickup jammed against the neck ...

for pure playing ease my 4-2-5 p-basses are perfect because I can get a 2 1/2" spacing at the bridge and 1 5/8" at the nut ... the 4004 4-2-5 is 2 3/8" at the bridge which is good but not optimal and my 4003 4-2-5 is 2 1/4" at the bridge which is workable but a little tight ... but all those are better than the 2 1/16" of the 4003s5 ... but even that is workable ... especially if you are a pick player ... but I always convert my 4003s5 basses to 2 1/4" spacing ...

also I have learned to take pictures that make the quilting/flaming in the wood look good ... getting the right angle and the right lighting and adjusting the image in photoshop are all important ...

Now I wish this was my bass ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:34 am

And yes I have done two 5-2-4 conversions ... I put a grommet in the extra hole in the headstock ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 4:46 am

Another great job Jeff!! Now Paul wins having the most 5 string 4004Cii's.