Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone recognize this bass?

It has Bartolini p'ups, and a double battery box on the rear... I plan on removing and filling the battery box, and restoring the p'ups and guard to "original" as best I can... Also, considering the scars from the battery box, the new Midnight Blue color looks mighty appealing!

When stripping the finish, should I completely strip it off to bare wood (including the fretboard)??? Or use current finish as a "filler, and just "paint" over it???

I followed the story of that bass. Question - how does it sound?

The location of the battery boxes defeats the purpose of the neck through IMO.

It's still neck through.... Neck throught to pickup!

Eden.

s4001 wrote:I followed the story of that bass. Question - how does it sound?

Well, I've no direct answer, other than I'm neither a fan of RWs, nor "powered" pickups.

That said, the most obvious difference is that it is quieter than Rick's stock single coils. Comparing it to my 2012 4003, I still preferred the 4003 p'ups. IMO, the Barts didn't bring enough to the instrument to warrant destroying it's "collector value," and possibly its neck through integrity.

Would you please link me to this story? I'd like to know more about it...

Now that it's been fairly ruined, it frees me up to give it whatever make-over I wish!

ken_j wrote:The location of the battery boxes defeats the purpose of the neck through IMO.

AGREED!!! I worried about that for a while before buying it... However, I think I can restore the neck thru function, though I doubt I can make it look pretty enough to keep the MapleGlo finish...

weemac wrote:It's still neck through.... Neck throught to pickup!

Eden.

To the bridge is what matters to me, although the neck through is very thin under the rear pickup route.

ken_j wrote:

weemac wrote:It's still neck through.... Neck throught to pickup!

Eden.

To the bridge is what matters to me, although the neck through is very thin under the rear pickup route.

The continuity from tuner to bridge is what matters most, as far as I know... Which means at least half the depth is undisturbed from headstock to bridge. To install a battery box anywhere "in-line" is a definite "no-no!" I wish it were under the pick-guard, where it wouldn't interfere with the neck-through integrity... And, almost as important, more easily concealed.

Other than color, I'm certain it can be restored. My major decisions are simply "what color," and how far to strip the original finish.

I doubt filling the battery compartment route will make much difference in sound. I have a 4003S that the previous owner put a Bartolini Musicman pickup in the bridge position, moved towards the bridge approx. 1". With the neck pickup moved an 1" also it's probably got the same amount of wood removed. The bass still sounds thunderous. If the look bothers you fill it, but don't expect much difference in sound.

IMHO I don't think the route for the battery compartment being near the bridge end of the neck-through makes a difference to tone. If it were, say, right near the neck pickup route there would be an issue, structurally, and maybe, tonally.

If Rick built two identical basses, except that one of them had the neck only going so far as the front edge of the bridge pickup route (with the rest being an integral part of the body, similar to what S.D. Curlee did in the '70s) would there be a real noticeable tonal difference?

ken_j wrote:The location of the battery boxes defeats the purpose of the neck through IMO.

The "purpose" of the neck through is ease of construction more than anything IMO. Any "improved" tonal qualities are a happy accident.

A lot of people rave about the tone and punch of the set-neck Ricks. I don't think this route is any problem other than looks.

The continuity of the neck through would most likely affect sustain. As we all know there are many other factors to this including the bridge, wood type,etc... I am certainly not saying more sustain is better than less, just different.

Scotty_Guitar wrote:Anyone recognize this bass?

I think I do. Wasn't that bass on the 'bay for what felt like years!?

I remember looking at it and thinking that with enough money and time it would be a great restoration project. As the father of a newborn, however, I am short on both of those things.