Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Don't know if you've been following the thread in Reflections of a Curmudgeon at viewtopic.php?f=14&t=391217 but I brought home the bass below today... It's a '63 4000.

Fortunately, I paid a fraction of what it would be worth if it was original. Unfortunately, its been stripped and re-done with a rubbed oil finish. YUCK!!! Then, the tuners have been replaced and a wood block has been dropped into the body so that a Bad*ss bridge could be added. Fortunately, the original bridge and one of the original knobs were in the case and yes, I'll probably drop a new bridge on it... Perhaps a Hipshot so that I can play it out and so that the original can be dropped back on if I ever wanted to do that. But thankfully, the horseshoe is 100% original, the neck is thin and straight and the truss rods work perfectly. There isn't the usual rout under the pickguard for the second pickup, probably because the single pickup is further forward from the standard bridge position like the '62 in the photo in the link. But DAMN!!! It's sounds fricken' amazing. BTW, when the pickguard is off you can tell that it used to be a Fire-Glo!

Bottom line is that I'm going to try and bring it back as close to original as possible with the exception of a see-through finish.

Thankfully I found out that it is possible to refinish it. But, that because the oil has seeped into the wood that it'll probably only look good with a solid colour unless I wanted to take huge amounts off of the body by sanding - which I'm not prepared to do! First a couple of photos, then a request for your input... Here come the photos:







Here are the questions:

1) Anyone know what the available finishes were through that era?
2) If you had to refinish this in a solid colour, what would your favourite be? And please, don't be afraid to provide a link or photo so that we can all see.
3) Any suggestions on who might be good to do the revamping and refinishing? And who will follow some pretty EXACTING procedures, because of the oil in the wood to make sure that the new paint sticks?

Thanks and looking forward to your input!

Jeez, just realized... One year different and it would have been my "birthday bass"! Well "birth year"...

Dave

1. MG, FG, and JG I believe.
2. JG or Ruby
3. The Curmudge, Paul W, who offered you the advice.

The wood on that is phenominal - too bad it can't be resurrected as the original FG....

Nice score Dave

According to the finish time line on the Rickenbacker Page the bass was available in mg,jg,fg as well as Autumnglo and Burgundy,

I would go with Autumnglo if at all possible. Choice for solid color would be Jetglo. Best of luck finding to correct bridge.

There are a few who could do a nice refin, but I vote for Paul W.

marc61 wrote:Best of luck finding to correct bridge.

Marc, David said this:

Fortunately, the original bridge and one of the original knobs were in the case

I would favor JG for the refinish, also.

Nice find, David!

Great bass David!

Feel free to call me all sorts of names, but I catually like the look of the finish as is.... maybe old age is getting to me.

For a refin, a solid colour is the go, though BG might just work with the stain. JG would be period-correct. AG or Ruby would be interesting alternatives....

I am exceedingly jealous...the grain is far too nice to cover with a solid color (that knot on the back is so cool), but given the situation with the oil finish it's understandable.

And put the original bridge/tailpiece back on, it only adds to the sound!

Doesn't look too bad...it just might be possible to resurrect it back to FG.

Would that be a treat???

Paul, if you could get it cleaned enough to go with FG, that would look so good with the great maple this bass has.

Thanks so much for all of the positive comments guys! I'm REALLY pumped about this one! And I really appreciate all of your info and reco's! In fact, I always kind of wanted my 4002 to have the Walnut finish, so the suggestion to consider AutumnGlo certainly peaked my interest! But then again, my first Ric was JG.. Always loved BG... My favourite 4001 that I owned was AG (but I sold it help pay for the 4002)! So many decisions!

Of course until Paul W. spoke up! You up for it Paul? I've got a decent budget, no real hurry and REALLY want to get it done right! Pretty please? I'll check with you via PM! A treat it would be!!!!!

Wow! David, nice find! When I saw the photos I too thought I'd do everything I could to get that redone in FG. The grain is pretty spectacular. Even if the grain stayed a bit darker in places after paint prep, it would still be... well... spectacular. I was following your other thread and was pulling for you. Good grab. It will make a real nice partner to the 4002.

bitzerguy wrote:Wow! David, nice find! When I saw the photos I too thought I'd do everything I could to get that redone in FG. The grain is pretty spectacular. Even if the grain stayed a bit darker in places after paint prep, it would still be... well... spectacular. I was following your other thread and was pulling for you. Good grab. It will make a real nice partner to the 4002.

Thanks Dean... And you'll have to play it next time you're back here in town too! You around for another jam some time soon?

Not sure when I'll be back your way, but I will certainly let you know, and I'll bring something to play for sure! In fact I was just missing the fun we had and thinking it would be great to spend more time at the next one. I could have gone on for hours with you and Anton.

badeggs wrote:...the grain is far too nice to cover with a solid color

I couldn't agree more! Very nice, congrats David. Just my humble opinion that since it was born Fireglo, it should return to being Fireglo. But if I really had to have a solid color, Jetglo is the way I'd go. Can't go wrong with a Paul W refin.

First of all, I would email John Hall at Rickenbacker to see if he would graciously check the logs to see if the finish is mentioned. I would go with that finish. Most likely FG or MG.

BTW...serial number?