4003 PFB

[qwezirider]

Pretty Freakin' Black, since I cannot legally or ethically call this one None More Black. It was originally going to be a 4-2-5, but I just did not have the nerve (yet) to drill the middle hole in a brand new pickup. That will have to happen to the next used 4003 of mine...whenever that may be. So all I need now are to get the pickup surrounds and tuner bushings powder coated (the Hipshot bushings and subsequent set they made for me...bless them for their customer service!..did not fit) and find some black screws for the pick guard. I like the hint of white trim on the pick guard.

So until all the black can be done in a few weeks, this is a suitable stopping point. I like the hula-hoop-glo in the one reflection.

[johnallg]

Sure is shiney! About drilling the high gain - consider getting a guitar 6 pole high gain and pulling the nails out and putting in allen set screws and then a toaster cover. Or just using it as is, with 6 poles showing. On 4003/5 basses, RIC used toasters and they have the 6 alnico5 magnet poles and they covered really good.

[qwezirider]

I did just that on my 4004 4-2-5. Works quite well. And I can see that in the neck position with a 4003. But forgive my ignorance on the mechanics of the bridge pickup. Can a 6 pole high gain be somehow mounted easily or properly to the guts of a 4003 bridge pickup assembly (for lack of a better way to word it)?

[incubus2432]

Looks great!

[rickenbrother]

I think it looks great also.
Jetglo is the only finish that I don't mind the pickguard and TRC being black even when the binding is white. I prefer the plastic to match the binding whether it's black or white on all the other finishes.

[hieronymous]

I like it! You could always get the bridge pickup plate from pickguardian if you wanted to go a little more black...

[johnallg]

I did just that on my 4004 4-2-5. Works quite well. And I can see that in the neck position with a 4003. But forgive my ignorance on the mechanics of the bridge pickup. Can a 6 pole high gain be somehow mounted easily or properly to the guts of a 4003 bridge pickup assembly (for lack of a better way to word it)?

Sure. One way or the other it can be done. Jeff Scott has mounted a toaster, so bump him on how he did that.

[jps]

I prefer the opposite sex for bumping!

The black plastic hi-gain mounting plate has holes already in place to screw down a toaster or guitar hi-gain if so desired. Just remove the existing pickup (some wire cutting will be required) and with some hardware from your local HW store you can easily attach the pickup of your choice.

[qwezirider]

Well there you have it! This sucker may just get 5'd after all. Thank you for that small lesson. Might have just bumped up my black powder coating order to include a factory tail piece.