Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I had thought about going bigger on the guard, but with only three controls that were limited to the spot they're in, it would have looked too big. I also liked the look of it with a 4001 style guard laid over it and my vintage style bridge pickup surround. Then it looked a lot like Brian's 4001V63 MID. The top of the body is also about 1/8" thinner than a 4003 so a 4003 tailpiece assembly would have the bridge sitting very high in it to compensate. On the other hand, the Hipsot 4003 replacement bridge would work.
Ray, in answer to your question, no I never stop thinking of ways to modify stuff. You should see my StingRay bikes and my '66 Buick.

I vote clean, no guard, they got that bass right the first time....except for the missing B string....

"....except for the missing B string...."

Nah, they got it right. I just swapped the nut and strung my red 4004 BEAD today. Perfect.

Mark, you're starting to sound a lot like Jeff Rath. Do you guys have a bowling team or something?
As far as 5 strings go, I've concluded that the stock, and even slightly wider spacing on Jeff's conversions just leave it a bit tight for my right hand. I have something VERY radical planned that will address that issue while still looking like a RIC with all RIC parts.

Jeff uses a slightly narrower bridge than I do. I've been using the Schaller 496(it's been discontinued) that has a 2 1/2" spread with a 16mm pitch between strings, very generous spacing when compared to a S/5 or a converted 4003. Since it looks like production has stopped on that bridge, I was lucky to get an extra one off of ebay a while back for my jetglo Laredo that's on order. This bridge pushes the limits for width but I haven't had any issues with the pickups as far as the B and G strings.

Ha! I've got one up on y'all! I've seen Dane's bass live. It is even sweeter in person! And I do not believe Dane would have tried that guard on anything but a solid color. Love that bass Mark, but it would not be fun trying to keep it pristine!

Nice Dyson MarK!

This bass is far from pristine, me and Johnny B. both got our greenboys from Tom Gallo a while back and they both had some gig wounds in the finish. Both are turning prematurely green and I decided that it would be a good refin candidate, I'm leaning towards bright white with the walnut wings exposed.

Well, all I can say is, that shot of the "green" boy is gorgeous!

Yep, mine has certainly seen better days! BTW, I never thought to look if it had walnut wings - it does.

Dane's pickguard is based on a tracing of the pg from my 2060 (soon to arrive in Erik Kutzler's collection). I'm not crazy about it on the 4004, but I wish the 4003 series had a pickguard like that one on the experimental one in Smith's book.

I really like the black hardware on the Blueboy 4004 Mark.

The black hardware is temporary until the refin, I think chrome would look better with the walnut, like on a C.S.. The black hardware will go on the jetglo Laredo when it comes, I'll be going for the shadow look and retaining the natural fretboard.

I found out for sure about the walnut wings when I drilled the hole for the fifth tuner. I had a small 1/2" wafer left over that was 50/50 walnut/maple right done the center....sweet.

Back to JB's question:

JB, YOU DON'T NEED SCREWS!

Especially in this situation, where a glossy surface is fastened semi-permanently to another glossy surface.

There are a number of double-faced tapes which would work fine and not cause the degree of finish damage that screwholes would...

My own easy-to obtain favorite is plain old carpet tape (the kind with a gauze cloth backing). You can buy this at any Ace hardware or local hardware store, in 2" wide rolls, for a few bucks.

DON'T cover the whole back of the guard with it; just use a half-dozen 1/2" squares. Position the guard, mark its location (I use bits of masking tape to mark the outside edges...), peel and stick.

If you ever want to get it off, pry upward carefully with your fingernail and keep slowly prying.

Nice, clean look with this method, too. It's how I hold the guards onto my Rick acoustics.

PW, sounds like a good, non-permanent solution to me. Would the carpet tape cause any damage to the finish? I suppose nothing that couldn't be touched up or gotten out with naptha or something.

Dane, can you make mine without screw holes? I could always drill 'em out myself if I decide I wanna attach it permanently.