NBD: 2012 Rickenbacker 4003 Ruby Red

[superdick2112]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

What does "NBD:" mean as used in the title of the thread?

New Bass Day

[RickenBoogie]

Congrats on a beautiful Ric bass. I too bought a Ruby Ric this year, but mine's a 330/6. The color has to be seen to really appreciate, just stunning. Enjoy.

[soxhats]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Congrats on a beautiful Ric bass. I too bought a Ruby Ric this year, but mine's a 330/6. The color has to be seen to really appreciate, just stunning. Enjoy.

Thanks! The color really is crazy -- I can't stop staring.

[armybass]

Even though I already have three newer Rics...but that Ruby is driving me crazy. I must have one. Congrats...it is beautiful!

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Where are you getting this info from, personal experience or directly from Ric ?
I have read others say the opposite of this.

I really wanted to buy this exact same model from Wildwood, but the inconsistent 4003 neck profile info is why I can't bring myself to buy one of these without playing it first.

I have had 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 4003 basses in my hands and in my house. Some I owned and some I worked on some. The 2009, 10, and 11 had a slimmer neck than the 2012. I didn't take measurements. Also all 4 had the nut a little high for my taste, but the 2012 was the highest. I want the nut to be the height of a zero fret. Most new basses will come with the nut higher than that. The fret work and finish on all 4 basses was beautiful. I did a complete setup on all 4. 3 of the 4 got converted to 5 string basses. All the necks were strong and also adjustable. The pickups and electronics worked well and sounded great on all 4. Only the 2012 came with the new Carribean rosewood on the fretboard. The new fretboard wood is nice looking but also different looking than Bubinga, but the tone is pretty much the same. All 4 necks were the new style with 2 pieces of maple laminated together, with the new full width inlays, and the walnut headwings. All of those are nice improvements to the 4003 bass and make them more like the old 60s 4001 basses.

The new 4003 basses are very nice. I still don't like the cover on the bridge pickup or the mechanical mute tailpiece bridge assembly that makes it hard to palm mute of adjust, and I wish they would do a proper 5 string 4003 bass like the old 4003s5 but with a slightly wider neck and string spacing, like 2 1/2" at the bridge a 1 5/8" or 1 3/4" at the nut with a thin D profile.

Also 1 or 2 basses from each production year is not a scientific sample.

[sloppy_phil]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Also 1 or 2 basses from each production year is not a scientific sample.

This is truth. in any given year the necks can feel different, and even within the same year it can vary. Impossible to gauge/guess the size of a Ric neck without having it in your hands (or measured by someone who is in possession of the bass)

[electracoyote]

This may be just pure coincidence, and someone with more experience should feel free to help me understand this.

I had a Turquoise 4003 from 2002. Kind of rare from what I've seen, not sure how many other years they produced this finish. It was the same kind of candy/metallic tint as the new Ruby and Blue models, very pretty.

Anyway, the neck on that bass was noticeably thicker (deeper profile) than my other Ric 4003's. Not that I minded much, I'm okay with a thicker neck, but because it was different from the others, it always threw me a bit at first. I finally sold it because of financial issues.

Coincidence? I'd love to get this Ruby Red, but I don't want the neck profile to be so much different from my other Rics.

[soxhats]

Sorry if I'm repeating some or all of what I've already said.... As a first-time Rickenbacker owner, I apologize that my frames of reference are other basses. My comments may not be helpful to veteran Ric owners, but for any other newbies like me, perhaps they will... The Rickenbacker I borrowed a couple of weeks ago (2006 blue boy) felt like a C neck. Reminded me of a Music Man Sterling I once owned. The ruby red 4003 that arrived last week is a different animal. More of a D neck. Feel-wise. it reminds me of my 2009 Fender American Standard P.

Now I've owned a Music Man String Ray that I sold because the neck was too much. Also have played some 1.75" P basses (e.g. Mexican-made '50s P) whose necks were not appealing to me. This Ric's neck is not like those. Certainly somewhat beefy, but for whatever reason, feels good in my left hand.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by soxhats

The Rickenbacker I borrowed a couple of weeks ago (2006 blue boy) felt like a C neck. Reminded me of a Music Man Sterling I once owned. The ruby red 4003 that arrived last week is a different animal. More of a D neck. Feel-wise. it reminds me of my 2009 Fender American Standard P.

No apology needed. From my experience with Rics over the years, and having owned four or five, this is a very appropriate analogy for the differing neck profiles.

My candy Turqouise had more of a D or "P Bass" profile, as compared to the others that have had slimmer or C profiles.

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by soxhats

Sorry if I'm repeating some or all of what I've already said.... As a first-time Rickenbacker owner, I apologize that my frames of reference are other basses. My comments may not be helpful to veteran Ric owners, but for any other newbies like me, perhaps they will... The Rickenbacker I borrowed a couple of weeks ago (2006 blue boy) felt like a C neck. Reminded me of a Music Man Sterling I once owned. The ruby red 4003 that arrived last week is a different animal. More of a D neck. Feel-wise. it reminds me of my 2009 Fender American Standard P.

Now I've owned a Music Man String Ray that I sold because the neck was too much. Also have played some 1.75" P basses (e.g. Mexican-made '50s P) whose necks were not appealing to me. This Ric's neck is not like those. Certainly somewhat beefy, but for whatever reason, feels good in my left hand.

Yeah, I've played a Blue Boy & the neck profile on it felt just right for me.
I would buy one but everyone is asking krazie high prices for them right now.

[Joe Kyle]

I've just ordered one from Wildwood as well. Great customer service! how did yours come packaged?

[soxhats]

Originally Posted by Joe Kyle

I've just ordered one from Wildwood as well. Great customer service! how did yours come packaged?

They did a great setup... case was in a very well packed box... and they even included a Wildwood tee-shirt.

I'm looking forward to *your* NBD.

[BigJohnAZ]

Nice Rick, congrats! If and when I buy my next one, I want it to be the Ruby Red. I have never seen one in the flesh, but by the pictures, it's gotta look majestic. Enjoy!

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by soxhats

Sorry if I'm repeating some or all of what I've already said.... As a first-time Rickenbacker owner, I apologize that my frames of reference are other basses. My comments may not be helpful to veteran Ric owners, but for any other newbies like me, perhaps they will... The Rickenbacker I borrowed a couple of weeks ago (2006 blue boy) felt like a C neck. Reminded me of a Music Man Sterling I once owned. The ruby red 4003 that arrived last week is a different animal. More of a D neck. Feel-wise. it reminds me of my 2009 Fender American Standard P.

Now I've owned a Music Man String Ray that I sold because the neck was too much. Also have played some 1.75" P basses (e.g. Mexican-made '50s P) whose necks were not appealing to me. This Ric's neck is not like those. Certainly somewhat beefy, but for whatever reason, feels good in my left hand.

I agree the newer Ricks are a D profile.

For me D means flat and wide whereas C means chunkier.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by Ric5

I agree the newer Ricks are a D profile.

For me D means flat and wide whereas C means chunkier.

That's interesting. In the Fender world, "Modern C" is the slimmer profile, C is a medium profile, and D is the chunkier profile.

Maybe it's opposite with Rics? I dunno...

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

That's interesting. In the Fender world, "Modern C" is the slimmer profile, C is a medium profile, and D is the chunkier profile.

Maybe it's opposite with Rics? I dunno...

Take a D and add mass to the apex, thus creating a thicker C shape. Maybe a shallow U would be more descriptive than C?

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Take a D and add mass to the apex, thus creating a thicker C shape. Maybe a shallow U would be more descriptive than C?

lol, Fender uses "U" for super chunky necks as well.

I know most Rics I play have what I would call a comfortable "modern C" feel to them, and it sounds like people are using the Precision bass chunkier profile to describe the thicker Ric necks.

[Paul M]

Just curious, why did you put the D-string on the G-peg and the G-string on the D-peg?

[sloppy_phil]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Just curious, why did you put the D-string on the G-peg and the G-string on the D-peg?

wow, it took you pointing it out for me to notice... the red fur totally blended right in. But yeah, that's certainly odd

[lesmarshall]

Originally Posted by 254 stringer

I heard from somewhere that the ruby has become a standard color. I'll see if i can find where I saw it.

This was on the ric facebook page on a picture of a bunch of ruby 4003s ready to ship.

Is the Midnight Blue a standard color too?