Jeff's right. After you've owned one (or two, or three..) Ricks, you can just tell. For me, one giveaway was the sharkfin markers (shaped wrong, too) with no binding on the bass. Another was the tailpiece being just a little too angular; you can see that the one on my 4003 is more rounded. And, I can't recall any Ricks coming from the factory with anything but a black nut. But, the dead giveaway - for me - was the step where the heel of the neck joins the body. Because a Rick's neck doesn't join the body; it's part of the thru-body center block. It should like this one, on my old 4001. It's lots of little things, but if you know what you're looking at, it just shouts "FAKE". Have to say, though, it looks like a pretty nice fake; but, no it wasn't blessed by John Hall...
