This post does not contain pics
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:26 am
...I'll spare you the horror.
A friend came over with a mid-70's 4001. His first Ric. Asked what I could do.
The bass is a mess.
It was stripped and refinished natural very un-professionally. Originally it was Jetglo. Aftermarket cheap pickguard, mounted with two screws, with the neck pickup cotout off-center so the polepieces aren't directly under the strings, enough to significantly lower the output.
BadAss bridge - the tall type that needs to be countersunk - someone took out so much wood, you'd think he was trying to countersink a laptop computer.
Numerous holes, like someone tried to install a Fender-style bridge cover (ashtray). The BadAss bridge itself was installed slightly off-center, on a thin piece of plywood. Why? probably the swimming pool was too deep.
The jack plate was gone and replaced with a makeshift aluminum piece. I wonder where it went and what was so wrong with it. The wiring was probably done by Stevie Wonder assisted by Ray Charles.
The neck. Slight upward curve, but very hard to fix, at least at first attempt. The threaded truss rod ends - you probably have guessed it by now - were bent downwards. So some previous owner attempted to remove some wood from under them, with a screwdriver and a hammer. Very nasty, splinters all over. While he was at it, he carved a large swastika in the neck pickup rout.
One truss rod was over-stressed, one was loose. The neck, needless to say, developed some twist. Still, it is playable.
The strings were Smith brand 40-100. I told him to use a lighter gauge and explained why.
So, where do we start? I'm not a luthier, and no luthier in this part of the world understands Rics.
The owner isn't interested in a full restoration. No one here can do it properly, and frankly, the bass simply isn't worth it. He just wants it to look decent and be playable.
So, first of all, the BadAss is removed, and a local luthier will plug the bridge swimming pool with a maple block. Most of it will be covered by a new Hipshot bridge - his choice. He's not much of a purist, and wanted something functional that looks like a Ric from a distance.
The owner really hates the treble pickup surround, that's where he anchors his thumb and it cuts him. So I suggested that he orders the mirrored plexi Pickguardian surround. I showed him a pic and he was excited and said that this is a perfect solution for him. He also wants a matching mirrored pickguard.
So, once the luthier is done with the top, and the Hipshot installed, I'll try to remove the truss rods and restore them. Next I'll re-wire it correctly. I think I'll wire it mono, though. I told him what Ric-o-Sound was and he's not interested.
Any advice is appreciated.
Oh, almost forgot to mention: the bass sounds AWESOME. Just like a good Ric bass should. That's the good part.
A friend came over with a mid-70's 4001. His first Ric. Asked what I could do.
The bass is a mess.
It was stripped and refinished natural very un-professionally. Originally it was Jetglo. Aftermarket cheap pickguard, mounted with two screws, with the neck pickup cotout off-center so the polepieces aren't directly under the strings, enough to significantly lower the output.
BadAss bridge - the tall type that needs to be countersunk - someone took out so much wood, you'd think he was trying to countersink a laptop computer.
Numerous holes, like someone tried to install a Fender-style bridge cover (ashtray). The BadAss bridge itself was installed slightly off-center, on a thin piece of plywood. Why? probably the swimming pool was too deep.
The jack plate was gone and replaced with a makeshift aluminum piece. I wonder where it went and what was so wrong with it. The wiring was probably done by Stevie Wonder assisted by Ray Charles.
The neck. Slight upward curve, but very hard to fix, at least at first attempt. The threaded truss rod ends - you probably have guessed it by now - were bent downwards. So some previous owner attempted to remove some wood from under them, with a screwdriver and a hammer. Very nasty, splinters all over. While he was at it, he carved a large swastika in the neck pickup rout.
One truss rod was over-stressed, one was loose. The neck, needless to say, developed some twist. Still, it is playable.
The strings were Smith brand 40-100. I told him to use a lighter gauge and explained why.
So, where do we start? I'm not a luthier, and no luthier in this part of the world understands Rics.
The owner isn't interested in a full restoration. No one here can do it properly, and frankly, the bass simply isn't worth it. He just wants it to look decent and be playable.
So, first of all, the BadAss is removed, and a local luthier will plug the bridge swimming pool with a maple block. Most of it will be covered by a new Hipshot bridge - his choice. He's not much of a purist, and wanted something functional that looks like a Ric from a distance.
The owner really hates the treble pickup surround, that's where he anchors his thumb and it cuts him. So I suggested that he orders the mirrored plexi Pickguardian surround. I showed him a pic and he was excited and said that this is a perfect solution for him. He also wants a matching mirrored pickguard.
So, once the luthier is done with the top, and the Hipshot installed, I'll try to remove the truss rods and restore them. Next I'll re-wire it correctly. I think I'll wire it mono, though. I told him what Ric-o-Sound was and he's not interested.
Any advice is appreciated.
Oh, almost forgot to mention: the bass sounds AWESOME. Just like a good Ric bass should. That's the good part.
