Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just got this April '73 beaut back from the refin shop. I had a reissue horseshoe lying around so I popped that in; it sounds and looks great (though it has a MUCH higher output than the toaster).

My question is: Is it "wrong" to fiddle with vintage instruments? On the one hand, it's reasonable to make an instrument exactly as you want it, both cosmetically and functionally. On the other, why not alter a newer, less valuable instrument and leave the older ones alone? And does the knowledge that your instrument is vintage change the way you play and your enjoyment of it?

Broad, vague questions, I know. I'm trying to answer them in the context of my own buying/selling habits and I'm curious what others think.

If you've "another" reissue horseshoe laying around I'd put it in here


My June 72 looking naked without her cover !!!

As long as it's a reversable mod I see no problem with modifying them. Just my opinion. Although I think they look better with their original high gains.

My quick take..

If you have a bass that you love (or just one that looks like THAT one!) I'd want to make sure that it was set up in a way that made me want to pick it up and play it as much as possible. More care and reverence when playing it, sure, but I'd play it as much as I could.

Would a rare, vintage instrument see alot of gigs or practices? Not likely. Would I do anything irreversible? Only if it was modded already, and even then any alterations would be minor. (You won't be seeing me attack it with a router!)

I guess you can look at it a couple of different ways, and it truly depends on the instrument, but I for one see nothing wrong with a couple of mods that make your bass that much better for YOU.

Looks great, Seth!! It's your bass, fella. You haven't damaged it with non-reversable mods, so .... don't worry....be HAPPY!!

Sorry....I couldn't stop it....

I don't think there's anything wrong in swapping out a pickup. I did it myself five years ago when the bridge p/u on my April 73 4001 died. Rather than repair it, I replaced it with a new factory horseshoe p/u. I didn't change the surround or make any modifications to the bass itself. I didn't want to put the v63 horseshoe surround on my bass and the horseshoe p/u dropped right in without the need for any modification.

Everything else on the bass is factory original. I did bypass the .0047 cap when I installed the horseshoe. But that can be undone in less than 5 minutes if I want to change it back.

As long as one doesn't misrepresent what the instrument is, I think it's ok.

Here's my 73 as she is today.

Hmm, what you think Jeff Rath's take is on this?

Nice bass Jon, once again I'm happy you decided to keep her !!

I'm not Jon,sell it to me[beauty]anyway Seth,these old Ric basses can sit around and collect dust or we can play them [carefully of course]as long as the mod ,as Bob said is reversible why not,they were meant to be played and enjoyed.

I guess so. And thanks for the thoughts. I know that having it refinished in the first place is a modification. But how far do you go with that line of thinking? I'm not saying it's crucial that everything be stock; I just wonder if it's a misrepresentation, and if so how wrong is that (other than in the context of buying or selling it, of course).

For instance, what if I decided that I liked the lucite tug bars and added one to this bass. Were it a year or so older, it would have one, but otherwise be pretty much the same. (I don't think I'm going to be doing that particular mod anytime soon.) Would it be wrong? Or would it just SEEM so wrong as to preclude any of us doing it? Again, exploring the rhetorical here.

When I used to gig with my old 1968 4001 the 60's pickups were too underwound and weak for me so I put high gains in and removed the bass cut capaciter ... if I didn't switch to 5 strings then I would still use that bass with the high gains ... it rocked ... but I restored it when I sold it ...

Now that's gorgeous!

THAT's what the V68 should look like, right there.

Seth,by putting a vintage part on a period correct vintage instrument in my opinion is not a mod but an option that either could or could not have been original.[in other word put the finger rest on]

"When" RIC starts making the V68's, Mr. Hall should make posters of Jeff's bass, and put them up in every department!