Restoring a '76 4001

[doctorwho]

What a great story, Edo. Thank you for sharing--I can't wait to see how your Ric looks when you're finished.

Peace.

+1

Welcome, Edo!

[antonius]

Welcome Edo and thanks for sharing this fascinating story.

[berth]

Welcome, good to see you here. You defintely came to the right place for help (if at all needed) with your restauration project.

So I'm on the dutch bassguitarforum, and there's this Rickenbackermaniac called Bert (berth, pretty known member here for as far as I know).
He puts every Rickenbacker he can find in a Ric topic, keeping me in constant awe.

You make me blush Edo. I think I need at least 4 times my current postcount to become somewhat known overhere. I confess to being almost religious about spreading the Rickenbacker word tough.

So how am I doing for a 19 year old

I didn't even have one Rickenbacker at that age, so I guess you have a bright future before you.

Geert and Jack - I remember the names from the thread on the get-together you guys all had. I believe it was Bert that posted pics in a thread.

Imposible unless you mean the basses. The get together I posted was with the Sven (loves4003) Edo mentioned and who owns 2 of the basses in the picture and with ChrisP.

[jps]

I didn't even have one Rickenbacker at that age

I did! This one.

[ram]

Edo welcome to the forum. I did have a Ric at that age but not a restor project. Great going, sounds like you have it under control.... !

[berth]

I did! This one.

It took me ages longer to get such one.

[jps]

I was 17, and this was/is my first Rick.

[Peacefrog35]

WElcome! Edo! I'm perched on the edge of me seat to see the pics of it completed. She's going to be a beauty again. You rescued this Ric from certain death. Thank goodness you've got a good body to work with...the wood looks superb! Congrats!

[Grainger]

Wow, so many people to answer to!

First; progress so far. Colin from SoundMeOut just sent the pickguards with the one inch pupspacing. Screws are on it's way as well.
I have my work cut out!

I'm not really worried about the crack in the neck. Looks sturdy and supported the neck as it should while it was wearing its flatwounds. If it was a respray there should be a minor transition somewhere. Which I've been unable to spot, so I think there isn't any

The men in the picture with me are not Ricowners as said before

I did once play fretless basses, but I never had one. The thing is that some basses tend to sound dead when the string is on the inlay. Only a good thing that the inlays aren't on the note-positions!

Does anyone by any change has a tunerscrew lying around? Bert offered to help me, which is kind but he made no promises (would be silly to ask for that actually)
If anyone has one lying around and doesn't need it, I'll keep myself recommended! Of course I will pay for it!

[berth]

Only a good thing that the inlays aren't on the note-positions!

Gently sliding towards a note is one of the more fun parts of playing fretless i.m.h.o..

[FretlessOnly]

No need to do it gently. Mingus it!

[jps]

Hmm, so now Mingus is a verb?

[Grainger]

I was studying *admiring* the Ric some more and I noticed the work on unfretting. Now, the 21st fret is just out, obvious. Now for the rest of the frets, they are so darn straight that I can't quite say for sure; are they filled or are they viled down frets?

Can someone put his eye on this and add some constructive critisism? I really hope it's filled, a viled down fret would be nearly impossible to remove!

[berth]

Now, the 21st fret is just out, obvious.

What a pity. Would have been nice if it still was there.

[jps]

That is the 20th fret, there is no 21st fret on that bass.

it does look like the frets were just filed down except for the last one (the 20th ). Maybe the person who did this tried the last fret first and decided it was easier to just file all the frets down.