Ugh - Another one on eBay

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:06 am

Another "mod" of a poor, innocent 4001/4003 on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2548712205&category=4713

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:07 am

I just saw that. Another entry in the hall of shame!

Someone grab the pics for the archives.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:13 am

I was just going to post this, "wait until you see this one!" it has more switches than the electric company. Where did they get that pickguard? A fender? I thought it was a butchered 4002 for a second.

banta · Post by **banta** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:18 am

Terrible.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:44 am

poor bass

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 7:20 am

That one comes close to the complexity of controls on the "Star Wars 4003 Jedi-glo" that Mike Parks has on his Hall Of Shame page:

http://www.the-music-connection.com/rhos.htm

I will give the modifier some credit for originality with the pickguard, but I wonder how many extra holes are now in places that a replacement pickguard won't cover.

As I write this, it is hailing outside here in Costa Mesa CA! ("...it never rains in Califronia, but girl don't they warn you, it pours, man it pours...")

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 9:18 am

You know ... it is hard to believe that somebody would do that to a Ric ...

It is even harder to fathom that people actually bid on these butchered basses ...

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 9:35 am

It's not a mod, it's a murder.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 10:43 am

It's "CUSTOM" allright. Some people are only limited to there imagination I guess.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 10:47 am

And where did that bridge come from? Planet Mars? How revolting a modification! I'd pick that 4001 up, strip the original finish, plug all extra holes, refinish it in Jetglo (well, black anyway) and restore it to original specs. Man, an EB-3 bass pickup and a P-Bass pickup on a Rickenbacker bass! I've always hated the EB-3 neck pickup, and as for the P-Bass one, it certainly is not my favorite F****r bass pickup.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:40 pm

Well, I love my Precision pickup -- on my Precision. I love my EB sidewinder neck pickup on my EB-0L. But NOT on a Rickenbacker. If you want a Precision, buy one or make your own, don't hack up a perfectly good bass. No matter how many extra controls you put on, it's not going to sound like a Fender or Gibson.

FWIW, the neck pickup is not a Gibson. If that's a chrome cover and not a reflection, it could be from a Fender Tele Bass. If it's plastic, it's probably a Dimarzio Model 1. But the Gibson only has one row of polepieces.

newrider · Post by **newrider** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:49 pm

"Studded belt...while playing"...Good grief! Couldn't he feel it grinding on the back?....the horror...the horror.

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:33 pm

My 4000 had a p/style pup in it when I first got it. As long as they didn't go too far with the router, a vintage style pickup ring will cover the hole. But man, who knows how much wood was removed for that control cavity. That thing probably sounds like a hollowbody and weighs about 2 lbs lighter than the average 4001.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 1:53 am

Dave:
You are right, that neck pickup is not a Gibson. It probably is a DiMarzio.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:14 am

Who are these people who bid over $500 for this stuff??