Is this Rick 4003S Real?

[Rib 13]

no tilted headstock: if it is a copy, at least its not a newer one.............Im leaning to think its not a copy but missing a few things

 

[GM60466]

My opinion: too many questions to spend serious $$.

 

[elgranluis]

I don’t see anything that would make me think it’s not a real ric.

i always go by the fretboard color (red ) as a major indicator or originality, however , not too long ago someone either posted a faker with a red board or assured that they existed.

 

[Ric5]

so a 4003S 1996? Definitely not 4001s, right?

yes 1996 4003s makes sense ... then it is mostly original with a nice color on the refin, 90s 4003 basses are good players. They will have 11k ohm high gain pickups and all 250k ohm pots. The necks are usually rock solid.

 

[RhinoBass]

It's definitely, totally, unmistakably, sincerely fake, in my opinion, but today is your lucky day. I'll give you $500.00 for it so you can cut your losses.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Remember over time owners do all kinds of crazy mods and quick fixes at gigs and such over it's life.
Parts, pickups and other parts can come and go. Availability of parts was tough before the internet.

That said, the bones looks very genuine to me.

Why not ask at the Ric Resource? It might already be listed in the Registry and could answer all your questions.
Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum - Index page

 

[Koshchei]

Looks like a legit 1996 or thereabouts, though it has been refinished. Enjoy it in good health!

 

[Waltsdog]

On closer inspection, the second character, the one after the G, could be an "8."

Agree with this there is a 9 in the serial to compare with. The number next to the G has a smaller top loop which most likely makes it an 8 which would date the bass to 95.

 

[Rhynobass]

Updates: the serial is actually G86949
A here is the trust rod

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Your guitar was manufactured in July of 1995.

And it's "truss rod".

 

[Jeff Scott]

No, I think you have the real deal: a mid '60s 4001S! I'm sure they had the 19th fret dot, too.

Nothing '60s about that bass at all. I see from subsequent post that a mid '90s date has been determined (I wonder if the jack plate came off a Katrina victim given how rusty it is?).

 

[rickdog]

For what i saw, you are really a rick expert kkkk

Nah, I just spend too much time reading The Rickenbacker Club Part Twelve when I should be playing my bass

And I have @PaulBoyer's book. And a 4001.

 

[Rhynobass]

Well, i think the mistery have been solved. Thanks a lot all you guys for the time and help!!!

 

[Hounddog409]

Probably a 4001S, which was dot neck. That serial number is illegible. Can you clean it up and post back?

Also, it's defo not a 4003S

My 4003s has a dot neck. Ive never seen one that doesnt.

 

[prowla]

It's a real Ric.
The neck pickup position is wrong for a 60's 4001S, so I'm thinking it's a 90's 4003S.
The original pickups have been replaced.
Dunno where that pickguard came from, but it's not a good one!
This is my '64.

 

[prowla]

This is my '78 4001, which shows the revised position for the neck pickup.

 

[prowla]

Incidentally, it's not in the Rickenbacker Register...
Rickenbacker Register

 

[H K]

I think it's most likely we're all misreading the serial number. Instead of GAxxxx, could it be G(digit)xxxxx? That would make sense for 1996, and everything else I see here is consistent with that. I don't see any other obvious signs of fakery.

I'm pretty sure the 19th fret marker came and went over the years.

The "A" looks more like a rubbed out 8 to me, but then again, that jackplate looks a lot older than 96.

But other than that and non original PG, I see no problem here. If it IS a fake, it would be a really freakin good one, and definitely an older one.
I suspect the guy might have done some other changes aswell when refinishing it, and that's why it has some unusual features. My bet is on real w/ slight mods such as refin, new PG (old one cracked while adjusting neck pup perhaps? Very common), countersunk screws on the bridge assembly, also perfectly normal.

If it turns out to be a 67 4001S, congratulations; you're a rich man

EDIT: IIRC, the neck pup being in the 1/2" or 1" position is totally immaterial, as the routing is the same either way, and the position is determined by the hole in the PG, which we have already established has most likely been replaced..

 

[TTA]

Hello!
I recently bought a Rickenbacker 4003S but right after get it i starter to wonder if its really real. I will put some pictures and talk about the things that i suspect:

-The white/cream color (the seller told me it was black and painted in order to make it look like chris squire’s)
-The serial in jackplace who matches 1967 (GA 6919, apparently), but the 4003S started in the 80s. The seller told me it was from 1996
-the Pickguard who seems to not be original because of the screw missing under the controls and some space in the neck pickup
- the dot marker in the 19’ fret, cause all 4003S ive seen have marks just till the 17 fret.
- the bridge pick cover seems unusual for this model to.

please help me! thankss

yeah that os an 80’s to 90’s fat horn body/headstock. So i agree with the 90’s interpretation of the serial number

 

[prowla]

The "A" looks more like a rubbed out 8 to me, but then again, that jackplate looks a lot older than 96.

But other than that and non original PG, I see no problem here. If it IS a fake, it would be a really freakin good one, and definitely an older one.
I suspect the guy might have done some other changes aswell when refinishing it, and that's why it has some unusual features. My bet is on real w/ slight mods such as refin, new PG (old one cracked while adjusting neck pup perhaps? Very common), countersunk screws on the bridge assembly, also perfectly normal.

If it turns out to be a 67 4001S, congratulations; you're a rich man

EDIT: IIRC, the neck pup being in the 1/2" or 1" position is totally immaterial, as the routing is the same either way, and the position is determined by the hole in the PG, which we have already established has most likely been replaced..

I disagree re. the routing; it goes closer to the neck on the older ones.