4003 converted to fretless

[llocust]

I'm new here and don't actually own a Rick, although there may be a 360/12 in my future. I thought I'd share some pics of my brother's 4003 that he bought new a couple years ago and sent off for some neck "enhancement" and then further modified.

He had a guy pull out the frets and replace them with maple strips and had the board epoxied. Then he had some aluminum pieces made for the pick guard and TRC and had them chromed.


For the headstock logo he created a plastic mold and added a molded black plastic logo for the finishing touch.



He lives about 600 miles from me so I haven't yet seen it in person, but it came out really nice, from the looks of things.

[jdogric12]

Neat!

[johnallg]

Yeah, that is really neat.

[edski]

Andy - do you know if your brother had the nut altered? Fretless basses need to have lower clearance since there is no frets to help when you stop the string.

Regardless, it looks really nice!

[bassduke49]

Very pretty!

[legato]

I like it.
Tell your brother to join the forum

[johnhall]

Must have been some thin Maple to fit in the fret slots! Maybe strips of veneer or edge banding? That's a pretty good idea, actually.

Wood filler would have been easier and more common but the fret line would not be so crisp. Some Rosewood filler on the board to take care of the fret tangs could really make sure the line is sharp.

[aceonbass]

So John, sinnce the 4003 and 4004 share the same neck, are there any plans to build fretless 4004's?

[ram]

that is a wicked cool looking bass.... I think the 4004 fretless would be so damned cool!!! I wish I had some cash laying around... Snowglo fretless!!!! just the though warms the cockles of my heart!

wow! I think I am becoming a 4004 guy... 4004L8.... 4004C.....

[rickenbrother]

that is a wicked cool looking bass.... I think the 4004 fretless would be so damned cool!!! I wish I had some cash laying around... Snowglo fretless!!!! just the though warms the cockles of my heart!

wow! I think I am becoming a 4004 guy... 4004L8.... 4004C.....

+1! I'm not a fretless with fret lines player, but I might might make the exception for this 4003!

Ooooh, 4004 Snowglo fretless...would be a great and perfect opposite to my 4004Cii Jetglo with frets. I've been a 4004 guy for the past 9 years.
4004 Cii or L fretless, I'm still hopeful!

[RickyBubba]

very nice, but how do you chrome plate aluminum?

[johnhall]

very nice, but how do you chrome plate aluminum?

You flash it with copper first, then plate it conventionally, just as you do with plastic.

[aceonbass]

I've been a 4004 guy for the past 9 years. 8)4004 Cii or L fretless, I'm still hopeful!

Why wait another 8 or 9 years. Ya must have a dozen 4004's Joey. Why not just get one converted with a nice big slab of ebony. I'll give ya the number to my luthier.

[rickenbrother]

I've been a 4004 guy for the past 9 years. 8)4004 Cii or L fretless, I'm still hopeful!

Why wait anothe 8 or 9 years. Ya must have a dozen 4004's Joey. Why not just get one converted with a nice big slab of ebony. I'll give ya the number to my luthier.

I wish I had that many! If I did, one of them would definitely be fretless by now! If/when my cash flow is good and I could find a nice deal on maybe a mapleglo or trans red Cii, with the pickups in the interim position (closer to the bridge) a fretless ebony fingerboard would probably happen to it! I think I'd have dots put on the front of the fingerboard to keep as much Rick FL vibe as possible.

[aceonbass]

My guy did the lined conversion to my old 4004Cii for around $150.00 about seven years ago. So...how many 4004's DO you have Joey?