Rickenbacker 4003

I bought a jetglo 4003 almost exactly a year ago. The bass plays beautifully and i have had no quality control issues.

I have played bass for about 22 years and before buying this bass, I played only a single pickup 1995 EBMM Sterling for 20 years. Unless you started out on a Rick, you will definitely have to get used to this bass.

I went through a bezel and a zero mod thumbrest and numerous tonal settings before finding what I liked. It took a month of solid playing just to transfer my muscle memory over to this bass, i believe due to its slightly smaller scale (33.25). It took about 8 months to find my tone. I ultimately went with the zero mod thumb rest. For the band i am in, i like the bridge pickup with an open tone.

The action is amazing, love the look and tone. The bass is not a one trick pony as some have stated. If you are used to a Fender-style bass, it will take some time to truly bond with this bass. It is very much worth it. My bass playing has improved, i can play faster and with more precision than before.

I have owned several Rickenbacker basses over the years beginning with a wine coloured 4001 model in the early 70s up to recently owning a 4003 Maple Glo coloured bass. Over the years I have owned several other basses, but none come close to the individual feel, look and sound that this bass offers me for my taste. My most recent 4003 bass has had the modifications mentioned above done to it making the bass the most desirable bass in my small collection. The Hipshot replacement bridge offers three-way adjustment on each individual string which is far superior to the limited bridge that comes stock with the 4003 model. The bridge however, maintains the classic look of the stock Ric bridge. In addition, the Joe Barden replacement pick-ups, drop nicely into the existing pick-up cavities and eliminate any extraneous noise, rattle and interference while maintaining the classic tone and character of the Rickenbacker 4003. Frankly, it makes one wonder why Rickenbacker has not instituted these changes to their iconic bass as stock features that are proven to be a vast improvement over the adjustability and tonal quality of the instrument. Perhaps in future these changes will be made standard but for present use I highly recommend these simple additions to provide you with the bass of your dreams if the Rickenbacker bass is what you desire. I personally love mine.

I have two Rickenbacker 4003 basses as this time, A 2010 Mapleglo and a 2013 Jetglo. I've owned 3 different 4001's in the past. They feature a classic tone which is unique and instantly recognizable. The neck also features a unique taper which is similar to a Precision at the nut, but stays rather slim all the way to the body. Some dislike the lack of a forearm contour but that has never bothered me. The stereo output provides many sound options, including a blend between effect processing and raw tones. The neck-through construction results in great sustain and easy access to the upper frets. Many after-market options are available, such as the more adjustable Hipshot bridge and Tube Ampology bridge pickup bezel for those who dislike the bridge pickup cover. Overall, a fast playing bass that is balanced and comfortable to wear. While I have heard about a few QA issues, I've never had a problem with the 5 basses I've owned over the course of my career. In my close to 50 years of playing bass, the Rickenbacker 4003 is definitely my favorite.