Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I thinking seriously about having my 2005 JetGlo 4003's body contoured. I'm guessing this would involve removing the body binding, do the wood work and refinishing the bass.

Any ideas what that might set me back?

It would be best to leave the binding in place and contour it with the wood. Hiding the binding route otherwise requires a lot of wood to be removed.

Contouring would leave you with roughly an "S" type body. It's what happens when you round back far enough to remove the binding and its relief.

The biggest radius you could get by rounding the binding would be a very small one--about 1/16"--virtually unnoticeable and not worth the labor involved.

I did this to a 4001 in a fit of pique after getting the dreaded forearm rash for the umpteenth time. Is this the reason you want it done, or is it that you prefer the non-binding look? Do you want it painted black again, afterwards?

get a 4004

Jo, that's exactly it. I love the way my 4003 basses sound, but I find the non-contoured body uncomfortable to play for long periods of time.

I wouldn't mind have it weigh a teeny bit less either.

Getting a 4004 really isn't an option. One reason is that I can't afford it and the other is that a 4004 doesn't sound like a 4004 (nor does it look like a 4003, except in shape).

Wear a wristband around your forearm where it comes in contact with the bass. Works like a champ in preventing forearm rash.

Buy a long-sleeve shirt.

Yeah, I've gone the wristband route before too. Now I just have callouses on my wrists.

Im not knocking the recontouring, as a utility consideration. It would require a refinish, though...and it does destroy the originality of the bass. If you are intent upon performing this contouring, contact me offline and I could give you a price.

Sorry, I wasn't really clear.

It's not that I get the skin irritation/rash, but it's more that the sharp angle of my wrist and the pressure on the nerves/blood vessels from pushing against the hard, pointy edge of the binding.

I have a chronic, but manageable tendonitis issue that seems to get aggravated by this.

If I had any sense, I would have A) said all of this in my original post and B) got a 4001s

So back to the original topic. If I wanted to get this work done, any ideas of what we're talking in terms of cost?

I understand, Paul.

I'm certainly not talking about a vintage instrument. It's a regular production, non custom color 2005 4003.

I wear mine pretty low, and it just works out that the underside of my forearm is what hits that area, not the wrist. It's never been a problem for me, but I know others that it has been a problem for, and mostly for the same problem you have, Tom. Good luck! I'd trade it for an "S" if I were you, wouldn't wanna mod one to that extent myself...but that's me!

I have a 4003s5 that I rounded down ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/1990%204003s5%20mg.htm

I did the countoured edge thing to a '74 4001 many years ago. The binding was thicker back then and it was difficult to get the route to completely dissapear as a result. I would think that if you left the binding on for the operation, there would be a possibility of the finish checking along the binding at some point in the distant future. My luthier suggested two alternatives to this. The binding could be removed and the whole bass shaved 1/16" all the way around to remove the route before contouring or the binding replaced with actual maple wood and then contoured, making the edge all wood thereby minimizing shrinkage or separation between two different materials. All of my customized 3000 basses are unbound and quite comfortable. I have a 4003 being converted to an 8-string(ala Squire/Entwistle's basses) so we'll see how long I can live with the binding.