Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Wasn't there a post about someone converting their Rickenbacker 4003 into a 4001. I.E. Altering the pickup spacing and adding a 4001 pickguard?

Does anyone have that old thread or have pictures of their conversion?

Hi Chris. I cant really see the point. 4001 and 4003 are both very fine basses. Also if its a FG or MG there is the stripe to sort out.

Well, the "stripe" (a shadua wood strip through the middle of the neck-through body core) was a feature only between 1972 (possibly starting '71) to the end of 4001 production in 1980 or thereabouts. It may have been used to reinforce the neck. It wasn't needed in the 4003 design so no 4003s (as far as I know) had the "skunk stripe." I suppose if someone really had to have the stripe, it could be painted/stained under the clear coats.

I just meant that there are some individuals that are wanting a 4001v63 look, but are not able to obtain one with the low supply of Rickenbackers right now. I have a 4003 and I'm considering making some modifications.

the horseshoe & surround is the hard part

Chris, you have mail.

you can put 70s pickups and a capacitor in a 4003 ... if you can't find 70s ric pickups then have someone rewind your current pickups to 8k ohms ... Sergio???

a 4003 is pretty much the same as a 4001 except for a few improvements ...

I'm having a 4003 converted to 4001 specs (Checkered binding, f/w inlays, 1/2" spacing/toaster, 60's style pickguard, and a horseshoe). The bass ships out in a few days actually.

My goal is to have a strong, modern bass with a vintage look and sound. But i'm not sure this is what you mean.

Converting a regular 4003 to a bass like a 4001v63 wouldn't be easy, as the 4001 has a body countour and the 4003 has binding around the body.

Something like this perhaps?

I've always liked that bass!

...such clean lines, and that fretboard looks good enough to eat.

I don't think there's a problem with removing some wood to enable a half-inch pickup spacing, and Pickguardian can make you a pre-'74 style guard - with the sharp corners, parallelogram knobs layout, and NO HUMP below the switch. You can ask Tony to make it fit the current screw holes. IMHO this will look much better than the current pickguard shape. RIC have refined the design in the past few years, bringing back the large headstock with walnut wings, the skinny horns, adding the VTC, there's even an aged Fireglo finish option, now all that's left is to bring back the classic early 70's pickguard shape. Come on RIC!

Here is my '98 VP

...and my '05 with toaster & horsie:



Sorry for the fuzzy pics

OK, I take it back, I love that JG.

Great looking Rics, Marcello. Who made the pickguards?