Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Heres a 4001CS I bought from Graham Griffiths last year that I have had re-finished and I am gradually turning into a replica of Wints white RM.
The original finish was in bad shape so it wasnt a case of wrecking a good ltd edition example.
Still not sure what to call the bass I opted for 1999MG because the original was a 1999 and it seemed to fit.Thoughts?
I think it holds up next to the recent Japanese 1999 basses but I really need a set of those nickle tuners with the small ferrules (C64) if anyone knows where I can get some.
The photo is a quick one and I will do more soon. The fretboard is actually a very similar colour to the real RM but its hard to tell in this shot.
I have an ebony nut at present but I am also after a bakelite replacement when I can get one.
Then maybe a lap steel pickup,aluminium bridge etc.!
There is no clearcoat laquer so it should stay white and wear in well hopefully.
Its 29 years to the month since I parted with the original and finding Wints was one of the first contacts I had with this forum when I chipped in on a thread about the Bee Gees bass.
Let me know what you think Andy!
Heres a photo and one of the "family".

Oh, Pete, nice! I was just thinking about that bass this morning and was going to shoot you an email... I figured it was close to being finished. That is a great set of "S" basses you have there. I'd like a FG V63 myself someday!

Wow Pete!

VERY COOL INDEED!

Some more pics would be appreciated!

That 1999 that Wints has is simply amazing.

Did you thin the neck at all to match the feel of the old Gibb RM?

I give you a lot of credit, that is one cool project!

The neck is quite slim and its more like the RM in profile than my CS strangely enough.

Pete, the use of an automotive clearcoat urethane (I favor PPG 2042) will give lots of protection, very high gloss, and has a lot of UV inhibitor. This is crystal-clear and will not yellow.

That's really cool, Pete. Looks lovely!

Are ya gonna put the clear lucite piece on the back as well...?

I want it to wear like the original did so I kept to just the colour minus the clearcoat..I couldnt wait another year for more re-sprays!
I have thought about the perspex "protector" but to be honest,I removed it all the time I was gigging with the original and replaced it when I sold the bass.
I found it a bit of a nuisance.
A bit of the story behind this....
The RM was very special to me and it was difficult to sell it because I was so attached to it and I thought I was doing the right thing keeping my house from being re-posessed but then two weeks after I sold it to Rhodes Music in London my brother offered to buy it back from the shop and it had gone so theres a lesson for all you guys out there especially these days to hang on in there with your investments and ride it out if you can.Another fortnight and big brother would have bailed me out til I got back on my feet.
As I say no regrets now though because its found a good home with Wints.

Bob Barry (who re-finished the "MG")asked me yesterday if I knew who re-finished Maurice Gibbs bass.
I suggested it could have been Sam Lee who was a well known London guitar repairer in the late 60s and early 70s.
He famously re-sprayed Chris Squires bass in that yellow colour that I think was supposed to look like his Telecaster Bass blonde colour.
It was a pro job from what I remember but after all this time its doubtful anyone but poor Maurice would know.
The TRC on this one is slightly shorter than the one on the CS which is identical to the RM even down to the screw placement.
Close up you can still make out the headstock wings under the paint.

Very nice!

Great back-story, Pete. We are fortunate that the bass found its new home with Wints, although I'm sure you miss it dearly.

Thanks for the info, which predates my own involvement with Ricks and fills in some gaps in my Rick-education!

Very nice, Pete.

How about calling it the 1999Gibb?

fantastic

Very nice!! I love the family shot also!

Lovely Snow White, Pete!

Pete,

She looks fabulous! There's still something so striking about an all white Ric bass. They simply have a stand out prescence that commands the eye, and your tribute to the original certainly looks the part in all ways. Great job by Bob B there.

I have to say, without your input here, along with John Simmons joining the dots, we'd all still be in the dark. I was looking at the old thread that I started back in 04 about how long you have consecutively had a Ric, and still find it hard to believe it's coming up for 30 years in Jan 2011 that I have been fortunate to be the custodian of DH 163. I still think it's the old Dulux brilliant white personally, and probably every chance that Sam Lee was the man who did the work. Hopefully one day in the future, we could get together with the original and compare...

Again, props to the new bass, a very cool looking piece.

Thanks Andy,
Maybe funds allowing I might manage to visit and get both bassses together some day.
Dulux or Crown?
When I worked for Greater Manchester Transport in 1974 we used Johnstones Paint for coach painting the buses.
Could be coach paint as it leaves no brush marks but it did look sprayed to me.
By the way back in the 70s all my white gloss at home was coach paint that I took home in Nescafe coffee jars from the canteen!

I just cant put this white babe down!!
must go,

Catch you later guys, thanks for the compliments on the bass.
More pics soon.