Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know a few have had this done here. To convert a 4003, it seems to be a case of new headstock wings and a different nut essentially.

Also, adding smaller tuners.

Am I missing anything else ?

Just looking at my options before I move on with the 4003 rebuild.

paging dane.....paging dane......

Gareth, the headstock wings come off, the leftover wood is angle cut and an added length glued on to lengthen it, then longer wings are glued on and the headstock shaped. Also you need to machine the tailpiece, IIRC, or I may be confusing this with a 5er conversion.

For the tailpiece you would only have to drill four extra holes to hold the added strings and perhaps make it into a 7 screw tailpiece to stop the bend...

More extensive mods are required for the five string conversion.

Eden.

Forgot about adding the 2 extra screw holes. I would think that would be a must.

Thanks, Dane. We knew we could count on you to clarify some of these details. And, yes, solid finish if you're going to do all this stuff!

How 'bout bright green, Gareth?

jingle_jangle wrote:Thanks, Dane. We knew we could count on you to clarify some of these details. And, yes, solid finish if you're going to do all this stuff!

How 'bout bright green, Gareth?

Hmmmm, A nice dayglo greenburst. I could call it Godzilla, or Snotzilla depending on the finish.

I hope you're paying attention to Dane there Paul. Guess who's going get this project dumped on them ?

Oh, so it's an eight-string now, is it, Gareth?

jingle_jangle wrote:Oh, so it's an eight-string now, is it, Gareth?

Well, it's Thursday today, so yes.

Tomorrow it may be a 12 string, at which point I'll be replacing the truss rods with rebar to keep the neck straight.

I'm trying out an 8-string 4003 Monday, so by Tuesday it could all change again, and I'll want something rigged up like a Chapman Stick.

(BTW never try to learn to play a Chapman Stick. Your brain will fall out of your ear and you'll forget how to drive.)

Be grateful though, because the other day, I had this great idea for a 4003-4008 4 string/8 string doubleneck.

I just think of the ideas, it's up to others to make 'em work.

gareth wrote:
Be grateful though, because the other day, I had this great idea for a 4003-4008 4 string/8 string doubleneck.

I just think of the ideas, it's up to others to make 'em work.

Don't forget the stage hand required to hold that thing up when you play it.

gareth wrote: hope you're paying attention to Dane there Paul. Guess who's going get this project dumped on them ?

Make sure to spend the proper R&D time coming up with your own headstock design Gareth. The two that I use on the basses I mod for my customers is mine and not the same as the two RIC has used in the past.

I want to chime in and say that Dane and Bruce's mod job on my Rick has made it the only bass I ever play anymore. I need to unload my remaining collection now.

psychomatthias wrote:I want to chime in and say that Dane and Bruce's mod job on my Rick has made it the only bass I ever play anymore. I need to unload my remaining collection now.

I'd have to second that statement other than I do still play my other Ricks. But the 4 to 8 conversion is incredible and I am enjoying finding songs to play with it.