Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm wondering if anybody has ever converted a 4001/4003 to a 5 string .... I have done this with p-basses and jazz basses. I have a 4003/s5 and it uses a lot of the same parts ... I have figured out how it can be done ... 1 - a new nut 2 - new small style tuners 3 - drill a new hole in the head stock for the tuner .... 4 - get a 5 string bridge from RIC 5 - install a toaster neck pickup in the neck position 6 - get a bridge pickup from RIC 7 - get a truss rod adjustment ... you know it sounds like too much work ... except they don't make the 4003/s5 any more ... the new 4004 5 string will have humbuckers ... yucchh ... why play a ric if you got humbuckers?

There are 3 4003s5's on ebay right now. One is a lefty. If you have a 4001/4003 perphaps you should sell it to get another 4003s5 instead of altering (and lowering the value) of a 4001/4003; Unless the 4001/4003 has already been altered significantly.

I was talking to Mike Parks over at the Rick Page and he confirmed my suspicion that all 4003,4003/5,and 4003/8 necks were the same with the only difference structurally being the headstock. I was thinking of building a 4000S/8 using a 4003 due to it's improved truss rod system and sturdier neck. I would also use a new 4003/8 bridge, horseshoe pickup along with a vintage style pickguard. I would remove the body binding,re-contour the sides and wire it in mono with separate bass and treble controls like my 3001. I would lengthen the headstock by cutting off the side wings,adding an extension to the center and reattatching new side wings made of shedua. After reshaping the headstock and adding 8 tuners I would finnish it off in Fire-Glo. Ya, that's the ticket. I think as long as it retains the look and feel of a Ric with factory issue parts, anything goes. Who cares what it'll be worth afterwards. It'll be one of a kind and the way you wanted it and the way Ric doesn't build it anymore.

The benefits of turning a 4001/3 four string into a five string are ...

1 - triangular inlays
2 - binding
3 - a slightly lighter body weight that will give it different tone ... a lighter bass should sound a little less bassy ... this would give the b-string a little more definition and less muddiness

this could ruin resale value ... but if it is done right then it would still be valuable

The 4001/4003 necks are 1/8" narrower at the nut than the 4003S/5. I would tune the four string to BEAD rather than try to make a 5 out of it.

I'm really interested in hearing ANY kind of on-hands report on the new 4004cii5, which is 1/8" wider at the nut and 1/2" wider at the 12th fret than the old 4003S/5. Since it weighs less yet has a beefier neck, I'm concerned about neck dive.