Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As Jared would say..."Damn"!

So what exactly is the reasoning for not releasing the "pallet" of 4002's? Or is the pallet just urban legend. I only ask because I don't know enough about this model, or it's history.

It's actually a pallet of body wings for 4002 production that were left over when 4002 production ended. RIC's production schedule probably precludes adding them into the production line for finishing at this time, but I would guess that when JH decides what to do with them, he'll let us know. I seem to remember him or someone at RIC telling me that he had loaded and wired pickguard assemblies left over for these left over too.

...then again, he may not let us know after the 75th Anniversary discussion.

Hmmm ... if it is just body wings they could put them on a modern neck and 2 or 3 hb-1 pickups ... can you imagine 4002 body wings on a 4003 neck with triangle inlays ... they would sell at pretty much any price they were listed at ...

The old wings would have to be recut to fit the modern neck slabs. The 4001, 4002, and early 4003s had straight neck slabs. Some time in the 80's they switched to a tapered slab (wider at the tailpiece end) so the wings would not look right unless they were reshaped to fit the taper.

perhaps they would look something like this ...

somehow,.......it wouldn't be the same.......especially with the rosewood fretboard...........i like the ebony on the 4002's............it's just too bad the 4002's didn't have the full inlay........

Ted, couldn't the neck slabs just be trimmed till they were straight? That seems easier that trimming the body wings.

No, they would be too narrow then.

Jeff my 4002 looks cool with the 4003 neck on it but I think I would still prefare an ebony fret board as it adds a lot of punch to the sound between a 4003 and a 4002.

I prefer the look of the original 4002 fretboard, since it focuses attention on the body wood.

David - Thanks for posting those pics! That body & neck wood is amazing! The match is near flawless, and the figuring is %#@*+& jaw dropping. That just might be the nicest wood figuring of any Rick bass I've seen! Hang onto that sucker!

Are the pickups original, or later model humbuckers?

Geddy Lee says he used the 4002 on "Losing It".

Interesting. Is 'Losing It' the only song off 'Signals' he used it on? To my ear it sounds like there could be others.