Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Since I got my Blue Boy 4004, i'd toyed with different ideas to make it look a little bit more "vintage". Being a flat, non-transparent color, the bass looked a little too streamlined for my tastes - especially compared to my v68 bass, which is pretty darned "busy" looking!

I was thinking about going with a 4003 bridge and some 4003 tuners, but i'm happy with the functionality of the bass as is and didn't want to futz with it.

Toasters are nice, but I need HB-1's in this bass, so that's out.

What about a pickguard? Well, it'd be cool, but i'd hate to drill into the bass. And what would the guys from the forum think?! Shock! Horror!

Well, Dane Wilder bit the bullet and did it first:



I like it! The pickguard looks to have been styled like a 650, or 4005 pickguard, though it is much smaller than the 4005 guard. It does a great job of breaking up the monotonous look of the bass and gives some instant added vintage vibe to it.

I've comissioned Dane to make me two - one in white, one in gold. Perhaps i'll add a finger rest as well!

I prefer the 4004 without a pickguard ...

I prefer the 4004 without THAT pickguard!

LOL!

Looks great to me John, Dane's, that is!

I fail to see the similarity.

I think it looks great! Nice look on the solid color...

Wouldn't like it on something like Scott's Cii TR flamer though.

Does your mind stop ever Dane?

I had thought about a 4003 styled pickguard. Possibly even inlayed. I like the look of Dane's since it is original but I think I'd prefer it to cover a little more. Maybe with a slash/f-hole thingy up top it would balance a little better IMO. I'm biased though since I prefer the clean 4004 look.

Dane's PG looks great but I would make it larger like the one on the experimental JG 4001 in the Smith book. As long as you are doing that you may as well add more controls to it, too. Maybe VVT if not VTVT plus switch.

I like it . It reminds me of the experimental 4001S in the Smith book on page 205.

::checks Smith book::

Yes! More like the 4005's pickguard. The more ground that gets covered, the better.

I now realize Jeff was posting at the same time I was scanning. LOL

The quad controls would certainly be a plus. I always thought the 4003 bridge and pickguard would look cool on a 4004 but why risk tailpiece lift and a PITA to adjust bridge?

Thanks for the visual, Ken!

I think the 4000/1/2/3/ tailpiece dominates the pickups too much on that 4001 so the stock ABM or a Hipshot would be more aesthetically balanced. Besides, you'd have to route the body for the mute.

Well, my preferences are well known, but Dane's concept looks good.

I just can't imagine a 4001/3 pickguard on a 4004. Heck, I hardly like that configuration on a 4001/3 anymore!

But personally I like to see a lot of wood on my guitars. Kind of wish my 650 Dakota had no pickguard...