The Rickenbacker Club Part Seven

[thiocyclist]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I have a chance at a 2007 Ric 4003 Blue Burst at $2499 in the USA. Serial # 0711550. It needs a setup pretty bad.

Is this a:
1. bad price
2. fair price
3. good price
4. great price

Thanks for your opinions!

That's a bad price. It sounds like you're a player, not a collector, because of your setup comments. To you it should be just like any other 4003 and if it doesn't play well it's not worth half of what they're asking.

[gidbass]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I have a chance at a 2007 Ric 4003 Blue Burst at $2499 in the USA. Serial # 0711550. It needs a setup pretty bad.

Is this a:
1. bad price
2. fair price
3. good price
4. great price

Thanks for your opinions!

I agree with the others.

While it is my favorite ric color (autumn glow very close second), that is not a good price, but it is the price you see all over Ebay for those due to the rareness of the color.

I would rather purchase a new 4003 than spend that kind of coin on a used one.

My .02 of course.

Good Luck!

[8MilesHigher]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Glad you're here, Rich!

Originally Posted by 2nd Wind

Sweet bass, Rich. Welcome to the dark side.

Thanks, guys !!

[bassgod0dmw]

I just wanted to give a quick update on my 4003 pickup issue.

For those that don't remember...I grabbed a used 2008 4003 from POTR. When it came, I found the bridge pickup to be very weak and thin sounding. I assumed the vintage/modern switch was bad and was stuck in vintage mode.

I did some basic testing and found the switch was in fact not working, so I rewired the bass and took the switch out as well as the "vintage" cap, so it was in a permanent modern mode. I also took some pickup readings, and the bridge pickup was giving an odd number, nothing remotely close the neck pickup. I put it all back together and some of the lost volume returned, but the bridge pickup still sounded thin to me.

I let Chris at POTR know what was going on, and told him the readings. He agreed that the bridge pickup wasn't right, so he sent me a new pickup. Once it arrived, I took some readings on it vs. my pickup. The new pickup was definitely more in line of what I expected.

I just finished installing it, and now it's right! Still no vintage/modern switch, but I'd always use it in modern mode anyways. I'll get around to fixing it eventually, but I'm happy that the pickups are working correctly. I'll probably do the switch when I shield the control cavity.

I can't recommend POTR enough. Great service, fast communication and shipping, and they made everything right as fast as possible.

[willsellout]

That's good to hear, glad everything is working right.

[bassgod0dmw]

It's getting gigged tonight too! I'm excited.

I'm just trying to decide if I should bring another bass or use it all night.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

It's getting gigged tonight too! I'm excited.

I'm just trying to decide if I should bring another bass or use it all night.

Would you bring an old girlfriend along on a honeymoon?

[Tarrbot]

I had meant to show this a while back but I recently took possession of an early 80s 4003 that had been butchered up with a bad lower wing.

Before I got it, it had been rectified to its current state.

Essentially in the restoration process, a RIHS was installed as well as a toaster and the body binding was removed and it was contoured.

Very much like a 4003S but with the triangle inlays and neck binding.

To top it off, it had a matte jetglo paint job put on it.

Here's a pre-finished pic...


and here's an almost finished pic...


I should take current pics but I've been too busy with work or playing it to polish it up for posterity.

[sloppy_phil]

that's an awesome restoration! Although, if you want to go full retro on this, you should move the toaster p'up a 1/2" closer to the neck. It might not seem like much, but it somehow is really responsible for a lot of the vintage Ric 'mojo' (imho, of course)

Did you do the body work yourself? because it looks mighty clean to me. Great stuff!

[cinnabar]

I am a proud owner of a 1972 Model 4001 Rickenbacker bass. My aunt gave it to me about 18 years ago - I'm glad I hung onto it although to be honest I prefer to play my MIM Jazz Bass.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by sloppy_phil

that's an awesome restoration! Although, if you want to go full retro on this, you should move the toaster p'up a 1/2" closer to the neck. It might not seem like much, but it somehow is really responsible for a lot of the vintage Ric 'mojo' (imho, of course)

Did you do the body work yourself? because it looks mighty clean to me. Great stuff!

+ 1, great work!

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Would you bring an old girlfriend along on a honeymoon?

Excellent point! I only brought the Ric out, it was awesome!

We had one of our bass player friends in the audience all night, and he kept coming up to me telling me how great it sounded. During one of our breaks he asked me if he could play it, so I said sure. While he was noodling around I asked him if he wanted to sit in on a song. He agreed, so I was able to hear my whole rig FOH. I'm happy to say that it sounded exactly the same as it did on stage!

[Tarrbot]

Originally Posted by sloppy_phil

that's an awesome restoration! Although, if you want to go full retro on this, you should move the toaster p'up a 1/2" closer to the neck. It might not seem like much, but it somehow is really responsible for a lot of the vintage Ric 'mojo' (imho, of course)

Did you do the body work yourself? because it looks mighty clean to me. Great stuff!

No. I recieved it almost like it is now. I've changed the tuners out and put new strings on it and that's it.

Has a righteous thump.

[thiocyclist]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Excellent point! I only brought the Ric out, it was awesome!

We had one of our bass player friends in the audience all night, and he kept coming up to me telling me how great it sounded. During one of our breaks he asked me if he could play it, so I said sure. While he was noodling around I asked him if he wanted to sit in on a song. He agreed, so I was able to hear my whole rig FOH. I'm happy to say that it sounded exactly the same as it did on stage!

Nice!

[woodyng]

Cinnabar- i'd be more than happy to buy you a MIA or MIJ Fender jazz in exchange for that ratty old 4001 of yours......

[Nick901]

Originally Posted by CptRevell

May I get a number?

Here's my '76 4001. Took out the capacitor, looking to put in a push/pull someday. Also switched out the pickup ring for a 4003 version.

480

Welcome to the club!

[Nick901]

Originally Posted by Jazzstick

My 4003 and my 4001cs newly purchased I hope I can get it into 100% playing condition the neck may have a bit of a "pull" to deal with. Does anyone know of a very good Rickenbacker setup guy in or near Connecticut?

And can I join the club?

thanks
Brett

481

Welcome to the club!

[Lazarus.Bird]

What are my options for replacement tuners? I have an '85 4003. Tuners are feeling really sloppy and not holding tune well. Do I just have replacements from Ric and Hipshot HB5s to choose from? I need em in black, too.

[Nick901]

Originally Posted by 8MilesHigher

I just acquired this sweet FireGlo 4003 on Friday, so can I join the Ric Club ? ?

Thanks
8MilesHigher

482

Welcome to the club!

[Music Scholar]

My RIC