Something very special is making its way through the factory

[KOLAD]

Wow nice bass, who made that pickguard and whats the model of it called (the shape, and the material?)
download/file.php?id=47435&mode=view

to me

Looks like a 4001 to my eyes..

And pickguardian will do a pick guard for you in that material.

http://www.pickguardian.com/product-cat ... er-basses/

I ask because some of the full size older 4001 pickguards are more or less pointy on the top left than others.
This one looks real nice.

[ilan]

The Pickguardian "vintage conversion" is all wrong. It has rounded corners, that "double hump" at the bottom, and 1" spacing pickup cutout. A good "vintage conversion" should have the elegant original shape, with screw holes that line up with recent-issue 4003 guards.

[Colonel Sanders]

Yes Brian they would definitely match our National flag...Red and white...

Blue and white is also nice!

[iiipopes]

And red, white and blue is also very nice, whether crossed crosses or stars and bars.

[KOLAD]

The Pickguardian "vintage conversion" is all wrong. It has rounded corners, that "double hump" at the bottom, and 1" spacing pickup cutout. A good "vintage conversion" should have the elegant original shape, with screw holes that line up with recent-issue 4003 guards.

Right, he does do a 1/2" cut one, but yes, it's a little too rounded. It's a perfect cross between a 4003's roundeyness and a 4001 though.

I did find a place that makes a more accurately shaped full size 4001 guard to go on a 4003, it's in the UK and expensive for me though.
Know of anyone else that does a conversion guard?
I am even thinking about finding a scroll saw and doing it myself with some similar type material to save the $60-$80.

[jps]

The Pickguardian "vintage conversion" is all wrong. It has rounded corners, that "double hump" at the bottom, and 1" spacing pickup cutout. A good "vintage conversion" should have the elegant original shape, with screw holes that line up with recent-issue 4003 guards.

Like the two Tony made for me in 2008?

4003VJS_1200_6338.jpg

4003VJS_1200_6353.jpg

[ilan]

Yes, but with screw holes that line up with the holes in the body of a new 4003, so you don't have to drill new ones.

[jps]

Except for adding the one screw hole for the extended PG by the E string area of the bridge pickup surround all the screw holes are in the standard locations for a modern 4003.

Not counting the two for the plexi finger rest.

I gave the bass to Tony for the weekend so he could make the pickguards for me.

[KOLAD]

Those are awesome! Can you refer me to Tony? I don't know who that is. Tony "Pickguardian" Tony?

[johnallg]

The Pickguardian "vintage conversion" is all wrong. It has rounded corners, that "double hump" at the bottom, and 1" spacing pickup cutout. A good "vintage conversion" should have the elegant original shape, with screw holes that line up with recent-issue 4003 guards.

Or just order one from RIC CS - part number 03504 Pickguard 4001C64 (Wht)

[KOLAD]

Will it line up with the drill holes though? (besides the top far left obviously)

Does anyone make one that comes all the way back to the smaller metal pickup ring as opposed to the larger HS one?

[Colonel Sanders]

The Pickguardian "vintage conversion" is all wrong. It has rounded corners, that "double hump" at the bottom, and 1" spacing pickup cutout. A good "vintage conversion" should have the elegant original shape, with screw holes that line up with recent-issue 4003 guards.

Like the two Tony made for me in 2008?

4003VJS_1200_6338.jpg

4003VJS_1200_6353.jpg

What year/month is your 4003? Lucky you, you have one 4003 from the very short period RIC nailed it perfectly! Full width inlays and keeping the pre-skinny wings.

Anyone has a 4003 from this period for sale, I am a buyer...

[jps]

Mine was a May '08 build. I got it a week before I did RIO!!!.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=382629

[Colonel Sanders]

Mine was a May '08 build. I got it a week before I did RIO!!!.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=382629

Do you know the duration of that perfect period?

[jps]

Not off hand. The FWI were introduced that Spring IIRC; the thining down of the body horns I think started happening sometime in 2011, perhaps.