Ric 4001 Foam Mute

ric4001 · Post by **ric4001** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:57 pm

Hi guys forum newbie here.

I'm fixing up an 79 Ric 4001, and the foam mute is hard and brittle.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to where I could purchase one ?

I'm in Europe so a UK store would be preferable, if not a US store than sends overseas.

In the meantime can I remove it ?

If so what should I do with the ground wire ?

Thanks !

Ernie
www.eazi-k.com/guitar - my toys

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:38 am

Hey! Welcome but, no Rickenbacker picutres? For shame!

marty · Post by **marty** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:15 am

Hi and welcome!

Rosetti are the official UK distributors for Rickenbackers and they also carry a full range of spares.

http://www.rosetti.co.uk/

marty · Post by **marty** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:19 am

I forgot to mention...

You can remove the foam pad but leave the metal bar which it sits on with the ground wire attached.

You only then need the foam itself which you can glue to the existing bar, which you can do without the need of removing the ground wire and resoldering.

ric4001 · Post by **ric4001** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:39 am

thanks guys !

here's the bass

http://www.eazi-k.com/misc/ricky1.jpg

Ernie

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:48 pm

The foam mute was missing from my '76 4001/4000 project, since I dont use the mute anyway, I took the metal bar out and sprayed it flat black. Looks like its still there.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:54 pm

OK Ernie, nice bass. Now you can stay in the forum...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:49 pm

The new mutes have a sticky backing, you don't glue them just stick them on. Make sure you clean off the old one good. I cut them in half length-wise and put half in and snug it up right next to the bridge, your bass will stay in tune better and you will be able to control the amount of damping you get better. Oh yeah, welcome!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:04 pm

you can get a mute pad here for $1 ...

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ric.htm

I usually remove that obsolete feature from my Ric's ... sometimes I put a jazz bass pickup in that slot ...

ric4001 · Post by **ric4001** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:05 am

thanks guys !

actually I emailed Rosetti UK yesterday and I've just got an email saying they can send the pad direct...I know its useless but I'm trying to get bass looking as original as possible.

that j-bass pup looks cool BTW !

As for my bass its actually my dads ...and I took pity on it when we had a Jam at his place a couple of weeks back.

the poor thing was caught in a flood about 15 years ago and the headstock spilt at the back and started to go down the neck.

I was 15 at the time and although I was able to apply a pretty good repair with some dowels inside the headstock, cosmetically it wasn't very pretty.

anyway...

i've taken her apart, shined up all the chrome, removed the rotten mute and also touched up the headstock as best I can.

I'll be stringing her up tonight and I'll provide some pics that I've taken as I've gone along

here's my own bass...

warning: its a Fender !

http://www.eazi-k.com/guitar/mm/

Ernie

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:53 am

"... I usually remove that obsolete feature from my Rics"

"... I know it's useless"

Hey! I like that mute! Am I the only one?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:03 am

no there's a few who like it ... my main complaint is that the mechanical mute gets in the way of hand muting

ric4001 · Post by **ric4001** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:27 am

its a bit like on Fender Jags or like the ashtray covers on Telecasters..... looks cool but never used !

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 9:23 am

You're not the only one, Ilan.
I use the mute sometimes, not a lot, but like it when it's used at the right time.
I palm mute in front of the mute when picking, so no problem for me.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:09 am

I also use it occasionally, and I can hand mute behind the mute right in front of the bridge on my 78 as the bridge is high (this one has a thicker fretboard than others for some reason)