NBD - Rickenbacker 4003 (Jetglo)

[forrestlaw]

Purchased this afternoon from Fuller's Guitars in Houston. Ultimately started looking for a second P-Bass earlier this week and just happened to pick one of these up to play as I'd never played one before. It spoke to me like no other bass has.

This one has the newer bridge on it that seems like a huge improvement over the old one. That being said I've not owned a Ric before so I can't comment on real world use of the old bridge, but on the new ones string spacing can be adjusted at the bridge and it's WAY easier to adjust intonation.

Here is a link to another thread I started yesterday for research/information purposes that kind of chronicles this purchase:Tried a Ric 4003 for the first time... WOW! Now, a question...

 

[Basshappi]

Classic, Congrats!

 

[shaggy45]

Ricks are awesome. Congrats!

 

[rickster4003]

Looks like you made your decision! Congrats, enjoy!

 

[Sparky Mark]

Although I love the history of the aesthetic design of the Ricky bass it's accepted that ergonomically they can be a real challenge for some players used to more user friendly designs. There's absolutely no way I could leave the bridge pickup cover in place for either finger or pick playing. Removing the bridge pickup cover exposes an ugly cavity around the pickup that can be tidied up with a bezel at additional cost. The body binding is less of an issue finger picking but with a pick I can never get comfortable with it rubbing my inner forearm/wrist. I'm always impressed when I hear one being played with a pick and much less so finger style where their unique tone is more muted.

 

[Koshchei]

Welcome to the cult- I mean club. Seriously though - Rickenbackers are awesome! A couple of things:
1) Get some copper tape (with conductive adhesive) so you can shield the bass on your first string change. This is a huge QoL boost, especially if you're going to gig in places with poopy power or record more than demos.
2) Get a treble bezel from tubeampology if you plan on removing the pickup cover. The Ric part is inferior (and IP theft, as tubeampology invented the part).
3) get a thin-walled 1/4" nut driver and a feeler gauge for setting relief. Ric necks like to be much flatter than your average bass, and can easily handle low action that puts guitars to shame. It may look like a jet-age anachronism, but a properly setup Ric is a virtuoso instrument.
4) When you're in there, it's also super easy to straighten the bobbin on the treble pickup if it's factory-crooked.
5) If yours is lighter, strap-locks will improve the balance.

 

[afroman]

Congrats!

I just got a used 4003 mapleglo in Austin. I wanted a Jetglo but this one spoke to me. I took the pickup plate off and ordered this cover: The Original Treble Bezel - Deluxe / Chrome | RicStrings.com | Reverb

Enjoy it!

 

[luciens]

I bought my jaco artist from Fuller's, congrats.

In fact, I was looking at their inventory of ricks just earlier today...

L

 

[jeff7bass]

Sweet bass! Porps!

 

[bobyoung53]

I have always liked the look without the bridge pickup cover with no bezel, people been playing them like that since the early 70's the bezel is relatively new, that's the classic look.