Restoring My Vintage 1972 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass
Part II - Removing the Hardware
Posted 6/13/2005
(Click the images below for a larger view.)
First order of business is to remove the tuning keys. Below is the back of the head stock with tuning keys removed.
Surprise! See the third screw hole under each key? This shows that the original owner put some different tuners on
this bass at some point. He must not have liked the new tuners because he had put the originals back on by the time I
acquired it. Either that, or hw just wanted to put the original equipment back on before he sold it.
In the picture below, I have removed the tailpiece/bridge assembly. There's 33 years worth of grunge under there. The black
thing with the springs sitting in the bridge cavity is part of the dampening system Rickenbacker installs in their tailpieces.
I was surprised to find this metal and rubber piece is wired into the electronics. I have no idea why. I'll have to ask someone.
Below I have removed the pickguard and left the electronics sitting in the body cavity. You can see that a lot of the mirror
backing from the pickguard has stuck to the body. That's the blue stuff you see all around the body cavity.
The picture below shows why the mirrored pickguard looks blue where the mirror backing has seperated from the plexiglass
and why it left blue residue on the bass. It's blue on the back
Below is a closeup of the body after the electronics were removed and before cleanup.
Below is a closeup of the body after extensive cleaning.
Below you can see that someone named Jean signed my bass at the factory.
Two interesting things in the picture below: in pencil, the letters appear to say "NHT," perhaps someone's initials. Then
again, it may say "NAT," someone's name. Notice the double pickguard screw holes. This proves that the mirrored pickguard
is not original equipment.
The picture below shows that the crack in the wood under the neck is not too bad. It only extends to just under the pickguard.
In the picture below you can see the damaged nut that led me to tie string around the head stock to hold the low E string in place.
Below is a picture of all the parts I removed from the bass.
Below is a picture of the bass stripped of all its hardware.
The bass is now ready for new hardware, re-fretting, and setup. I have already placed an order for a new pickguard ($61.00)
and all new hardware ($571.00). I have also begun making inquiries for someone to do the rest of the work the
bass needs. Nothing to do now but wait for the parts to come in and continue the
search for some luthier to do the professional work I can't handle.
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