4003S/5 Project

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:41 pm

Cool idea Ted. I'd like to build on of those too to go with my 4008SCS but according to my lovely wife, I am now broke. I'd also like to build a 4002S/5CS. You can probably guess what thast would look like. Keep us posted on the progress.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:49 pm

Good luck on the project. I'm sure it'll be quite a resurrection.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:15 pm

Update 2:

Most of the finish has been removed. I learned that RIC hand picks chrome parts that match so they probably try to do the same with wood. This one may have been painted a solid color because the upper body wing is lighter in color than the lower wing (it is more apparent in person). Just a guess. Otherwise the wood looks pretty good. There is one small sap run on the front side of the neck slab.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:35 pm

Very cool.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:44 pm

Neat-o! (one might say)

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:14 pm

Ted, that bass is very lucky that you bought it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:50 pm

I hope you are right Joey.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:19 pm

This is fascinating! Keep us posted on the progress, Ted. Confidence, my man!

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:29 pm

For some reason I didn't know that 4003S/5's had walnut headstock wings. It'll be that much easire to "Squire-ize" it. I'd think a little headstock re-shaping to make it look more 60's would help along with Schaller/RIC vintage style tuners. Will three in a row fit on the upper headstock?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:36 pm

Well, actually it did not have walnut wings to start. That was my touch. I am considering deepening the curves a bit so it looks more like the vintage headstocks. Right now it is more or less an exact copy of the maple version.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:41 pm

It turns that that I had to do it. Didn't wanna but...

the neck creak was pretty serious. I found that a small metal pin that is normally inserted between the neck and body wings was missing. It probably fell out during assembly and was not noticed. It is pretty small after all. For some reason the glue joint let go and the neck began flexing freely between the wings. The pin was supposed to be here.

To tell the truth, I don't know if the pin is merely an alignment aid during glue-up or if it provides some measure of support for the lamination. In any case, the side where the pin was missing is the one that made all of the noise. Judging from the dings and dents, this bass was probably dropped once or twice (or more) causing the separation of the lam. The next step is to replace the pin and re-glue the wings. I think I might take advantage of the open access and finish the stripping before I reattach the wings.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:54 pm

In a word, WOW!

inhuien · Post by **inhuien** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:47 pm

These projects always fill me with awe. It's like the 6 Million Dollar Man "We have the technology".

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:22 am

Ahh! My eyes! That poor thing!

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:46 am

This is an interesting project, one that I have also considered. As a fan of Squire and Steve Howe for over thirty years, I've discovered that obtaining a 4001CS to go with my ES-175 may be more authentic if I take the route that you are pursuing, ie, find the perfect sounding and playing RIC first, then convert to the familiar yellow finish. IMHO, that will make it more of an authentic CS than a signature on the pick guard. With that said, I'd still buy the next 4001CS that comes into my price range!

Good luck with this project and thanks for the great documenting photos along the way.