Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

That's not routing.. that's a semi-hollowbody!

that looks like a '69-'70 bass that was routed for a gibson eb0 pickup and then restored back to a toaster pickup ... the treble pickup and surround and tailpiece look original ...

I guess what I'm really asking is would you feel comfortable buying a bass like this? Can wood be filled in for support?

If the price was right, I'd buy it. It could be an excellent player and sound great. As long as there is not too much routing and the pickguard covers it, no one will see it. You can always fill it if you want to.

My '75 4001 fretless has alot of routing. some bonehead that used to own it routed out space for some crazy home made preamp. The pickguard covers the routing, but one day I will fill a least some of the routing.

If it's not a museum piece, then I wouldn't worry much if I were you. It's all under the guard and the treble pickup mounting ring (how does it look under the mounting ring?). It does reflect on the price though.

some people have no decency.

Hi Marc,

some time ago I had a similar large routing on a P-bass (ash body)to accomodate a Telecaster Bass PU. I tried to find a material for fill in that would have wooden resonance characteristics, because I expected quite a big influence of such filling on the overall sound of the body (You can check on that by nocking on the separate body like you were knocking on a door, try different areas). The "liquid" wood fill in did not do the job, as there is too much glue in it that dampens the resonance. I ended up with epoxy and glass fiber patches, like you can by for car repair. This material had the best sounding result, plus it was nice to finish for the surface also for the following paint job.
With your 4001 in jetglo the paint job won't be too difficult.

Best regards
Peter

Sometimes a routing may change the sound in a positive way. As Bob said:

"That's not routing.. that's a semi-hollowbody!"

Wasn't one of Stevie Ray Vaughan's favourite guitars crazy routed?

If the price is lowered because of the routing, then by it! I would!

I never filled the routing around the treble pup of my 4000, it's covered by the vintage pup surround. Gives it it's own unique sound.

I mean BUY it, of course!

I wouldn't worry too much either, unless you want a perfect piece. Probably a great player and it will have a slightly different sound.
It's always going to be collectible so it just depends on the price you want to pay then.
Is that the 71 that Ken posted for $2700 Marc?

Go ahead Marc ,you have made it impossible for me to make any reasonable deal on it,remember paybacks are hell![greed]

Ken, I had no idea this was the same bass you were after. You said the bass was not from Italy. This one is. I have no intention of purchasing this bass.