Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Found a very interesting Ric bass over in The Dudepit. Worth a look, although there's no detail yet as to how it was accomplished. I asked, though! http://www.vintagebass.com/thedudepit/showthread.php?p=143720#post143720

Sorry -- forgot the pic above.

Looks like one of the "Darkstar" conversions maybe? They always seem to be modding basses with DarkStar pickups, J Retro pramps and stuff. Usually to rave reviews.

I wouldn't put those big ugly pickups on my newly aquired 4004. Am I the only one who thinks those pickups look too big and ugly?

I saw this one when it was up for sale - wish I had jumped on it!

I agree with Joey...kinda "yukk"...

But from what I've read over there, a damn fine playing/sounding bass.

If I understand it correctly, the DS's are overwound single coils...my guess is they are wired to cancel the hum, and either PU alone has a little buzz.

I'm a fan of both old Gibsons with the giant mudbucker as well as Phil Lesh and the stuff that Alembic did during that period, so I'm totally into the Dark Stars. Don't have a bass equipped with them yet, but someday... Maybe a Lakland Decade?

I think they look totally cool, especially on that bass..."instant vintage". Never played one though.

Yes, they're Darkstars. I have a Lakland Bob Glaub P bass with DS coming in soon -- one of 30 limited edition models.

now if it were BT...

LOve that "wall-o-mud" tone

Hey Guys, I had to register here to chime in about this bass because it's mine.

Basically, it's a standard Rick 4004L with the Dark Star pickups instead of the Rick humbuckers. Now I'm a Rick enthusiast and have had a few (not as many as a lot of you) and ordinarily the thought of replacing pickups in a Rick would be sacrilidge. I mean, why mess with what works? I had a 4003 a while ago with Duncans in it, totally ruined the Rick vibe for me.

But when this bass (put together by an awesome guy in TX, Norris McCarty) came up for sale I had to have it. Just something about the jet black piano gloss with the black and chrome Dark Stars really did something for me. AND I wanted a bass with Dark Stars in it and I was in the market for another Rick because I didn't have one.

So how does it sound? I figured it would be "different" than my previous Ricks (all 4003). But it's not at all. It's that great Rick tone but bigger. More full. Tone for days. Currently I have TI flats on it. These pickups REALLY do the bass justice. I played it in church with a guy who's a REAL musician who told me it was the best sounding bass he'd ever heard. I sent Fred Hammon (who designed the pickups) a "review" and he posted it up on the Dudepit (where I bought the bass from). I was originally going to switch it to a VVT setup but it works so well as it is that I decided not to do it.

So anyway, it's a great Rick. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I certainly am in love with it. I get a lot of compliments on it when I play out and I've been very happy with it. I'm glad to finally be a member over here. I read the forum a lot and now can finally participate.

Greg Kernkamp

Welcome to the forum Greg!

I personally really like the looks of that bass with those DS's. Classy as Hell if you ask me! Any more pics?

I hope my wife doesn't see this, but the more 4004's I see... I won't even finish that.

Welcome Greg! The fact that you are quite pleased with it as it is is all that matters. The more I see yours the more it grows on me. 4004's are fantastic basses and I love seeing every one of them....the p/u mod makes yours more unique.

My occasional laptop wallpaper......

Hey thanks guys. I'm looking forward to posting more over here. Bob I do have more pics, if you e-mail me I will send some more to you. They were taken by Steve Barr of The Dudepit.

For some reason the 4004 is a little more comfortable to me than the recent 4003 basses I have had. I don't know why. I realize the neck radius is basically the same but it doesn't SEEM quite as chunky. Not sure why that is.

Ricks are just the coolest though. I like to look at all of them.

Welcome Greg! I too, always liked the look of your 4004L with the DS pickups. If black and chrome is the look for you, you could have put toasters in it like I did to a 4004Cii I used to have.





BTW, I highly recommend the Hipshot A style bridge, it is a direct drop in with the 3/4" spacing version.