jonsmith

Yes, it worked fine for me. It's odd, but I don't mind the original cover on some basses (and there's no choice with the CS), but it bothers me on others. The dipped surround appears to have been brought in in the late eighties or early 90s. I've taken covers off 70s and 80s basses with no problems as they had no dip and the 91 is fine with the cover off as it's not sharp, but when I did it to my 03, it was so sharp that I decided to try the Pickguardian solution. Pickguardian are good to deal with and if you've ever taken the original cover off then it's easy to fit the Pickguardian solution. Just make sure to note how the springs and washers are on the large screws so that you can refit them (see [url="http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/bpickups.pdf"]http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/bpickups.pdf[/url] for a diagram). One screw will also have the earth wire on it. I think it looks fine, although I've swapped the white one in the photograph below for the mirrored one which looks a bit better to me. I'll photograph that if you want. Left: '03 4003 FG with white Pickguardian surround Right: '07 4003 DCM with unaltered surround

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='335906' date='Nov 24 2008, 10:41 PM']Even better, their illustration of a 4003 with "the original pickup surround" also shows why I need it. They've had to grind down the 'lip' of the pickguard by several mm to gain clearance for the strings.[/quote] All the newer Rickenbackers seem to have that dip in the chrome surround. It's often pretty sharp too if you remove the pickup cover. The older chrome surrounds don't have the dip. On the newer bass I have that I've removed the cover from, I've replaced the surround with a Pickguardian chrome surround.

I'm not at home right now so I can't check my basses, but I'm pretty sure that in the 90s there were serials with one letter on the top and then digits on the bottom of the plate (my Chris Squire has a serial like this I think)*. If you key that serial in as M1 rather than MI, it does come up with Jan 1998, so I think that's how he's come up with that date. However that plate has a September 73 serial on it, starting MI. Jon, I don't know, but had CB and FWI possibly finished by September 73? Regardless, somehow this just doesn't look like a '73. PS - Your knowledge of fakers is pretty useful - I think it probably will come in handy for RRF members from time to time. EDIT (for accuracy): *Got home, 90s plates have one letter and one digit on top, with 4 digits below, e.g. D4 1234

[quote name='bassmansky' post='329280' date='Nov 14 2008, 05:27 PM']i was thinking of doing that if i had the cash!do you play through the abm cab with the neo1x15?[/quote] Yes. I managed to get a hold of a Neo 1x15 at a good price, so it handles low frequency duties while the ABM 4x10 takes care of the rest. The ABM 4x10 is a pretty heavy cab though, as you'll know, so if the Neo 4x10 is as good and I can find it it at a reasonable price I'll be happy.

I've had two, but sold one as I didn't really need two. They are great basses for the money and everyone who has played mine has loved them. The necks are very thin indeed. The one I kept has required a little neck/rod adjustment when it has been exposed to extreme temperature changes. The one that I wasn't using didn't like being neglected and ended up with quite a bow in the neck. It took me about two months of gradual truss rod adjustment to correct this before I sold it. It hasn't moved since and is absolutely perfect according to the guy I sold it too. I have heard of some people having problems with the tuners, but they've ended up fine on both of mine (one set seemed a bit loose at first). Geddy Lee has apparently asked that they be upgraded on the newer ones, so if you find one with a satin neck, that probably has the newer tuners.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='328852' date='Nov 14 2008, 08:34 AM'][b]D[size=5]-oh!!!![/size][/b][/quote] Got a Kay P bass somewhere I can let you have for a few hundred quid...

These Klystron or Classic cabs have neo speakers and seem to me to be considerably lighter. I've already got a 1x15 and it sounds great. As soon as I've raised the dosh, I'll be swapping my ABM410 cab for a Neo 4x10.

[quote name='4000' post='306527' date='Oct 14 2008, 07:05 PM']The tug bar would've been on the scratchplate. The screws have actually been screwed into the body between the bridge and treble pickup.[/quote] Ouch! Didn't even see them. Would have helped if I'd read the original question properly as I thought it referred to the screws in the scratchplate. Lovely bass by the way...

[quote name='dabootsy' post='304355' date='Oct 11 2008, 11:56 AM']Robert Cray Phone Booth great funky number[/quote] I just learned that for the Gunns a few weeks back. Good fun.

[quote name='Exile252' post='305877' date='Oct 13 2008, 11:12 PM']Could be a odd placed thumb rest [/quote] Yes, looks like it used to have a tug bar, that's where they used to be (for people who played with their thumbs).

Bought Clarky's Badass III bridge. Really fast delivery (arrived next morning) & in great condition. Pleasant to deal with too. Thanks again Jon

I've heard that Terminal are good. One of my bands rehearses at Creekside in Deptford, which is worth checking out.

[quote name='ARGH' post='290483' date='Sep 24 2008, 12:22 AM']How does your back cope with the weight of those doublenecks?[/quote] They can get quite heavy after a while, but they're OK for a song or two. If we're rehearsing something over and over it can get a bit tiring. Being prog, of course none of the songs I've used it on have been short, but the longest one also requires the guitarist to use his doubleneck and in rehearsal he normally weakens first.

[quote name='noelk27' post='290424' date='Sep 23 2008, 10:48 PM']F$$k me! The 4/12's are the equivalent of rocking horse excrement. But you bring up an interesting point - the difference between intrinsic value and associational value. Surely when generally discussing instruments and values prototypes and artist-owned instruments should be excluding from the equation/question? Without the association, after all, the instrument in question is just another "X". Prototypes, however, do pose a slightly more difficult subject.[/quote] Ha, I guess I did, in the line I then removed because I decided it sounded smug. You're right, the 4080/12 s are pretty rare. I'd been looking for one for a long time before I managed to get hold of one. Like busses, after a long time waiting, another 2 came along almost immediately.

Well, maybe these don't count due to being more than simply a bass, but this pair cost rather a lot, especially the 4/12 string version on the right. Not list price I know...

Currently, Rickenbacker strings have no silk wraps. I use Rotosounds on my newer basses, but my older Rickenbackers, that seem to like a slightly lower tension string, are getting Rickenbacker strings. The roundwounds are not as bright as Rotos to start with, but they hold their tone for absolutely ages.

Hehe. As long as you lost them on the park and not the clubhouse... I'll keep an eye out for them.

Visited Nathan with a view to buying his Warwick Streamer ProM 5. A quick noodle through his amp and sale was agreed. Throughout whole process, Nathan was a pleasure to deal with - patiently waiting while I sorted out a day when I could get to Cheltenham and then helping me find a suitable cash point when I did. Had a good chat about basses, gigs etc. too. I would have no hesitation in dealing with him again. Good luck with the move and the job Nathan! Thanks again Jon

Thank you Nathan. I've just seen this section today. Indeed, it was a pleasure during whole process (with the exception of trying to find somewhere to park near a cash machine!). The bass plays really nicely. Thanks again

[quote name='Jase' post='272170' date='Aug 29 2008, 12:15 AM']I can't think of the album it's from now but I think that he's got it note for note there [/quote] It's [i]On the Silent Wings of Freedom [/i]from the [i]Tormato[/i] album. I've got a cracking live version of this from Wembley...somewhere. It's a Chris Squire Rickenbacker he's playing there too.