HW Rickenbacker Tributes

[Woodinblack]

So I am thinking that as I enjoy my 4004/5 so much it would be nice to have a 5 string 4003. Obviously they don't make one of those, but there are people who do.

So I have contacted the most prominant one and asked him about it. He can do it, they aren't particulary cheap, so they would be about the price of a cheap used real one. Has anyone had one built and what were they like? I thought I could just get a used one (and originally after brexit, thomman were selling the actual 5 string 4003s/5s for that price, but not for long) but the 4003s/5s weren't that cheap, and there arent any 4003 non Ss in 5.

 

Anyone gone this route?

 

Yes, I know that 'tributes' is doing a bit of heavy lifting there!

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I had one built for me last year. It looked and sounded spot on but there were a few issues which meant I didn't keep it for long. 

Maybe I was unlucky, they certainly have a loyal following, but despite being clearly skilled at what they do I can't help feeling they rush the builds to keep up with demand.

Happy to discuss more by PM.

[Skybone]

I had a 4 string built a few years ago, before I managed to track down an affordable 4003. Still have it.

 

The woodwork was spot on, the electrics were a bit meh. I keep meaning to upgrade them, but just never get around to it. Maybe one day.

[police squad]

I have a 4003 by HW in black. It is awesome. I'm going to get another one this time in White wth checkered binding.

It sounds exactly like it should

Edited 5 hours ago by police squad

[Skybone]

Now there's a thought, a custom 8 string...

[prowla]

20 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

So I am thinking that as I enjoy my 4004/5 so much it would be nice to have a 5 string 4003. Obviously they don't make one of those, but there are people who do.

So I have contacted the most prominant one and asked him about it. He can do it, they aren't particulary cheap, so they would be about the price of a cheap used real one. Has anyone had one built and what were they like? I thought I could just get a used one (and originally after brexit, thomman were selling the actual 5 string 4003S/5s for that price, but not for long) but the 4003s/5s weren't that cheap, and there arent any 4003 non Ss in 5.

 

Anyone gone this route?

 

Yes, I know that 'tributes' is doing a bit of heavy lifting there!

 

33 minutes ago, Skybone said:

Now there's a thought, a custom 8 string...

 

I had a 4003s/5 for a while; the styling amused me, but it didn't feel like a Ric to me and I never quite gelled with it; I sold it back to the person I bought it from after a year(@6feet7).

I played @Happy Jack's and his was the same.

As for HW, he has a good reputation for producing replicas to order, including some of those instruments RIC never made.

I have a faker from another UK-based maker (DC) who has stepped back a bit; it was originally made as an 8-string, but the neck couldn't cope and it was re-purposed as a 4.

That sort of hints at one of the pitfalls: a Ric neck can be lovely and slim, but can't handle high-tension/heavy gauge strings and adding an extra one adds 25% more tension which can have structural implications.

I'd expect HW to be well across those implications.

Also, for info, Retrovibe do 5-string faker pickups.

Also (#2), some real RIcs (4004 Laredo/Cheyenne and the 4003S/5) had Schaller 3D bridges, so there'd be no harm in using one of those.

Pics of my 4-nee-8 string faker.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by prowla

[ead]

Pardon my ignorance, but who is HW?