V63

[JakeK]

I think the V63s are possibly the coolest Ric bass around. Though I've never owned one, I can say that two things I prefer the V63 to the C64 are the hotter pickups and the correct headstock shape.

[pacealot]

+1,000,000,000 on the headstock (just flip the neck in the jig, please!)

Not a big fan of the hot pickups though (at least not on bass - guitar is another story), which is why I've changed mine! And I do wish they'd got the pickguard shape "right" (or at least a pickguard shape) the first time.

Other than that, V63s rule!

And my '93 can beat up your - oh, wait, actually, no, mine's got a weak body wing/neck joint, I don't think she should be fighting anyone! She has to save her strength!

[VRICKY63]

So.....what is the pickguard shape supposed to look like ? Im looking into this "lease" a V63 program

[jps]

I won't be selling mine anytime, soon.

[VRICKY63]

Where did you get that pickguard Mr Sc...eerrr Jeff ? Are there more available ?

[pacealot]

Mainly not so "bulbous" (there's that word again), particularly at the body edge side of the controls. Of course, the shapes and sizes of the '60s guards were literally all over the map, but I've yet to see any '60s 4000-family bass with a guard that goes as close to the edge of the body as the V63 guards all seemed to do. It's bugged me since I first saw a picture of a V63, so I changed my guard as soon as I could. Now, the C64 guard looks great to me - it's just that blasted headstock....

[jps]

Where did you get that pickguard Mr Sc...eerrr Jeff ? Are there more available ?

Pickguardian. I left the bass with Tony for a couple days while I was in Columbus so he could make it just right.

[teeder]

I need to have a better one made for my V63 someday.

[rickaddict]

I need to have a better one made for my V63 someday.

Why Kevin? I think yours looks fine. Is it the space between the 'guard and the pickup surround? I like the space. I like to see a little wood in there.

[wints]

Way too much concern with plastic aesthetics guys!

[teeder]

I need to have a better one made for my V63 someday.

Why Kevin? I think yours looks fine. Is it the space between the 'guard and the pickup surround? I like the space. I like to see a little wood in there.

No, It's how the guard goes all the way to the body edge. It doesn't look proportioned to me. Not that big of a deal though. That's why I haven't done anything with it yet.

[teeder]

Way too much concern with plastic aesthetics guys!

You're probably right!

[rickaddict]

Ahhh...Now I know what you're talking about. I've noticed it too. And on some of my non re-issue Ricks as well. I have no photos, but my '77 4001 pick guard maintains around 3/4 of an inch gap between itself and the edge of the bass's body beneath the control cavity. Looks nice and balanced. But my '79 4001 has a pick guard that almost reaches the edge of the body down by the jack plate. It almost looks like the pick guard is hangin' off the bass. I thought it might be a repro pick guard until I saw it up close.

I prefer the pick guard to follow the contour of the body. Maybe its nit picking, but I just think it looks better.

[rickaddict]

Way too much concern with plastic aesthetics guys!

Yes Andy...I'm a freak. I can't help it!



But seriously...look at Kevin's photo above of his V63 next to his 21-fretter. Look at both pick guard edges (below the knobs) and the space between the pick guard and the edge of the bass. Which style do you prefer? For me, its the pick guard on the 21-fretter. I think the V63 has way more plastic down there than it needs.

[johnallg]

I'm with you Jeff. Of my 4 with pickguards, the '75 4001 is like the 21-fretter. My V63 (fresh from Kevin) is like his V63. So is my '91 4003S BT. My '04 4003 was that way from the factory, but I put a C64 guard on it and it is like my 4001 now. I much prefer them to be off the edge of the bass.