Be prepared to flip out!!!

[bobcat]

Joshua, you should play my 4004Cii triple humbucker fretless.

Oh man, I would love to take one of the current Mapleglo Ciis and put a white 4003 pickguard on it and a white TRC . . . it'd be like a super-sleek v63 with different pickups. Mmmmmmmm . . .

[simer4001]

This threads been DOA for a while,,,I got to thinking,, has anyone thought of a "Deluxe" version of the 4004?, Binding, fingerboard inlays ect.....

If so,, what would you consider "Deluxe" in regard to the 4004?

Not that this isn't a good idea, but it doesn't answer the 4001 reissue question.

[beefandbones]

JH recently showed us that great letter from the late 40s (and never rescinded) where Leo Fender gave Francis Hall permission to use Fender's name on his products. Maybe, since a John Fogerty signature edition isn't forthcoming, the RIC factory is working on a Stu Cook signature P-Bass with a toaster at the neck position!

[aceonbass]

Oh man, I would love to take one of the current Mapleglo Ciis and put a white 4003 pickguard on it and a white TRC . . . it'd be like a super-sleek v63 with different pickups. Mmmmmmmm . . .

That's what I've done with two of my 4004's. I just like the 4001 asthetics better. The problem with doing this on a current 4004 would be the pickup placement up against the fretboard since the entire pickup rises through the guard. The pickup would need to be moved back a bit so the front edge of the guard would surround the pickup.

[2112]

I would think it's going to be a bolt on neck with 24 frets. Also available in a 5-string model.
Just a guess.

Model 4007.

[rickaddict]

I like the look and higher tuning ratio of RIC/Schaller vintage tuners better.

+1

As for the guard Paul, it's clear plexi with gold paint sprayed on the back. It seems it doesn't quite match the gold of the TRC, so I may see if I can remove the paint and come up with a better match or have Pickguardian make one since I know they have the proper paint code.

I wouldn't worry about it so much, Dane (but then again...I know how you obsess about stuff so that might not be possible!) Most Ricks I've seen (except for the DCM's and the GF's) don't really have a matching TRC and pick guard anyway! I think different types of plastic is the usual culprit. And I've had several gold plexi TRC's that all seem to be different too. Different sized metallic particles and slightly different colors, etc.

And then you have another problem with the shiny gold plastic: It looks much different depending on the angle that you view it from--And as you know, the body and the tilt-back headstock are at different angles--So the TRC and pick guard don't look well-matched even if they are!

[bobcat]

That's what I've done with two of my 4004's. I just like the 4001 asthetics better. The problem with doing this on a current 4004 would be the pickup placement up against the fretboard since the entire pickup rises through the guard. The pickup would need to be moved back a bit so the front edge of the guard would surround the pickup.

Oh. My god.

I'd like to buy 20 please. Black market organ sales sounds good . . .

But seriously, how viable would it be to move a modern 4004 neck pickup back? Would that mess up the structural integrity of the bass? Would it be possible to have someone make a custom 4003 pickguard that accommodates the 4004 pickup spacing and just put that on there?

[johnallg]

Couldn't a tight maple plug be made to fill the original rout and then make one at the 1/2" position? I mean, the router is already out and ready to fire up...

[aceonbass]

A maple block can be made with a front to rear interference fit to strengthen the bass in this area, then the new pickup and truss rod access routes can been made. I've done this on another Rick or two before I made the custom guard.

[12stringbassist]

JH recently showed us that great letter from the late 40s (and never rescinded) where Leo Fender gave Francis Hall permission to use Fender's name on his products.

Sadly, the days of Ric-made Fenders is a long way off. When Leo Fender sold the company (and was then warned about making Fender-alike guitars with G+L), that contents of that letter would have become null and void, as the rights would transfer to the current owners.

[cassius987]

That's not so, according to JH on the corporate forum.

Also, I don't think it's sad to imagine a world where Rickenbacker can't build Fenders!! They don't have enough time in the first place.

[aceonbass]

As I remember, the issue with Leo Fender after selling the company was that he not start a competing musical instrument company for at least 10 years and that if he did, he could not use the Fender name..ever!

[cassius987]

Well, he went on to help give birth to the Stingray... so I'm all thumbs-up about that!

[teeder]

I'm still holding my breath and waiting to be flipped out!
(Incase anyone cares!)

[ajish4]

I'm still holding my breath and waiting to be flipped out!
(Incase anyone cares!)

Me too!