Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm in desperate need. I can't put it more bluntly.

I ordered a 4001 .5 inch guard from Basspartsresource.com, it totalled arouned $35.

It arrived this morning, and it is positively DIRE.

-> The plastic is low-quality, bendy, silky rubbish.

-> The screw holes do not line up. (roughly 1.5mm off.)

-> The edge is bevelled by a ******-cut 45 degree angle, furtherly adding to the misalignment of screw holes.

And finally...

-> The bass pickup hole is not big enough for a toaster to fit in! It is roughly FIVE MM too small!

If ANYBODY has an intact 70's 4001 0.5 inch spacing pickguard hanging around, email me ASAP, and name your price...

jsf_uk @ hotmail.com

Taa guys.

(Yeah, I know "Distain" = "Disdain" - I was in a rush!)

Sorry to hear about that! I had Pickguardian in Columbus, Ohio make me some for my '73 4001 using mine as a template. Contact Tony Dudzik through his website and tell him you want one just like mine, he should have kept the template. His are great and as you will see from the site you may have some choices. www.pickguardian.com

The old 4001 basses did not put the screw holes in the same place ...

there are a few guys here on the forum who either make plastic parts or know someone who does ...

Cheers Jps, I've shot him an email.

Will see what happens.

Henny - I have 2 words for you: Don Adamek ([email protected]). He's a forumite. His pickguards (isn't it "scratchplates" over at your side of the pond?) are exact reproductions, same material (plexi) as Ric uses, undistinguishable from the real thing. I learned this after first ordering from all the rest, and it was an expensive lesson.

Pickguardian "scratchplate"!

From Pickguardian

I'm not surprised. Basspartsresource sells some name brand products, but their non-branded products I've seen are very low grade imitations.

the pickguards that bassparts sells are WD. THey are notorious for not matching.

Pickguardian also, Tony D. is a very nice guy.

I'll second Don Adamek. He made a replacement guard for my 73 4001 and you wouldn't know that it's not original. Great work! It may be best to send a template to show exactly where your screw holes are.

Don Adamek contacted me during my quest for the black 4000 guard, but I had just bought the one above from pickguardian. Im very happy with it.

I have heard great things about Dons guards though.

Have anyone tried the treble pickup surround that Pickguardian offers? I do not play with a pick and the original pickup cover is in the way (looks good tho). Any opinions?

I saw those! I think maybe on the right bass, it would look kinda cool. Nice alternative anyway.

I am thinking of trying that on my 4003FL once I put the toaster in the bridge position. Tony may have to enlarge the opening a bit to accomodate it, though.