For the record, i ordered the bass in the spring of 2021. I got it in ok time because the store orders many each year and i had my name put on one that had yet to be spoken for.
Now i finally have the bass i wanted in the first place many years ago… a jetglo 4003. This brings my collection to 4 (72 mapleglo, 96 fireglo, 2020 monti ag, 2021 jetglo).
First impressions were reservations. Mainly cause i wanted the black/white bass i ordered in the spring… and i found out recently that ric moved to cream binding.
when i actually saw and played the bass, my reservations left. The cream is fine. What i do think is that ric made these choices in attempt to mimic classic rics: Get the yellowing vibe accelerated, and go to the vintage style black knobs. They are small visual changes, but imho they work. I like it.
The neck profile on my 2020 and 2021 are the same. Deep c shape at the headstock… flattening out towards the higher notes. A change from a j bass… but i love it and it works well for my hands.
The bass balances just fine in a comfortably slightly neck up position. I look for this in a good bass.
The rest is typical 4003. I wont get into details.
Oh… also new this year is the lack of lacquer on the fretboard. I had minimal issues with the lacquer. Again, like the cream binding… i had initial reservations "because: change", but i can now confidently say i much prefer the look of the new lacquerless fretboard.
I need to a/b it against my 2020 (with neck toaster pickup), and my 90's high gain… but so far i like it… and the neck… like my 2020… is just really well set up out if the box.
I now have two cnc basses… and… robots do well! (Of interest, the 4003 went cnc mid 96 i believe… so i have one if the last pre cnc 4003's)
