Ric Undergoes Major Mod

[paologregorio]

He's given the "S" designation a new meaning...

Ditto that x10!

[scott_s]

Definitely not to my liking, either. But is there anything to this mod that isn't reversible (or at least cover-up-able)?

[ilan]

Yeah, everyone's 4001S just went up 25 cents in value.

I sure hope so!

This "S" MG/BT will remain all original (with the exception of the Bezel...) I honestly can't see how to improve it. It is seriously awesome.

[rickenbrother]

He's given the "S" designation a new meaning...

Ditto that x10!

+1!!

I wasn't going to say anything, but call me a Rickensnob, I don't really don't care. Go for it, it's a compliment.
I also think that the white pickguard looks wrong (to me) with all the black hardware and other plastic.
Overall, I don't like it, but It's far from the worst mod I've ever seen. I don't mind the vintage shaped treble pickup surround, but I would have kept the RIC higain in place.
Whether I like it or not, it's his Rick. It is too bad he did this to an S bass, oh well.
The other issue I have with this, is guys that do these mods, then expect to sell these instruments with the cost of the new parts and labor tacked onto the original value of the Rick. Sorry, it doesn't work that way! Rarely are structurally modded Ricks worth the original value of the instrument or more. The 4004L/5 that Paul W is doing for Brian, Dane's 4003CS/8, Tom's 4004L/8 and Paulie's WB'ed 330's might be examples of that.

[bartyclue]

How can you tell an "S" model?

Dot inlays, more contoured body with no body binding, no neck binding.

I love this forum. Thanks for the answer. I have been playing these guitars since my teens without a thought to the history of them.

[Grey]

The 'controversy' and rage this has stirred up leaves me sitting here laughing to myself. This is the 3rd time i've seen people flame this guy, first on the official RIC forums, then Talk Bass, and now here. The amount of intolerance for what people want to do with their instrument is staggering, I had no idea there were so many 'elitists' in Ricdom. I've learned alot today.

[badeggs]

The 'controversy' and rage this has stirred up leaves me sitting here laughing to myself. This is the 3rd time i've seen people flame this guy, first on the official RIC forums, then Talk Bass, and now here. The amount of intolerance for what people want to do with their instrument is staggering, I had no idea there were so many 'elitists' in Ricdom. I've learned alot today.

Um, I'm not reading any "rage" or "elitism" in any of these responses, just honest opinions. And no one on here (or any of those other forums) said he couldn't do it, just that he's cutting up a very rare model in order to "improve" it without appreciating what it is...

I agree there's some snobbery on this board from time to time (personally I hate when people write F****r or say "you have to cut the cap in your bass", it's a load of garbage), but this ain't snobbery, just annoyance, and it's justified.

[s4001]

The 'controversy' and rage this has stirred up leaves me sitting here laughing to myself. This is the 3rd time i've seen people flame this guy, first on the official RIC forums, then Talk Bass, and now here. The amount of intolerance for what people want to do with their instrument is staggering, I had no idea there were so many 'elitists' in Ricdom. I've learned alot today.

Don't get me wrong, it's his bass and he can do what he wants to it. And I've taken a router to my own 68, so I've no room to talk.

However, you could imagine car enthusiasts grousing about a guy that buys a mint 71 mustang and then takes the motor out, puts a wankel in it, chops the top and scoops the hood.

[Grey]

Um, I'm not reading any "rage" or "elitism" in any of these responses, just honest opinions. And no one on here (or any of those other forums) said he couldn't do it, just that he's cutting up a very rare model in order to "improve" it without appreciating what it is...

No offense but 3 seperate threads all spanning several pages on 3 seperate forums.... yea. I could pick out specific quotes, i'll admit it hasen't been as harsh here as it is in other places, but my opinion still stands. Also, theres a difference between being an Elitist and being a Snob.

I think he fully appretiates what it is, it just dosen't matter to him. Yea, it's a slightly rare model... so? Are you trying to say that he's "undeserving" of it because it's slightly rare and he's modding it so he can actaully enjoy it? Maybe you're saying that it should belong to someone who appretiates it "properly" and wouldn't touch it with anything more than a polishing cloth. Or maybe im just reading too much into what you're saying.

[wim]

he should have bought a F****r or had the cap bypassed.

Off course it's his and he does whatever he wants with it, but like John Hall said, he gave a new meaning to the 'S'.
He'll learn when he sells it.

[cassius987]

Some people really have gone too far in their comments, but others have just said, "Wow, what a dumb idea," which is as much their right as it is his right to think it was a good idea and do it. It's wrong to suggest every negative comment is elitism or snobbery. On the other hand, I think some of the comments I've read actually are that.

This kind of thing always sucks for me because I never feel quite comfortable on what people inevitably define as the "sides" of the "argument". Ultimately it just makes everybody look foolish, in my experience.

[nattiep]

Here's the fun part... who says he's gonna sell it? All you people care about is resale value. Doesn't anybody KEEP a bass anymore? He put this work into getting what he wanted. I'm amazed something like this mod, a personal preference playability mod, gets so much flack over something like Dane does. I'm not trying to attack what Dane does but I think putting a pickguard on a bass that doesn't need one, a third pickup or permanently altering the headstock for an 8 string should be considered just as bad as what this guy did. The guy routed out space for something HE will play. You don't have to like it.

This used to be a great informative community and now all it has are people who insult you if you don't do what they think you should.

Also, with the amount of censorship on here (like the forum censoring the children's version of the four letter word that starts with s) I'm surprised nobody has changed John Hall's comment. We know what he means...

[Paolo]

Here's the fun part... who says he's gonna sell it? All you people care about is resale value. Doesn't anybody KEEP a bass anymore? He put this work into getting what he wanted. I'm amazed something like this mod, a personal preference playability mod, gets so much flack over something like Dane does. I'm not trying to attack what Dane does but I think putting a pickguard on a bass that doesn't need one, a third pickup or permanently altering the headstock for an 8 string should be considered just as bad as what this guy did. The guy routed out space for something HE will play. You don't have to like it.

This used to be a great informative community and now all it has are people who insult you if you don't do what they think you should.

Also, with the amount of censorship on here (like the forum censoring the children's version of the four letter word that starts with s) I'm surprised nobody has changed John Hall's comment. We know what he means...

I couldn't agree more. There seems to be a hell of a lot of rude,double standard,childish,arrogant & narrow minded purists on this forum. It's a shame.

[johnnysain]

There seems to be a hell of a lot of rude,double standard,childish,arrogant & narrow minded purists on this forum. It's a shame.

Would you consider calling posters "childish" and "arrogant" to be "rude"?

Or is just an opinion you have every right to express?

You stated you couldn't agree more with this, "This used to be a great informative community and now all it has are people who insult you if you don't do what they think you should".

Could that include,...."if you don't say what they think you should"?

[Tarrbot]

I couldn't agree more. There seems to be a hell of a lot of rude,double standard,childish,arrogant & narrow minded purists on this forum. It's a shame.

I find great irony in your words when taken into context with your sig line...

...and on the 8th day,God created Rickenbacker.

Purist, anyone?

It's almost comedy gold...