Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

About a year ago I bought a 1978/9 4001 project off ebay that the seller said had EMG and Sperzel keys added, but he forgot to say that it had a poor refret (with the board trashed) a broken truss rod, a bass Kahler and a battery box routed in the side where the jack used to be. All this made a small project in to a real big one, so I contacted Dale about doing a new board with crushed inlays, then I started the job of making it into a late 60s six string version of the 4001. I filled in all the missing wood rebound it with checkered binding modded the headstock to work as a six string with walnut wings, added two new truss rods and painted it aged black. I used a high gain guitar pickup in the bridge and a toaster in the neck. It's wired with a push-pull so it goes from both pickups to the standard jack when down to the neck pickup to the Rick-O-jack and the bridge to the standard jack when pulled up. It's string with 30-90 Ken Smith strings, and so far it's a cool bass.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Rbowen/f139_3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Rbowen/fe43_3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Rbowen/5a73_3.jpg[/img]
and now the finished job.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Rbowen/rick61-1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Rbowen/rick6-1.jpg[/img]

WOW!! I want one!!

Great job Roy and Dale!

I like it Roy! Congrats. Although I'd paint the wings JG as well if it were mine. Just my 2 cents. Great job!

Now that's pretty wild!

I love it, but I agree with Graham--the headstock looks a bit odd with the walnut wings and JG down the center.

That's merely a minor style critique; otherwise, outstanding!!!

Thanks guys. To me the headstock was a have to because I just love the wings being natural, but that's just me.

Looks great, Roy!
Dale's work is outstanding... as usual!

That's a totally cool and professional conversion job. My homages to you, Roy.

Great bass Roy.

Dale, once again an awesome job.

Nicely done, Roy & Dale!

You know what would go good with that?

A black truss rod cover.

Bravo!

Roy, any chance you can bring it to Santa Ana in a few weeks?

Very cool!

Nice concept and execution Trigger & Dale, er, Roy!

Hey, I didn't think of the Rogers&Evans thingy...Very nice indeed Roy...I bet it sounds pretty sweet. Did you also use the T-rods in it that I made for you? Great work..We must add you to the list of outstanding craftsmen....