Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

After seeing this (warning, mutilated Rick alert):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4003-M ... dZViewItem

I got to wondering just how possible it would be to repair such a thing (no, it wasn't me who bought it, I'm just curious).

For the most part, it looks like one would need to replace the body wings and headstock wings, not sure about the center of the headstock, the cut might extend into it as well.

Anyway, would it be possible to remove the butchered wings and make new ones? How are they attached, just glued, or do they use dowels or such? How would you remove the old wings? Etc., etc.

-cj

I can not believe someone paid $736.77 for that.

I've seen guitars in worse shape thatn this, which Paul has brought back to life. He does some amazing restoration work. I now believe that no guitar is too far gone to restore.

It could be restored, but why? Would be cheaper to buy new for the labor involved.

It would be a great candidate for a v68-type conversion, or even an "S" conversion, which Dane Wilder had done with his 8 string. Total costs might be $2000-$2500, which would be reasonable for something totally unique IMO.

1965 wrote:It could be restored, but why? Would be cheaper to buy new for the labor involved.

Well, for instance if one wanted to give it a try themselves, they wouldn't have a lot to lose by starting with something like that.

Or, perhaps they just happen to have a really nice slab of 5A Quilted Maple, approx. 15x24x2 inches and think that a 4003MG made with that wood would look fantastic...

-cj

You could use heat to get the wings off the headstock, or just take 'em off with a bandsaw and use a plane to get the sides of the centerpiece flat.

There are about $1000 in useable parts in this, including the case.

1965 wrote:It could be restored, but why? Would be cheaper to buy new for the labor involved.

I had my own eye on this until it went above $500.00. Its best chance is in the hands of a luthier who could do it justice with some sweat equity.

If it comes down to an amateur, taking his time and learning as he goes, then it's a good start, I imagine...it'll take an investment in tools and materials that would be hard to justify in purely economic terms.

It would be necessary to replace the body wings and do some serious surgery to the headstock. The neck is the tough part to fabricate here, and it's pretty much OK.

It does take some careful and precise work of factory quality, to bring this one back to life, without making a hash of it.

it would be easier and cheaper to turn it into a headless/bodyless bass.

Buy a cheap used 650 and put that bass neck on it!

rikk wrote:I can not believe someone paid $736.77 for that.

Between the pickups, Bridge, wiring, pick guards, trc, case and tuners you would probably make a profit. And if you ever get bored make some kind of monstrosity out of the body.

Maybe the bass was unfortunite enough to fall into the same hands as whoever thought this was a good idea:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1976-GIBSON-RIPPER- ... .m63.l1177

1976 GIBSON RIPPER BASS -- slightly modified.....

Original Ripper Body Style:

The Gibson OMG.

I guess some people just like UGLY...

cjj wrote:I guess some people just like UGLY...

This Gibson is there for ages allready. This is just an outlet store for a torture museum. I've seen this Rick 4005 they have for quite some time and several times overhere also:

jingle_jangle wrote:The Gibson OMG.

I always thought that Gibson bass was uglier than a mud fence as it was; I didn't know it was possible to make it even uglier.