Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

eric_b wrote:Trans Black

+1

Plenty of good recommendations but I'd go with a tung oil finish.

cheyenne wrote:Might I suggest one of the three transparent finishes like the ones used on the CII's???

It would highlight the wings, and be one of a kind.

+1 - I'm a huge fan of trans red in particular!

aceonbass wrote:My original suggestion back when you first posted this bass here was to do a "4003S5CS" and I still like that idea. I never really saw the color on Chris's bass with any yellow in the color in my mind's eye. This is why I went with the cream color on my 4008CS which you've seen in person Ted. I'd go with that same creamy color here too with exposed wings. I'd also do the proper pickguard with the relocated mounting hole like Chris' bass as well as a plexi finger rest and the proper shaped bridge pickup surround like on the early CS's. Square off the heel and go over the neck pickup route with a forstner bit too. Vintage tuners, truss rod cover and knobs would complete the CS theme. I'd depart where the pickups are concerned though and go with a pair of HB1's with push-pull coil taps on the tone controls. My second choice would definitely be a transparent finish in either blue or red.

I like the CS suggestion and have considered that the direction for a long time but the BT gets in the way. I could plate the tail piece but BT is hard to come by so I think I will leave it black.

The bass has a bit of a history. It was once owned by Bad Ronbo of the Killer Dwarfs. He played the $#!t out of the bass and left it for dead. The action at the 12th fret fret was close to 1/2" high. Probably a lot like Squire's 4001 these days. There were long cracks in the finish right where the neck meets the body wings. You could actually move the neck back and forth between the wings. It was quite a sight. The finish was crusty and bubbly in places. Ronbo must sweat acid or something.

I think a BT bass cries out for a metallic finish. Maybe you could do Desert Gold and leave the wings exposed...that'd be my vote.

I have not been able to find a picture of Ronbo with this bass but here is a video of him playing a lovely JG V63.

Does anyone have an example picture of transparent black on maple?

How about a nice greenburst...something not so ordinary....the walnut wings will show then also.....it also shows well with BT

jaymi-i love the green/burst idea...every time i have seen rick basses redone in various shades of green,(kelly,sprucey,etc),they always look fantastic....plus the cii trans green is just beautimus.......there's one over on talkbass that has pics with both black and white plastic-it looks great either way.....of course i am partial to green myself...

A trans teal or trans teal burst would look cool and would be sort of unique on a Rick.

rickfan60 wrote:I have not been able to find a picture of Ronbo with this bass but here is a video of him playing a lovely JG V63.

YIKES!

Now I know why I've never heard of the Killer Dwarfs!

Interesting bass. Is it an early V63, or an RM1999? It appears a few times in the video with a couple of good, full-bass shots at 1:35 and 3:09 or so.

The bass has a very dark fretboard and dark exposed head wings with a cream-glo center on the headstock. At first I thought it might be a 4001CS that had a JG body re-fin...But the video is supposed to be from 1987 which is 3 or 4 years before the 4001CS came out.

Either way, the bass was inspired by Chris Squire.

That was a fun video. Now I know what it takes to make a record!