Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Jetglo. Fill the routes, re-route, do whatever you want, then hide everything under a thick coat of glossy black paint! A Jetglo 4002 would look great. That's what I would do. I wouldn't mess with the fretboard or the binding. Just relocating the pickups and a new 5-ply pickguard, are 90% of the way to a 4002 (assuming there's no way I can get a real 4002 wiring harness).

I think Ilan's probably got the simplest way of doing it. The only filled area that might show would be where neck pickup was filled in. Carefull prep work before refinishing should cover that up. My luthier would probably cut the filler block from a lamination that resembles what would have been there in the first place, including matching the grain. I would tend to think that milling 1/4" off the top to put a nice cap on it would make a weak spot in the neck at the back edge of the fingerboard, but if you really wanted the 4002 look it would be the way to go. I would still prefer the 4002 layout, but in a solid color with no binding. I always thought the 5-ply ABS binding looked a bit cheesy on such a nice instrument. I don't think you can get the 5-ply stuff anymore, so I'd prefer to make an acrylic guard for the Ricky look and feel.

"... so I'd prefer to make an acrylic guard for the Ricky look and feel."

Only if you paint the edges white... part of the unique 4002 look IMHO is the white contour around the pickguard. Maybe you can use a 3-ply b/w/b material, like Fender's, with a 30º bevel.

A nice finishing touch would be a black TRC with the edges painted white to match the pickguard.

This could be a good starting point for the project: a decent MIJ neck-through knockoff. You can butcher it and not worry about damaging a real Ric. If the result is satisfying, I'd move on to a genuine 4001-to-almost-4002 conversion.

Tony at Pickguardian has 5 ply material similar to that used on the 4002. I have a pile of mid 70's project basses in my basement. Perhaps I will give this a try someday....

You are the man to do it, Ted. You have a real 4002 and you will be able to tell us just how close a 4001 with HB1's in 4002 locations and 4003 circuitry is to a genuine 4002.

..also remember that the tone for fretless is in your fingers just as it is on an upright and cello..don't get me wrong , I love my 4002 more than I can convey, but she sounds not a lot different not plugged in...I'm not being weird here, I just want it said that technique and "touch" are in the equation as well

oops..lol..was meaning that to be posted in a different forum..I'm a lil redfaced..lol..not too used to multitasking..

was going to post here that I'd like to hear something like this..especially hb 1s

If you wanted to maintain the natural wood look of the 4002 (one of my favorite features), I would cap the whole body with a figured laminate (birdseye, perhaps spalt) after properly filling in the old pickup and body routes. Do a nice walnut burst with a black back - could look slick. Replace the binding with checker while you are at it.

i'm still at a loss to explain why there were so few 4002's built........they're a wonderful instrument..............and it seems that as many as could be built, would have sold........it's becoming even more apparent that i'm one lucky guy to have been able to find, much less, purchase mine.......

The 4002 was a bit ahead if its time and perhaps mainstream buyers were just not ready for it. There were very few basses that retailed for $1200+ in 1977. I don't know what the dealers were asking for them back then. The shop where my 4002 hung was asking $1200 but they claimed they were supposed to retail for $1600. Not true apparently but that is what they said. Anyway, for comparison sake, used Ricks and Fenders were going for around $300 at the time. The era of exotic woods and fancy electronics was just dawning and RIC was one of the first in.

mine was 2300 canadian with a discount..and that was in 1981

Also, there were no famous endorsers or high-profile players with a 4002. Everybody knows McCartney and Squire and Geddy and Lemmy, but who played a 4002?

I never liked the pickguard back then. It looked too squat compared to the 4001/4003 guard.
The catalog pic didn't really show off any exotic grain, either.
Seeing member's examples really gives one an appreciation of just how different & beautiful they are, though.

The first one I ever saw was the bassist for Carl Perkins was playing one, upside down mind you as he was a lefty, the bass was a rightee..Geddy Lee has one..no other names come to mind tho