Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just finished up some bass mods I've had in progress since last fall. The first is my 1993 FG 4003S. I bought it when S's were just not popping up for sale very often. I didn't want to let it slide by, so I may have paid a few bucks more than I should have. But it was a 1993 with a slim straight neck, and in near mint condition. My plans were to make a poor man's RM 1999. I was never really a fan of the reversed headstock on the 4001c64, and the 4001v63's have become pretty much unaffordable. So I'll just have to make due with no walnut wings on the headstock. No big deal.

I did some minor work on the bass to move the neck pup to the 1/2" position. A simple task with a 3/8 brad tip drill bit and a chisel.

I picked up a RIHS earlier when they became available. Dane Wilder did some metal shaping on the surround to give it more of a vintage look, widened the string opening to reveal more of the shoes, and it was then re-chromed. Dane also got a hold of a toaster cover and some flat allen head screws to replace the standard neck pup pole pieces with. I used the neck pup from my other bass with the adjustable pole pieces so they could be easily screwed out. Lindy Fralin did the RWRP mod on the neck pup as I was hesitant to work on those fine wires. And one can't really do the RWRP to the RIHS either.

I wired it as VVT, with the .0047 cap + push/pull tone pot. The other tone knob is also a push/pull pot, wired only as a push/pull switch, so I can run the pups in standard parallel or in series. Volume pots are linear taper 250K, metered at 270K. Tone pot is the typical 500K audio taper push/pull pot, metered at just a little above that. Pot was then swamped with a 470K resistor to make for a 250K pot.

Also featured is my 2009 MG 4003. Dane did some metal work on that surround as well to give the bottom flange more of a tapered 'ducktail'. Black TRC came off my 4004L. Knobs are Fender Telecaster chrome knobs with a dimple placed on the edge with a punch as indicator marks, as those knobs are totally bare. Neck pup came from my 4003S. Bridge pup was easily made RWRP by myself. Wiring is standard Ric 4003 wiring harness, but the Vol and Tone pots again were replaced with same as spec'd above.

Pickguardian provided both vintage style pickguards, which fit very well. The bezel is the Tubeampology Deluxe version. Standard one would have been just as fine.

Very nice basses, John! I have to say, the 4003S had me fooled at first glance...that's how good of a job you did! What you need a gap in the tailpiece like a vintage bass tailpiece to really fool some people. What strings do you have on it?

The 4003 reminds me of CJ Johanson's [sic?] one-off 4003 he got from a RIC-outlet eBay auction. (That should get him in here!) I don't like the Tele knobs on it, but it's YOUR bass, not mine.

Nice basses, you've hit gold, I'm sure!

Thanks Jake. Sure, there are lots of little things that are not true to a vintage 4001S, but in the real world, I'm a happy camper with the way this turned out.

I have Fender 9050CL's on my 4003S, and I am really impressed with the way this bass plays and the sound I get out of it.

+1, those do look nice!

JakeK wrote:The 4003 reminds me of CJ Johanson's [sic?] one-off 4003 he got from a RIC-outlet eBay auction. (That should get him in here!)

Well, that didn't exactly get me in here, but did require a gratuitous picture or two.

Anyway, I think Jake's mostly thinking of the combination of black plastic and Mapleglo, which I've always thought was absolutely stunning. Now, if only you could make the binding black as well (and no, I don't think a Sharpie would do the job ).

OK now Jake, just which one off are you thinking of?
(Sorry for the gratuitous pics and semi thread hi-jacking, but... you know...)

Very nice stuff! And yes, the combination of maple and black does look absolutely gorgeous!

How does the 9050CL set sound on the faux-RM1999? Does it dial in some good, old school, Macca-esque tones? I'm considering that set for my 4001C64, along with the Optima 4099 set. I currently have the TI JF344 set on the bass, but am thinking of changing.

ok John,i am officially envious of your stable! that FG 4003S-RM is a looker,and i already want your 4002cii! the maple bass is really sweet,too,but i'm just a dot neck/non bound "S" fetishist.....
ps i think the chrome tele knobs look pretty kewl against the black pg,what with all the other black and chrome going on via the pickups...

Very very nice stuff! I'm a big fan of the S models. And the other one - black plastic always makes Mapleglo a lot more appealing to my eyes.

woodyng wrote:ok John,i am officially envious of your stable! that FG 4003S-RM is a looker,and i already want your 4002cii! the maple bass is really sweet,too,but i'm just a dot neck/non bound "S" fetishist.....
ps i think the chrome tele knobs look pretty kewl against the black pg,what with all the other black and chrome going on via the pickups...

I considered the Ric chrome knobs that the 4004L have, but to keep costs reasonable, I found these Fender's for a lower cost. The taller thinner profile with the knurled grip add to the black and chrome industrial effect I was looking for.

coolingitdown wrote:How does the 9050CL set sound on the faux-RM1999? Does it dial in some good, old school, Macca-esque tones? I'm considering that set for my 4001C64, along with the Optima 4099 set. I currently have the TI JF344 set on the bass, but am thinking of changing.

I had some LaBella DTB flats I bought last year that I strung on it as soon as I finished the mod. Too boomy, I had to keep dialing down the low end on my pre-amp. Even then, they were too cloudy. I had some of the Fender 9050CL's I picked up earlier this year when they hit the streets. They are the magic bullet for me! Clean, detailed sound, nice sustain, not quite as smooth as the LaBella's (those were like playing wax sticks). But the Fender's will stay on this bass. Rain, Come Together, Tax Man, all sound Macca-esque on my rig.

The wiring mod was a great experiment for me. When the toggle is in series position, it's almost too much, like overkill. Definitely a loss of single coil clarity, and overly boomy. Probably won't use it in that position, but a great experiment in wiring just the same.

coolhandjjl wrote:I had some of the Fender 9050CL's I picked up earlier this year when they hit the streets. They are the magic bullet for me! Clean, detailed sound, nice sustain, not quite as smooth as the LaBella's (those were like playing wax sticks). But the Fender's will stay on this bass. Rain, Come Together, Tax Man, all sound Macca-esque on my rig.

Good to know! I'll save myself some coin and just buy the Fender set then! Factor in the nearly perfect balance I keep hearing about, and that set sounds like a winner to me!

I like it! The only difference I see is the Headstock, TRC, A cut in the middle of the tailpeice, and lack of Tug-bar. But wow! You did a fantastic job on both of them. The one on the right reminds me a little of a 4002.

WOW!!!!

Those are awesome looking!!!!!!!! Superb!!!!!

I dig the knobs too.

Two thumbs up. Literally!

s4001 wrote:Two thumbs up. Literally!

I agree, so make that four thumbs up!

doctorwho wrote:

s4001 wrote:Two thumbs up. Literally!

I agree, so make that four thumbs up!

Well, I don't happen to have 4 thumbs, but I'll put up my 2 thumbs add my 2 big toes...

Lovely