Whis is a Ric a Ric and when is is not?

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:09 pm

During my various projects, my luthier would comment that he could build me a bass or a neck from scratch, but I wanted to preserve the "essence" of the instrument. As a result, the only non-RIC parts in my 4008 are the fingerboard, headstock wings and part of the maple in the headstock. My doubleneck only had a fingerboard and Ed Roman brass bridge added on the guitar side. They've all had fret jobs and I made all of the pickguards, but all of the parts including the electronics were sourced through RIC or it's dealers. I think Ted's 4002 project pushes the limits, but it will still have a RIC neck and RIC parts so I think it qualifies, especially since so much of the work is really just repair work. Even though JH didn't say anything negative about my basses, I really think he doesn't care for modifications that are that obvious, although I tried to preserve a RIC factory look to everything.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:00 pm

I have been considering repairing the original body wings by filling in the deepest holes and then planing them down to the bottom of the binding route and then applying some new maple to the top.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:28 pm

I am thinking about all that Ebony you have Ted. I may have something in mind for you.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:53 pm

Ted, that would be one way to keep the bass more RIC. Plaining the top down to the depth of the body binding route and then capping it would make it a fairly seemless repair/mod.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:55 pm

Yeah, I have something in mind for that ebony also.

I'd also like to find it a black bridge pickup mounting ring if anyone would like to trade a chrome one for it.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:58 pm

I didn't know you bought that bass Joey. It matches my fretless/modded 3000 with all of the gold plating. I was lucky enough to get the last set of gold plated RIC/Schaller vintage style tuners for it.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:06 pm

I've had this 4001S almost a year now. It used to belong to Kenny Howes. I had it at he 75th confluence, but it was in the corner so it wasn't in plain view. I'd like to make it look as "Blackstar" as possible.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:51 pm

I'm thinking of a new fingerboard for this:

teb · Post by **teb** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:26 pm

Well, as long as we make it 51% by length, I'm OK with it....

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:23 pm

Todd: Yours is one of my all-time favorite Rick mods. That is how the 2030 should have looked IMHO. I love that bass and want to make one some day.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:45 pm

If the bass still has bent down truss rod nuts and a tailpiece lift, I'd consider it a legit Rickenbacker.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:17 am

At least it would be a legitimate 4001, haha!
I think a ric with mods is still a Ric but these mods should be made known especially if the basses are sold. I'm kind of a purist, I like stock basses and most mods detract from the value rather than add for me. I have no problem at all with someone such as Ted resurrecting a beat 4002, or Paul painting guitars, or Dale etc. I think these guys are doing a service to the Ric community.
I think it is a a matter of opinion, I love T-Buckets for example and my father thinks they are an abomination from the real Model T. Of course he was around when they were still being driven and sees them from a different point of view, haha!
I agree with Ted Todd, that is one beautiful modded bass, I've never seen it before.

teb · Post by **teb** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:40 am

Considering that I built in out in the driveway in Wisconsin in winter, it came out geally nice. One thing you seldom hear about Rickenbacker is that they really made some superb bolt-on necks. The 2030 neck is fantastic, thin and fast, but the shape of the body and horns always reminded me of Mickey Mouse ears. I'm keeping one eye peeled for a 3000. If I find one when I have money to blow, I have a nice chunk of curly maple sitting here and a Scaller 8-string bridge. A similar body with some sort of sunburst, checkerboard and a short-scale eight with toasters would be really cool. Might even use straight-through banjo pegs for the octave strings. Bogus as it would be, it would certainly still have the Ric look. JH is probably going to put a contract out on me.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:38 am

"Might even use straight-through banjo pegs for the octave strings"

I have most a set of '60s Kluson banjo type tuners that were used on Gibson Firebirds. These appear to be NOS but without the bushings, and there are only five of them, so they would be perfect for your 8 string project with one spare.

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:32 am

I think that JH had his thoughts on when is a Rick a Rick posted on some other thread....
I had posed the question as I had re-necked a 4001. I was more concerned with infringement tho and not originality.