I've been through many instruments since I started playing guitar/bass six years ago, but the one constant has always been my '99 4003, Jetglo.

It was my first good instrument, purchased with a $1000 savings bond when I was 16, and has seen it all. Tons of gigs in many different venues. Countless recording sessions, for myself as well as sessions for other local bands. I even learned a few classical pieces on it and landed a college scholarship, playing this very bass. It's my baby.

As I became more immersed in Rickenbacker, I grew to love the classic look - the checker binding, the full-width pearl inlays, the 1/2" neck pickup spacing (Which I fell in love with on the 4001c64 model), the bridge horseshoe pickup. I came close with a 4001c64, but it wasn't quite everything I wanted.

Most importantly, it wasn't *my* bass.

So I made the decision to give the bass I love a facelift. Cosmetic surgery! I felt that the look of it was much too generic (As far as Ricks go, anyway!) for an instrument that is so special to me, and so it was be spruced up with all the coolest features.

When completed, it had the look of a late 60's 4001 with the added strength and durability of the modern 4003 bass. Not to mention that perfect, chunky neck that i've become so used to that it's difficult to play anything else!

The finish remained Jetglo. I had tossed around the idea of doing a very dark Burgundy or Azureglo (Rickenbacker's blue finish from '69-'84), but I played it safe and stuck with basic black.

I enlisted Dale Fortune, a former Rickenbacker employee and incredible luthier to do the work. He sent me photos throughout the process:

- After sending him the bass in June, he got started in early August. His first step was disassembling the bass, removing the frets, removing the neck binding, the nut, and then cutting the slots for the new inlays.
The bass "before", after arriving at his shop.
Removing the neck binding.
Cutting the slots for the new inlays. Kind of a scary shot!
The new inlay slots.

- Dale's next step was installing the new inlays and the checkered binding around the body. The inlay process involves literally crushing pearl into flakes using a morter & pestel (sp?).
New inlays, sanded fretboard.
Routing a "step" for the checkered binding.
Checkered binding installed! Sure is ugly at this stage, though.
The small amount of routing done to move the neck pickup. New Ricks have the pickup 1" away from the fretboard edge, I opted for the vintage 1/2" spacing.

- Onto finishing. As I said, the finish would be Jetglo (Black), but Dale talked me into using Amber-tinted conversion varnish over the bass for a more vintage look.
In the booth, next to a 60's 325.
The incredible inlays. I can stare at them for hours!
More inlays.
Checkered binding.
More checkered binding.
Dale hooked me up with a vintage reissue Rickenbacker truss rod cover. Impossible to those without connections!
Dale made me a horseshoe pickup cover out of aluminum - these are unavilable from RIC and you're not allowed to sell 'em - once again, nice to have connections! He also cut the "gap" in the tailpiece, as per 60's tailpieces.
Also had a vintage-style pickguard installed, with a lucite finger rest.

Fin.

The bass is back in my posession as of yesterday and I am blown away. Not only from the obvious cosmetic changes, but the setup as well. It's playing better than ever.

As I looked at the back of the bass and ran my hand along that old familiar neck profile, this bass was still undeniably *mine*. And that's a nice feeling.

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.

Looking at the before and after photos I can notice almost no difference!

Obviously a labour of love.

You Sir are truely a geek.

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Oh man, that is so cool!

Wish they weren't that expensive around here

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Tijd zat..., toch?

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One of the best threads i have ever read. At least in the bass section anyway. Really nice end product, i am so jealous. That binding is KILLER!

great post man.... Liked seeing the process. And as stated above ... this was a project of true geekdom.

Nice Bass!!!

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Usually the answer is to take your gear and try "it" (new amp/guitar/effect/etc) out at the store

Whoa! Sounds like an interesting project. The guy's name wouldn't happen to be Ken, would it? Do you do refinishing?

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.

Well Mike, if you're going to be working on Ricks, ya gotta get with the lingo. What is black? We call it Jetglo.

If you want any advice in doing a Rick, or just some tips, come over to the Rick Resource Forum - there are several people who do Rickenbacker-quality refinishes, including Dale Fortune and Paul Wilczynski. http://forum.rickresource.com

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.

Looks killer, once again, I envy you.

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That's pretty great lookin'! The only thing that looks a bit off is the pickguard. Not that there's anything wrong with it really, but it's just such a clean and vivid white compared to the "vintage" white on the binding. It's barely noticeable if you don't look up close, though, and it still looks great regardless

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Rig:
KxK Sii-7 -> Fractal Axe-FX Ultra-> Carvin DCM 1540L -> Vader 4x12

Lol, seems like a lot of effort for relatively little gain, but hey.

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"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

My geeked rig

If you're in Rickenbacker la-la land like I am, it's a big deal, trust me.

Like I said - I could have paid $5000 for a '68, or I could modify my favorite bass to look like one - no brainer for me.

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.

I'm sorry dude, but I liked the old binding better... But that's just my taste I guess. I really like the inlays, but are the inlays really that... Dark? They seem pretty dark, I thought they'd be more bright... Almost white you know.

Oh, and how much did you pay for all this? Seems like alot of work

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The rig

I don't think they're as dark as the pictures show - they were originally brighter but the bass was oversprayed with amber CV, giving the more aged look. $900.

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.

I think it looks great. Sure, most people who know little about Rickenbackers wouldn't notice, but, those of us who do, can definitely spot the changes IMO, the money you paid to have the work done wasn't too bad at all. Not for what the finished product turned out to be.

Justin

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Way too much gear to list, mainly some '60s Fender offsets, a Travis Bean, ton of effects, tape echo, tube reverb, & Orange and Matamps


photos (mostly up to date)

Gear for making Looped/ Noisy/ Melodic/ Drone stuff

Thank you for the comments, Justin. The bass really came out great and IMO, it was a bargain for what I got in return.

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My stuff.
Rickenbacker 4003/4001 conversion project.