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ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:26 am

...I'll spare you the horror.

A friend came over with a mid-70's 4001. His first Ric. Asked what I could do.

The bass is a mess.

It was stripped and refinished natural very un-professionally. Originally it was Jetglo. Aftermarket cheap pickguard, mounted with two screws, with the neck pickup cotout off-center so the polepieces aren't directly under the strings, enough to significantly lower the output.

BadAss bridge - the tall type that needs to be countersunk - someone took out so much wood, you'd think he was trying to countersink a laptop computer.

Numerous holes, like someone tried to install a Fender-style bridge cover (ashtray). The BadAss bridge itself was installed slightly off-center, on a thin piece of plywood. Why? probably the swimming pool was too deep.

The jack plate was gone and replaced with a makeshift aluminum piece. I wonder where it went and what was so wrong with it. The wiring was probably done by Stevie Wonder assisted by Ray Charles.

The neck. Slight upward curve, but very hard to fix, at least at first attempt. The threaded truss rod ends - you probably have guessed it by now - were bent downwards. So some previous owner attempted to remove some wood from under them, with a screwdriver and a hammer. Very nasty, splinters all over. While he was at it, he carved a large swastika in the neck pickup rout.

One truss rod was over-stressed, one was loose. The neck, needless to say, developed some twist. Still, it is playable.

The strings were Smith brand 40-100. I told him to use a lighter gauge and explained why.

So, where do we start? I'm not a luthier, and no luthier in this part of the world understands Rics.

The owner isn't interested in a full restoration. No one here can do it properly, and frankly, the bass simply isn't worth it. He just wants it to look decent and be playable.

So, first of all, the BadAss is removed, and a local luthier will plug the bridge swimming pool with a maple block. Most of it will be covered by a new Hipshot bridge - his choice. He's not much of a purist, and wanted something functional that looks like a Ric from a distance.

The owner really hates the treble pickup surround, that's where he anchors his thumb and it cuts him. So I suggested that he orders the mirrored plexi Pickguardian surround. I showed him a pic and he was excited and said that this is a perfect solution for him. He also wants a matching mirrored pickguard.

So, once the luthier is done with the top, and the Hipshot installed, I'll try to remove the truss rods and restore them. Next I'll re-wire it correctly. I think I'll wire it mono, though. I told him what Ric-o-Sound was and he's not interested.

Any advice is appreciated.

Oh, almost forgot to mention: the bass sounds AWESOME. Just like a good Ric bass should. That's the good part.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:57 am

Sounds like the photos would be more like crime scene photos! Oh, the horror!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:38 am

On the road to recovery, if not a full one.
Judging by the abuse some of these poor babies take, you wonder why their owners bought them in the first place!
My '77 4001 was similar, except for the finish issues. Trashed & missing wiring, missing & trashed pups, bent rod ends, bowed neck, peeling chrome. No missing wood at least!

Your friend shouldn't have any trouble selling the surround if it's in decent shape.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:00 pm

Sounds like a total 'balagan' Ilan

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:04 pm

Ilan...I have an a new mirrored pickguard for a 4001. $20.00 plus shipping if you're interested.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:09 pm

My V63MG was previously owned by some dufus that cracked the neck on the G string side from the 6th to the 13th fret. Then tried to fix it by filling it with wood putty alone. The good news is that I now have it, and the crack has been properly and professionally repaired. The neck is rock solid and stable and she plays excellent. So these abused basses can be restored usually.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:25 pm

Dane... email sent.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:46 am

Update: the bridge route was plugged nicely with a block of maple, hardly noticeable under the new Hipshot bridge/tailpiece. Today I installed the Pickguardian mirrored Plexi surround and set up the bass with new DR strings. The bass now looks, plays, sounds and balances much better. It wears one of my spare pickguards (the white one that came on my Shadow when I bought it... LOL). Next we'll re-wire the bass correctly. When I get Dane's pickguard the bass will be done.

The owner is thrilled with his 'new' bass. He really likes the 'upgrades' - Hipshot bridge and the Plexi surround. When I'm done with it I'll take some pics to post here.

Oh, and he even found a buyer for the BadAss bridge that was on the bass - someone actually gave him $55 for it!

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:50 am

The surround around the treble pup - On mine someone had filed down the edges that gouge your thumb. Simple solution and it works great.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:51 am

"Oh, and he even found a buyer for the BadAss bridge that was on the bass - someone actually gave him $55 for it!"

Probably someone that's going to put it on their 1968 4001! Because they remember everyone doing it in the old days!

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:29 am

LOL... no need to worry about that. The guy who bought the BadAss is a Fender Jazz enthusiast. That bridge will never get near a Ric again.

I also noticed that the tuners are reverse. Is that normal for a '76-'77 (I think) 4001?

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:58 am

My '75 has reverse- close to that year.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:56 pm

Thanks Dave.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:37 am

quote: "While he was at it, he carved a large swastika in the neck pickup rout."

this was the Emperor's personal Ric bass for a while huh?

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:50 am