Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anyone have pic of a newer 4003, with modern 1" neck pickup spacing, wearing a vintage style (think V63), pickguard from Pickguardian?

I'm tempted to order one for my 4003S when it arrives, but not sure how it would look without the toaster and 1/2" spacing.

Here ya go. New 4003s with a vintage style pickguard.

Nice vintage knobs as well! Thanks! looks pretty good.

cheyenne wrote:Nice vintage knobs as well!

You can't (well, shouldn't) have one without the other, especially on an S model.

The bottom 'lobe' of that guard still looks like the new style. I wonder what that bass would look like with the true old style guard?

fran4001 wrote:The bottom 'lobe' of that guard still looks like the new style. I wonder what that bass would look like with the true old style guard?

It would look more like this (pickguard, anyway, made by Pickguardian).

Actually, the guard would look like this. I make these guards with current 1" spacing and mounting hole pattern, but without the double hump in the control section.

I still don't see what you guys are talking about, the double hump in the control section! Should I have my eyes checked?

It is very subtle -- except to folks such as Dane! Basically it is a tighter curve around the control section, providing a bit more space between the pickguard and the outer edge/binding. Perhaps Dane or someone could provide a multicolored outline overlay?

I remember seeing photos on this forum once upon a time with arrows pointing to the humps. And for the record, I prefer no bloated pick guard humps. It isn't something that I obsess about. It's not something that's going to change my life one way or the other. But I do think that the pick guard contours "flowed" a little better before the hump(s) were added. Is there a reason for the hump(s)? Not that I can think of. It's just one of the many mysteries of RIC...

Here are a few of examples without the hump(s):

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

And here's one with the hump(s):

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

Look at the edge of the pick guard below the switch.

If you look at the three pics on the RIC corporate site that JH posted of the new 4003S models about to ship, you'll see that the file name of the pic showing a closeup of the front of the bass is "No more "double hump" pickguard". Now THAT cracked me up!

OK, thanks to all for the help, I HAVE noticed that but I thought you were talking about something else.


And Dane, from the picture that I have of a FG 4003s on my desktop(that I view lovingly each morning!) it appears the double hump is going away! I like that!

aceonbass wrote:If you look at the three pics on the RIC corporate site that JH posted of the new 4003S models about to ship, you'll see that the file name of the pic showing a closeup of the front of the bass is "No more "double hump" pickguard". Now THAT cracked me up!

I just saw what you were referring to, Dane, out on the RIC official site, I'm hoping that not all of that batch of 4003s's goes to the UK....
I just need one going to Colorado, thence to Texas...