Save me, Ted!!

[ilan]

If you change the body or a neck on a Fender Stratcocaster is it still a Strat?

Fenders are different because they are basically parts guitars. The bass in question, if carefully restored, will remain a Ric IMHO. But I think someone will buy it not for full restoration but for its fretboard and possibly the truss rods.

[cjj]

OK, start with one RIC TRC, use the same woods and RIC hardware and what do you have?

That would not qualify as a restoration project in my mind.

I am willing to bet that Paul can help determine when work such as you mention crosses the line to become a replica and alternatively when it could be deemed a restoration project.

Actually, it would probably be up to Mr. Hall and his legal staff.

Yeah, that was getting a bit absurd, but it served to point out that this topic encompasses a vast gray area between what is a restoration and what is a replica/fake/whatever. I really don't know the answer, but I'd think that if the restoration started with the main structural element, such as the neck, it should qualify as a restoration. I doubt this has ever been tested in the courts (oh, and I'm in no way willing to be the first )...

[jps]

Save me, Ted!!

Sorry I'm busy at the moment!

[winston]

I did not realise that Ted was so good looking. Seriously though, what a handsome dog you have there Jeff.

[gareth]

I would buy this for the neck to maybe turn my 4003 hulk into a doubleneck, but then I'm full of good ideas I can't possibly pay for.

A fretted/fretless or 4-8 string comes to mind.

[jps]

I did not realise that Ted was so good looking. Seriously though, what a handsome dog you have there Jeff.

Teddy belongs to my partner at the lab, Jim, but Teddy comes to work every day; he is VP in charge of security. Not only that, but he has gotten pre-approved American Express credit card applications in the mail!

[johnny_rick]

That's exactly what happened to the dollar since that bass was built!

[winston]

My dog Winston never get's credit card offers in the mail. He does not have fancy title though.

[jps]

Aitch and Paul Boyer have met Teddy, perhaps they can give their impressions of him.

[johnallg]

This has to be a later 70s 4001 as the neck pickup is really at the 1" position - look at the deeper center of the rout and the distance to the fretboard. Why would someone cut up a nicely flamed Rick? This neck begs for some of Steve's flamed maple (as in his cabs he built). The headstock end looks like it was under water at some point.

[ilan]

And now, guess what pops up on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-Rickenbacker-4 ... dZViewItem

[JakeK]

Ironic!

[gareth]

Well, that neck is now going for more than I bought this entire body and neck for less than a month ago. Someone must really want a 4001 project.....

[rickaddict]

Y'know, I saw what looks like a '74 to '76 4001 bass neck with mutilated body wings on ebay right now, and an ambitious person could build a 4001 cheap. Or spend 2 grand for one. Email questions, good luck!

Smart of him to put it on ebay now!

[aceonbass]

I tend to think of the neck as the heart and soul of an instrument. Even if non-RIC body wings are applied to that neck, I think it's still a Rick, as long as they have the proper shape of course. On the other hand, if a new neck is made for that body, it is not a Rick.