Another 4003 Project Bass

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 5:10 pm

So here is an amazingly figured 1985 4003 that someone beat to death and parted out. Check out the wood on this baby. There are few 4003 with this kind of figuring.

The body wings were removed (OUCH) and put back on but not very well. The resulting gaps were filled in with gray epoxy!

This bass is far too pretty do die. I am hoping to start it on a new life.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 5:15 pm

That is really nice wood.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:34 pm

uh huhhuhuhuhuh,

You said "wood"!

Ted-

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:23 pm

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:24 am

So what'ya think,? Some idiot got up one day, looked at that bass and thought, hmmm, I think I'll take the body wings off,,,?

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:12 am

That is one heck of a piece (well, pieces) of wood for a 4003. And I love the colour: I love it when the mapleglos go all orangey. My V63 looks really nice but in a "pale and interesting" sort of way. I wish it looked like that. Only another 20 years to go

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:17 am

This bass is one in a thousand or even one in ten thousand but it somehow ended up in this condition. The project will work like this. I am going to remove the wings and clean off that epoxy filler. While the wings are off they will be checkerboard bound. The neck will get new frets and then the whole thing will be reassembled and stripped. The future owner of this bass, the forum's own Marty Tryon, will then send it off to Dolan for a Fireglo refin. In the meantime, Marty will be rounding up the necessary parts to complete this beauty. If any of you have parts suitable for use on an '85 4003 to sell, trade, or give away, Marty would like to hear from you. At this point, all there is to this bass is what you see in the pics and the original jackplate.

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:41 am

A trick I've seen some egit perform was to balance on the horns with both feet of the stage, and then try to spin. Took a lot of self restraint not to slap the idiot sensless.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:51 am

Mommy, make it stop!

yfoiler · Post by **yfoiler** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:19 am

This bass definitely deserves to live again! It is a very special 4003 for sure, but oh what a tortured path. For those who have followed Ted's projects here, I am sure we would all agree this bass could not be in more capable hands...

My previous posts here regarding my "lusting" for a checker-bound 4003 have become a reality, as Ted has graciously accepted this new project. It's going to be incredibly exciting to be able to follow along, learn a few tricks, and share ideas, as Ted brings this beauty back to life.

Not only is this exciting to have a super cool bass, but to bring one back that has been so mistreated has special meaning for me. The bass I played for over 25 years was a closet bound pile of junk that was given to me FREE because it was in such bad shape. I rebuilt it, and it served me for my entire career---so it's time for a pay back... and THIS Ric deserves a great comeback.

The original idea was to do a checkerboard bound 4003 in FireGlo with gold pick guard to match my 660/12FG. Mostly the FGs I see have the white pick guard, but personally I'm in love with the look of my 660/12FG with the gold pick guard... so that is the initial plan anyway.

I'm admittedly very much a "newbie" to the Ric bass. So I will be looking for some help and guidance along the way on just about everything---like what kind of pickups should I use. Ideas anyone?

Thanks again to Ted, and thanks too for this great forum! If not for the forum here, this would not have become a reality.

Marty Tryon

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:30 am

Hmmm Fireglo .... nice choice !!!

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:43 am

how about montazuma brown or tobaco sunburst dark around the edges with checkerboard binding stain the headstock wings[to look like walnut]longer pickguard and toaster pickup.just dreaming.

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:15 am

That,s the most figured Ric bass I think I,ve ever seen. Looks like something Alembic or the real top $$$ basses would be made from. Could have been a trade show or custom order with that figuring. No offence Martin, but imho wood of that quality and rarity on a Ric bass needs to stay looking natural, not covered with paint of any sort.

yfoiler · Post by **yfoiler** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:27 am

I know Andrew... I'm doing battle with myself on this. My immediate thought was oh no, it's too beautiful to paint. But then, I've played a "natural" bass all my life, and I'm soooo in love with my 660/12FGs look. Also, the neck on this bass matches the neck on my 660/12 almost exactly, and it looks incredible in FG because it's sort of "see through" if you know what I mean.

I'm wondering if it could be done in more of a transparent FireGlo sort of look?
Anyway, I'm still on the fence over this, but there's time on our side.

I'll try and post a front and rear picture of my 660/12FG and when you see the rear of the neck on the 660 you'll see what I'm going for. (and how they match up).

Thanks,

Marty

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:57 am

I saw a new 4003 in FG recenttly in the UK, the FG finish was the lightest I've ever seen, at all points on both the back and front the grain of the Maple was clearly visible through even the darkest areas of the finish.

To be honest I wasn't that thrilled with it, it looked like a either watered down version of the FG finish, or they ran out of dye in the spray process.