Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,
is it possible to re-shape the neck profile on a 4003 bass? I find the neck a bit too thick for my hands and wish to remove of the depth.

Also could the fret board be removed easily enough to replace it with a 24 fret one?

Lastly- what is the point of the large heel block
on the basses and why is the nut width so wide as compared to the fenders and gibson basses?

I just measured a pair of basses that I have in the shop at the moment.

One is a 1957 Fender Precision bass,the other a 1967 Rickenbacker 4001

here are the comparisions ....

nut width; F-1.740 R- 1.656

depth of neck at the first fret; F-.817 R .885
depth of neck at the 12 fret; F-.955 R.908


As to why different eras product different shaped necks?
Two real solid reasons; 1-tooling
2- the operators of the tooling.

Why the BIG heel...ask Paul Reed Smith the same question ....who knows?!?!?!?

Removing a fretboard and installing a 24 fret board would be a serious modification.
Access would be limited to the 24th fret ,as the cutaway is not extreme.
Also this is not a job for just any shop ...It is a bear to do .Plus what about the pickguard?
The neck pickup placement....sounds like a new model to me.

Gibson and Fender have varied their nut widths...check out the Jazz bass necks over the years .
Gibson and the Thunderbird bass is as narrow as a Fender Jazz bass!
Reshape the neck ....yes that can be done .

Mark, thank you for the quick response.