Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is probably going to turn into a "Show your 21 fretter!" thread, but is it possible to add a 21 fret to a 4001, 4003, or 4004? I'm sure it's near impossible with the 4004's current pickup placement, but what about the other two? I fool around high up on my 4001 a lot and there's so much more that could benefit from a 21st fret. I try and bend at the 20th to get the sound, but it's not the same, and the strings I have on now (warwick steel rounds, only thing they had at the shop) are a pain to bend. Plus my neck needs work. Low action near the nut, incredibly high action near the end of the neck.

Is there a way to just add a fret to the fret board, or would a totally new fret board have to be made?

Nate, I believe the scale is different, you would need a new fret board.

Have Dale put on an Ebony fingerboard with a small extension to make room for a 21st Century Schizoid fret (I know, too much Crimson!)

The 4002 has the same scale has the the 4001/3. It simply has an extra fret placed further in on the body. The 21 fret 4001 is also the standard Rick scale but it's 21st fret is a different matter. The neck of that model is slightly longer and the tailpiece is shifted about a half inch up the body.
Converting a 20 fret 4001/3 to 21 frets would not be practical.

Ted, not necessarily. It would have to be an applique of wood and fretwire glued to the body end of the fretboard. If shaped properly, it could even be done as a fret only, cantilevered from the butt end of the fretboard. But it seems a lot of trouble to squeek one more higher note out of the Rick. Just tell the guitarist to hit that one. He's got it on his fretboard. ;^)

I suppose that could be done. You might be able to extend the board that way on a 1" spaced model but the 1/2" would be a problem. There is also the complication of removing the binding at the end of the fingerboard.

Yes. So the "practicality" of it is not necessarily in the mechanics, it's "you want to do WHAT to your Rick to get one more note?" In reality, those that covet the rare 21-fret Rick can only gain that high E on the G string, so you could even just make a little block of wood with a short fret on it and glue it under the G string at the butt end of the fretboard. I dunno, I still say let the guitarist hit that note.

Oh, Ted, you have e-mail.

Can't you bend up to that note? Wouldn't that be easier?

But where's the challenge in that?

"21st Century Schizoid fret"

Hehehehehe . . . unfortunately, it is not required to play the song . . .

Yeah, 'show your 21 fretter'.
From top to bottom: Grant Arthur's January 71, Gene Schillaci's February 71, a black 71 owned by an unknown party, and my November 70. Sorry, but still no picture of my August 70 Mapleglo 21 fretter. No picture of Peter Levett's lefty and Ken Swearingen's righty either.

Here is my lefty...Feb. 1971

I said I can bend it, but I have neck problems right now. The action is too high and it's too hard to bend it.

I like that high E, and considering I'm not in a band right now, a guitarist has that note all the time, I want it too!

My 4001 has a big enough hole for either 1/2" and 1". It's currently at 1" and it's staying there.

Never mind, this seems like a stupid idea and a big hassle.

And with my v63...