Your aesthetic opinions needed...

[4003]

I'd go with a plain black guard, 1/2" spacing.

+1

What they said. Stick with black.

[ric330]

That is a great looking Bass. Some great ideas.
As is looks great. If you do anything I would make sure that it was reversible unless you're absolutely sure.
I would be proud to own and play that Bass as is though

By the way since I don't own a Rickenbacker Bass what are you referring to when you say 1/2"?
Spacing from the end of the neck to the neck pickup?

[rickenbrother]

It looks great just the way it is. A plain black guard, 1/2" spacing would look even more cool.

[ric330]

Is this the "1/2 inch" with toaster you guys are referring to?
Where the Toaster is aproximately "1/2" away from the end of the neck?



Thanks for clearification.

[johnallg]

By the way since I don't own a Rickenbacker Bass what are you referring to when you say 1/2"?
Spacing from the end of the neck to the neck pickup?

Yes, end of neck to first edge of the neck pup. RIC uses 1" now since about the end of '75.

[ric330]

Hey Thanks John,
I'm learning as I go here.

[johnallg]

Hey Thanks John,
I'm learning as I go here.

Actually your second post hit as I was typing. Hey, we all are still learning, if for no other reason than that so many "odd one offs" also left the factory over the years. Glad I could help.

[rickenbrother]

Yes, end of neck to first edge of the neck pup. RIC uses 1" now since about the end of '75.

I think it was early to mid '75 that the pickup position changed.

[ram]

Black gaurd with the two tone binding... cream for thelighter color would be better but I don't know if you can get it like that.... as Dane says thou, watch the 1/2 inch move. I don't like like the idea of adding weakness to the neck area.

[brycycle]

as Dane says thou, watch the 1/2 inch move. I don't like like the idea of adding weakness to the neck area.

sorry - i could have made this clearer. the neck pup cavity is factory routed as my '75 is: to accomodate either a 1/2" or 1" spacing. no further routing is needed, just the appropriate guard.

i would not make any mods to this bass that weren't reversable.

anyone got a toaster they'd be willing to part with?

[ilan]

With its walnut finish, black guard and double binding, this bass is the closest thing to the 4002 prototype (Smith book, p.211). So I'd like to see it with the same pickguard as that 4002 prototype: 5-ply b/w/b/w/b.

[cheyenne]

Its a completely reversable mod.

I'd spend the money and buy 2 or 3 variations, pick the one that works for you and toss the others on Ebay.

And yes,,a toaster would look nice.

[ilan]

IMHO a toaster looks wrong in the 1" location.

If you're going with my "4002 prototype lookalike" (see my previous post) how about a HB1 in the neck position?

[ilan]

Can someone please post a scan of that bass on page 211 in the Smith book?

[leftybass]

With its walnut finish, black guard and double binding, this bass is the closest thing to the 4002 prototype (Smith book, p.211). So I'd like to see it with the same pickguard as that 4002 prototype: 5-ply b/w/b/w/b.

I was thinking the same thing.

+1