Possible to put a normal pickguard on this one?

anoukane · Post by **anoukane** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:31 am

I don't like the two piece pickguard. Is it possible to put a normal (one piece) pickguard on this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7408939463&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:NL:1

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:39 am

Yes, in theory - if you don't mind the major pain of removing the strings, removing the guard then replacing the strings and tuning up if you need to adjust the truss rods! And then doing the same backwards and hoping that the neck doesn't move.

So realistically then, err, no!

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:44 am

Peter, there's no need to remove or even loosen the strings when removing the pickguard. I always do it while the bass is tuned to pitch. The neck pickup slides right under the strings.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:11 am

Then again, I've never once had to adjust the rods on my '80 4003, and it was easier to bypass the cap when I only had to remove the control section of the pickguard.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:19 am

Do those tuners look a little odd to anyone else?
The shafts look too long & the capstans (?) look too large.

anoukane · Post by **anoukane** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:21 am

They are Shaller tuners.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue May 02, 2006 7:41 pm

They do not fit, they're not interchangable, the screws are in the wrong places and everything is a little off kilter, I have an 81 4003, I like the way it looks and they're not all that common either.
I love that bass everytime I see it Ronn, it's a beauty.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:31 am

I should probably take a new picture of it

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:40 am

Kevin, that 82 originally had Grovers on it, that is one of the small headstock 4001's (converted to 4003 at the factory) which were made during the early 70's and had Grovers. The larger headstocks started sometime during 1974 along with a change (return?) to their more normal tuners. When Ric ran out of parts they would use old parts that were left in stock, and ocasionally you will see a small headstock body with Grovers turn up, this was done up until the early 80's. There were basically three different headstock types made, which I call small, medium, and large. small: early 70's and sporadically until early 80's, medium: sometime in 74 until late 90's (very common) large: 60's and again late 90's until now.

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:50 pm

Sorry to drag up an old post but I was doing a search about adjusting the truss rods on 80s Rics and I found this.

What I'm wondering is, as I don't own a 'proper' Ric TR adjusting tool is there a similar tool available in your average hardware store that will do the same job?

The reason I ask is that its impossible to get Ric stuff where I live.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:48 am

If you can get a thin-walled 1/4" socket and a nut driver (like a screwdriver, but accepts socket-wrench sockets on the end), you'll have what you need.

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Fri May 12, 2006 3:06 am

Thanks Paul.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:02 am

Also, the longer the reach on the tool, the better. I've got a hardware store unit, but the handle scrapes against the headstock & has a thick walled socket.

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:19 am

Mine is located at the body end of the neck, its a two-piece pick guard. I'm hoping it won't be much hassle to adjust. At the moment the neck is perfectly flat so I'd like to introduce a tiny amount of relief.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:43 am

go to an electronic supply house-look for a brand called Xcelite. They make nut drivers, which are actually like screwdrivers (or turnscrews) with the proper size socket permanently fixed to the drive side.

these are slimmer than the 1/4" drive units with switchable sockets.