Stripped bass body

[RogerM]

I have a Rick bass body given to me a couple of years ago by a friend of a friend (a stranger to me) - if I submitted a couple of photos for other's opinions, hopefully I could get some opinions? I'm trying to get an idea if it's a genuine Rick bass body. Any help will be much appreciated, so thanks in advance

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the RRF, Roger. If you post some pictures, we should be able to tell you if it's genuine or fake.

[bassduke49]

You're welcome to post photos. Be aware, though, that there are only a few models where the "body" can be separated from the neck. Most models are "neck through" construction, not like a Fender where you can just swap necks and bodies easily with a "bolt-on" neck.

Rick models with detachable "bolt-on" necks would include the 3000, 3001, 2030, 2050, 2020, 2060, and 2030GF Glenn Frey signature edition. Some Rick basses had glued-in ("set") necks: 4000 and 4001S from the mid- to late-1970s, and the 4005 hollow-body basses.

If you have a body in the classic "Rick" shape that has a bolt-on neck pocket, you almost certainly have a faker.

[RogerM]

No, it's a neck-through, and "feels" compatible with my 1973 Fireglo 4001 - but what do I know? Here's some pix:

I have a few more pix that i'll add in a separate post - and thanks in advance for your opinion(s)

[RogerM]

A few more pix

[ken_j]

Early eighties 4003. The headstock appears to have been drilled for larger tuners.

[sloop_john_b]

That appears to be a 4003 made between 1980 and 1986.

[RogerM]

Thanks so much, I'm a new member here (this is my first post) and I really appreciate your help.
So, a 4003 . . . beats me why anyone would do this to any Rick but there you go. Now to decide what to do with it.

[rickenbrother]

It's been a very long time since I've looked under the hood of an old style (early - mid 80's) 4003.

[johnallg]

Roger, nice example of the early 80s 4003. It has the two piece neck so it is an earlier one. I would plug the headstock holes with maple plugs with the correct grain orientation then redrill the holes the proper size. You will probably need to paint it a solid color, as the black JetGlo color is in the grain of the wood. It should turn out nice.

[aceonbass]

I would also make a maple block to fill the cavity between the neck pickup route and where the truss rod routing starts in the neck. Someone has removed considerable material in this area and really weakened it.

[RogerM]

Thanks again to everyone, I *really* appreciate all your comments