Jean-Luc Pickguard

My 2024 Jetglo Ric 4003 has arrived. This was secondhand from (Gasp) Cash Converters. I particularly wanted a 2024 (or 2023?) model for the usable bridge and single truss rod, so when this one appeared at a decent saving over a new one I jumped on it immediately. On inspection it is in near mint condition, the only mark I can find on it is a tiny chip at the tip the headstock. After unboxing, I tested it and initially thought there was an intermittent problem with the bridge pickup as when switching to it the sound was cutting out, however I then found that this only happens when using my ridiculously heavy Fender curly cable with woven covering. It seems the weight of the cable was pulling the plug and doing something to the weird mono switching jack used for the 'normal' output. Once I swapped the cable out for a more normal cable the signal was rock solid. I don't have the correct cable etc to try the rick-o-sound output yet, but I'll be placing a thomann order soon which will include the necessary bits & bobs amongst other things. Over the last few weeks since deciding to buy a 4003 I have accumulated various things to slightly customise it: 'Traditional' Rickenbacker knobs with bass/treble & volume/tone text to replace the jazz bass style knobs Rickysounds clear thumbrest Rickysounds black pickguard (bought when I thought I was going to acquire a Mapleglo 4003) A set of Ernie Ball Cobalt flatwounds 40-60-10-95 (I use these on my Gibson & Epiphone thunderbirds & think they should suit the 4003) A set of Schaller Chrome S-Locks — The 4003 is fitted with strap buttons compatible with S-locks but due to their small size I wouldn't trust them with my usual rubbery grolsch washers. It is not practical to replace the stock strap buttons as they use a machine screw fixing rather than a wood screw. I nicked the black suede strap from one of my guitars and fitted the S-locks. I'm not sure whether I will use the black pickguard but I will put the cobalt flats, knobs and thumbrest on soon. I will probably shield the bass with anti slug tape at some point, however I saw a Youtube video of someone who did this including putting copper tape on the back of the white acrylic pickguard and I'm sure it had a bit of a copper-coloured tinge after he refitted it. Maybe I'll try Aluminium tape on the pickguard or rather than sticking the tape directly to the guard, or make a slightly undersized plate from thin opaque black plastic card stock to go under the pickguard and shield the underside of that to prevent the copper showing through.

Anyone Who Had A Fart — Dionne Warwick

Pigs (Three Different Ones) — Pink Floyd

Keep It Greasy — Frank Zappa

Oompa Violet — Primus

Great Balls Of Fire — Jerry Lee Lewis

Revolution — The Beatles

Candy And A Current Bun — Pink Floyd

The Needle And The Damage Done — Neil Young

Cotton Eyed Joe — Nina Simone

I don't have a tube amp but my Fender mustang GTX 100 does a great job of emulating several, my favourite being a mesa boogie, so I'll be trying that.

Bus Stop — The Hollies

I have one on my bitzer precision fretless that looks really good and was £10 delivered from China three or four years ago.

Annie's Pong — John Denver

I apologise unreservedly to all aesthetically challenged tort pickguards for the unfair comparison.

Beyond the shape of the pickguard, when talking about tort pickguards it is unfair to lump it all together as there is a huge difference between beautiful tort and fugly tort. Beautiful tort: Fugly tort:

One of the members of my first band from about 40 years ago is still a good mate, however I recently heard that the other member sadly passed away a few years ago.

These things Flea was flogging several years ago had a particularly uninspired pickguard designed by drawing around a plate and plonking it on the body as if to say 'that'll do.'

You Wear It Well — Rod Stewart

Nothing wrong with a Danelectro. The clear pickguard on my blueburst longhorn is rather tasteful.

This book arrived from Amazon just now. I'm looking forward to reading it when I have time. Has anyone here already read it? Or perhaps you have it on your xmas list? The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass

I didn't realise that hipshot made replacements for the Gotoh GB1 tuners that come on Japanese and some MiM Fender Mustangs, but I saw this new set of HB-10 with lollipops on ebay and I couldn't resist. This type of tuner has a narrower string post than most Fender-type tuners so the HB-10s are the only replacement set for basses using GB1s that don't require any modification to the wood. They came from a dealer in the US so they weren't cheap. The total cost inc shipping & taxes was £12, but there were no nasty surprises as the taxes etc were paid up front with ebay shipping. I have just fitted them to my Siennaburst Player Mustang and they feel lovely & smooth like the hipshots on my JMJs and the lollipops look the biz.

Locomotive Breath — Jethro Tull