Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The discovery and beginnings of the resto of this bass have pretty much been well spoken of here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=405257&hilit=diamond+in+the+rough

Tony was gracious enough and I am truly fortunate that he decided to sell her to me

There were some things still that really needed attention; or I'm just too darned picky! LOL!
I knew about the stuff from all the pics I got, so I had a plan prior to even receiving her.

Well, after yet almost another year in the shop, she's home and the results have exceeded my every expectation
In fact, in spite of how much was sanded away ever so many years ago, this bass plays and feels fantastic.
Tons of resonance and mojo, and a neck as sweet as a '65!

I feel truly blessed that Tony sold me what very well amounts to my favorite Rick! (I'll overlook that she's a fret short!)

Of note- This may well be the last 4001S made with a single piece maple neck-through.

Oh so nice!!!

Congrats!

Looking really great
Tried to spot was is new this time – walnut wings obviously, new fret board (?) with jumbo frets, white nut, and the body got a bit more colour on it (?) for a darker and wider burst.

New fretboard yes, but with small period correct frets.
Darker FG as well.

That is beautiful, well done!

John, that is just beautiful. That fretboard was a wise choice and looks marvelous.

Beautiful job John! Who did the work?

Interesting how far back the tailpiece had to go to intonate. My '72, which BTW your pickguard and all the hardware came off of, had to have the tailpiece moved all the way back as well. I just barely managed to cover the route under the mute assembly, when I moved it back... luckily.
Ric was cutting the bodies too short during this period, and not really paying attention to getting them to intonate properly. It wasn't an issue with the 21-fretters, but most of the standard basses suffer from this issue.

You guys are great at restoring history and keeping it alive. I'm sure it will be greatly enjoyed. It's beautiful.

xsubs wrote:Beautiful job John! Who did the work?

Interesting how far back the tailpiece had to go to intonate. My '72, which BTW your pickguard and all the hardware came off of, had to have the tailpiece moved all the way back as well. I just barely managed to cover the route under the mute assembly, when I moved it back... luckily.
Ric was cutting the bodies too short during this period, and not really paying attention to getting them to intonate properly. It wasn't an issue with the 21-fretters, but most of the standard basses suffer from this issue.

Well the body was so over sanded at some point that the tail end is now rounded over so that
The very end of the tailpiece over hangs. The base seats fully but the cover for the ball ends
hangs....
Yet, with the new finger board properly placed, it intonates very well.
Better than I had expected.

xsubs wrote:Beautiful job John! Who did the work?

Interesting how far back the tailpiece had to go to intonate. My '72, which BTW your pickguard and all the hardware came off of, had to have the tailpiece moved all the way back as well. I just barely managed to cover the route under the mute assembly, when I moved it back... luckily.
Ric was cutting the bodies too short during this period, and not really paying attention to getting them to intonate properly. It wasn't an issue with the 21-fretters, but most of the standard basses suffer from this issue.

It was with mine! I couldn't get it to intonate when I dropped the action anywhere near where I wanted it, which was a problem in itself. Both were the reasons why I sold it.

Lovely bass BTW John, really cool.

henry5 wrote:

xsubs wrote:Beautiful job John! Who did the work?

Interesting how far back the tailpiece had to go to intonate. My '72, which BTW your pickguard and all the hardware came off of, had to have the tailpiece moved all the way back as well. I just barely managed to cover the route under the mute assembly, when I moved it back... luckily.
Ric was cutting the bodies too short during this period, and not really paying attention to getting them to intonate properly. It wasn't an issue with the 21-fretters, but most of the standard basses suffer from this issue.

It was with mine! I couldn't get it to intonate when I dropped the action anywhere near where I wanted it, which was a problem in itself. Both were the reasons why I sold it.

Lovely bass BTW John, really cool.

Thank you; she really has turned out nicely.
I think the intonation issue has something to do with
the degree of neck lift. On my basses with little lift, it's
not an issue, but on the ones where it's severe intonation is
difficult at best.

This last bit of work was done by Jack Pimintel in Seattle ( the Puyallup part...)

johnallg wrote:John, that is just beautiful. That fretboard was a wise choice and looks marvelous.

+ What John A. and the others have said !!