Toaster install on 4003

[dog]

Just today I received my new toaster from Rickenbacker. Since I already had the guard, I got busy. There has been some interest in this on the Ric forum, so I decided to try and post a photo or two here. I don't yet know if my photos are too large. I shot them as small as my camera will allow.

This mod not only looks great, but the tone of this pup is wonderful. It is as smooth as anything I have heard, and well defined with no harsh bottom. I can not say if the tone would be the same in the stock 1" position because I moved it forward to 1/2". I have also found that the balance between the bridge HG and the neck toaster is almost perfect. Before the modification, it was necessary to turn the treble pup all the way up while keeping the neck pup at about 1/2 in order to have balance.

I have carefully packed away the original guard and HG, but doubt I will ever reverse the mod. I am no longer looking for anything. This bass is exactly what I have been looking for, and is personalized just for me. Life can be good.

Yeah, except for adding photos. Had to shrink them to avatar size because I have no experience with this system. If you are interested, larger photos can be seen by clicking the link in my profile. I'll figure it out later. (read as, ask for help!)

php3i1xCu_c1PM.jpg (8.62 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

php3i1xCu_c3PM.jpg (10.01 KiB) Viewed 2175 times

phpvjFgIg_c2PM.jpg (8.2 KiB) Viewed 2174 times

Cheers, dog

[rickenbrother]

Very cool, Ron. I've recently helped another forumite add a toaster p/u to his 4003. We even made a video of it and also did recordings of his 4003 with the higain pickup and then with the toaster pickup.

If you couldn't get those pics from you photo album to post here it's because they are more than 600 pixels high.

[cjj]

Very nice! I keep thinking about doing that to one of mine, maybe when I get the new one I've got on order. I find it hard to mess with my older ones...

[dog]

Very cool, Ron. I've recently helped another forumite add a toaster p/u to his 4003. We even made a video of it and also did recordings of his 4003 with the higain pickup and then with the toaster pickup.

If you couldn't get those pics from you photo album to post here it's because they are more than 600 pixels high.

Thanks Joey. I had meant to take photos from start to finish, but forgot until it was almost done. I guess I had my mind on my work. I sure wish there had been someone here to photograph and offer moral support. Even though I was confident, it made me nervous. So, where were you when I really needed you?

The photos are going to be a problem for me. Even on the smallest setting they average 2.5mb. The largest are about 12mb. Oh well. avatar size looks fine.

See ya, dog

[dog]

Very nice! I keep thinking about doing that to one of mine, maybe when I get the new one I've got on order. I find it hard to mess with my older ones...

Thanks brother. You will not regret it. (the mod, that is)

It's funny. My wife just can't understand how an old fart like me can get so excited about a p/u. I am truely happy to be able to share my excitement with a group of my peers. Seems like no one else gets it.

Cheers, dog

[johnallg]

Ron, use this - free and self-explanatory.

http://bluefive.pair.com/pixresizer.htm

Nice job. Comments please on how much and how you took maple.

[dog]

Wow John, thanks for the link to pixresizer. I will try it tonight.

When you ask about the maple, I assume you are asking how I removed the wood from the cavity, and how much I removed. I was actually afraid to use a full sized router because there is not a flat surface to rest it on. So I used a dremmel tool with a new 1/4" X 1/2" (deep) cutting tip. I had to do it free hand, so I thought that a smaller tool would be better.

I had originally thought that I would only need to remove 1/4" of stock from the body wings. It turned out to be almost the full 1/2". Even though the cavity is routed larger than the p/u, the extra space is away from the neck. After installing the toaster on the new guard, I put it in place to check for clearance. I removed small amounts of wood and rechecked each time, rather then trying to measure.

If you would like to see photos of the stock that was removed, click the link (icon) next to my name and it will take you to a collection of photo albums. I have put these new photos first.

See ya, Ron

I tried the resizer you provided and am including a photo of the tip. As you can see, cutting through the finish ruined it, as expected.

[johnallg]

Thanks, Ron. Your experience was like mine. More than I wanted, as little as necessary. Here is your bass:

http://images.myphotoalbum.com/p/ph/pho ... .sized.jpg

[dog]

Shoot John, I didn't know you had already done the mod. Oh well, it is fun to compare notes. So, you shrunk the image from the album? (of course you did) Even though my eyes are buggin' out of my head, and burning from lack of sleep, I've had a good time....and learned something. Have a good night bro. Ron

[s4001]

Wow, that's sweet. 2008 is turning out to be a golden year for Ric basses.

[cassius987]

Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful 4003. I haven't installed my stuff yet--Megan (my wife) wanted tonight to be a "date" night so I didn't get anything done... er, in the musical sense. What kind of dremmel do you recommend buying to do work like this?

[paul_yan]

Welcome to the Toaster Club, Ron! She's a classy one!

I installed a toaster on my 4003 FG in early 2003 and have been happy with the sound and look of the "toaster neck+higain bridge" PU combination ever since.

[doctorwho]

Congrats, Ron, it's great when a mod gets you what you wanted!

[dog]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I have already said this, but it is great to share my excitement with folks who understand.

Joshua, it's great that you had a date night. My wife and I do this frequently. As for the Dremmel. I bought a model 200. Mid priced with a cord. Because it will not be used very often, I didn't want a cordless. The cutting tip I bought was only 6 bucks, and is essentially a one use bit. As with any cutting tool, removing wood that has paint, or any finish, will dull it quickly. These Dremmel's are not very strong and will bog down a bit if you try to "force feed" them. But, I believe that only a very experienced wood worker should try this with a full sized, and much more powerful, router. If you would like any other info, please feel free to email me either through this forum, or through my public email on the Ric forums, or just add to the thread.

Paul, your FG is beautiful I'll tell you, since you did your mod in 2003, either you never play it, or you are as careful as I am. If I were to buy another bass, I would want one just like yours.

You guys ROCK

[paul_yan]

Thanks for the kind words, Ron.

That pic was taken right after the toaster installation. I play her almost everyday (except for some time that I play my 4003 Shadow for diversity) and take very good care of her. She's still in pristine condition now.