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NBD Rickenbacker 4003s!

#22
My Fireglo should be here tomorrow. I had a 2010 Jetglo 4003 but I sold it a couple years ago because my
shoulder was messed up and couldn't handle the pain. I also liked the looks of the binding but it liked to tear up my forearm a bit and I used to think I wished Rickenbacker would produce an affordable 4003S. Now that my shoulder is better i'm pretty excited to see what this bass can do.
 
#23
Anybody have a review on their 4003S they want to share? I'm GASsing for one in MG and my local store happens to have one on order, but does not know the ETA until he checks with RIC next week - it will be mine. I had previously been gassing for the 4004L in MG, but they're around $2K street. I've seen these S's on ebay for as much as $1899 (full MSRP) to as low as $1329 (30% off) - and I think I like looks of the S better anyway.
 
#24
I got my Fireglo the other day, and its fantastic! Got it through a major chain music store for around 1350.00 with a 15% discount for the holiday tax included. The setup was almost perfect and the intonation was right on out of the box. A couple small tweaks and its perfect for me now. I'm not great at comparing different basses and doing reviews, all I can say is the neck feels a bit thinner than the 2010 4003 I use to have, and I like it better without the binding digging into my forearm! Unofficial bathroom scale weight is between 9.5 and 9.8 lbs. The finish was flawless except on the bottom side of the bass their is a 1/8" dia black spot under the paint, but I guess I can live with that. Don't notice it where it is, and since everything else about it is perfect I wouldn't want to risk an exchange and get something potentially worse. I did file the nut for the E and A strings a bit, they were pretty high as seems to be the norm on Rics. Had to raise the poles on the neck pup and drop the height on the bridge pup to balance out the volumes a bit better. As it was it was really hot from the bridge and about half the volume on the neck. The neck pickup height was maxed to the top already. As far as sound nothing has changed, its still that beautiful Ric sound that I believe even folks that don't like playing Rics have come to admire. When I play the Ric I prefer a pick about 50% of the time, and the sound never dissapoints! Not sure what strings come on it but I like them! I'll probably switch to Elixers at some point, they are my favorites right now. Anyway I hope this helps!
 
#25
image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg Pictures
 
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#26
1stnamebassist: That's a nice one! I almost grabbed a FG online, but I'm gonna wait for the MG that is on order at my local store. I've owned two RICs in the past - a 4001 and a 4003 - never liked the binding - not comfortable on the arm as we all know - almost got a 4004, but these S's caught my attention at NAMM and now that I'm starting to see them (many sold on ebay) I'm sure I'm going to get one. I'll probably replace the bridge with the Hipshot replacement - that's the only mod I'm planning.
 
#27
bwoodman said:
1stnamebassist: That's a nice one! I almost grabbed a FG online, but I'm gonna wait for the MG that is on order at my local store. I've owned two RICs in the past - a 4001 and a 4003 - never liked the binding - not comfortable on the arm as we all know - almost got a 4004, but these S's caught my attention at NAMM and now that I'm starting to see them (many sold on ebay) I'm sure I'm going to get one. I'll probably replace the bridge with the Hipshot replacement - that's the only mod I'm planning.
Click to expand...
I think your going to love it! Another that caught my eye was the new walnut version! It looked really nice in the pictures but I would like to see one in person. I've always wanted a Fireglo even back in 2010 when I got my jetglo, but I would have had to wait about six months and I didn't want to wait so I got the jet which was awesome, but this one feels so much better. I thought about the Hipshot before, but I wasn't sold on the look, but it is a practical upgrade. Once you set the Rick it seems to hold intonation pretty well with string changes at least in my experience and I like the look of the stock it gives it its mojo! Post pictures when you get yours! Like to hear a review of your experience as well. Seems so many have had bad luck in the past, and I'm curious if Rick is getting past some of the former QC issues that seem to haunt them.
 
#28
As people get delivery on the 4003s, the reviews seem pretty overall positive. I still like the look of a bound neck and body, but I'm sure these are more comfortable to play. Nice to see Ric come out with a reissue people have been asking about for years. The black spot is unfortunately typical of sloppy Ric QC in the mad rush to fill perpetual backlog, but if you don't care, its all good. Sound clips perchance?
 
#30
Congrats! It's a truly beautiful Ric. Got that whole Catherine Denevue "classic blonde" thing going for it. Play it well.

(And since we're talking Rics, I have to confess I still miss that gorgeous checkerboard binding they used to do back in the early 70s. That binding with their fireglo finish will always be what my inner eye sees whenever I think 'Rickenbacker.')
 
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#31
40Hz said:
...I have to confess I still miss that gorgeous checkerboard binding they used to do back in the early 70s. That binding with their fireglo finish will always be what my inner eye sees whenever I think 'Rickenbacker.')
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Yes. Love that. I played a gig in New Orleans back in the 80s and the bass player from the other band had a 4001 in a creamy off white, black pickguard and it had the checker binding.

It wasn't just the most beautiful Ric I've ever seen, it's still one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen, period.
 
#36
Random thoughts: I read a very long thread on here where "ggoat" was quite negative about QC & CS issues, which we all know about. I think he's been banned. Funny thing is, even though he had nothing but bad things to say, he owns 28 RICs! He was having all kinds of finish issues on that sea foam green bass and he posted all the pics - pretty bad, but I personally would have sent that bass over to Marty Bell in San Diego - end of story - he does great work. It seems that the run of QC issues they were having have been solved. Maybe they had some shop employee issues / training issues that have since been solved? I personally have never seen finish issues on any of the RICs I've picked up at stores or the two I owned. There are issues with the bridge not setting flat on the bass - that would be a problem with the bridge manufacturer - I don't think RIC makes those in house, but I don't know for sure. As I mentioned, my plan is to get the Hipshot replacement bridge because it's much more adjustable and I'm sure it's completely flat and sits flat.

I owned a Montezuma Brown a few years back and one thing I noticed with the finish is that it seems to be soft like lacquer - I remember the end of my guitar cable hitting the bass and it put a tiny ding in the finish. This would never happen with a Fender or Musicman - or a Marty Bell finish because they're all using polyethylene-type finishes which are way more durable IMO. I don't know if RIC in fact uses lacquer or not, but it seems that they do things the same as they have been doing for many years. I heard they have CNC machines now, but not sure if it has actually improved their lead time or not.

I called around and found another local dealer who says he has some S's on order since March, so I will probably order my MG thought him - he's going to check ETA next week. What has the average lead time been for you guys who have ordered S's? It seems like there are a lot more JG and FG on the street than MG, so maybe they did a run of those first - or made more of those than MG?
 
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#37
bwoodman said:
I called around and found another local dealer who says he has some S's on order since March, so I will probably order my MG thought him - he's going to check ETA next week. What has the average lead time been for you guys who have ordered S's? It seems like there are a lot more JG and FG on the street than MG, so maybe they did a run of those first - or made more of those than MG?
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I ordered mine on a Saturday afternoon and it arrived on Wednesday! I'm mainly a Fireglo, Jetglo guy and the place I got mine had both colors in stock, but thats the only ones they carry besides the walnut.
 
#40
bwoodman said:
Random thoughts: I read a very long thread on here where "ggoat" was quite negative about QC & CS issues, which we all know about. I think he's been banned. Funny thing is, even though he had nothing but bad things to say, he owns 28 RICs! He was having all kinds of finish issues on that sea foam green bass and he posted all the pics - pretty bad, but I personally would have sent that bass over to Marty Bell in San Diego - end of story - he does great work. It seems that the run of QC issues they were having have been solved. Maybe they had some shop employee issues / training issues that have since been solved? I personally have never seen finish issues on any of the RICs I've picked up at stores or the two I owned. There are issues with the bridge not setting flat on the bass - that would be a problem with the bridge manufacturer - I don't think RIC makes those in house, but I don't know for sure. As I mentioned, my plan is to get the Hipshot replacement bridge because it's much more adjustable and I'm sure it's completely flat and sits flat.

I owned a Montezuma Brown a few years back and one thing I noticed with the finish is that it seems to be soft like lacquer - I remember the end of my guitar cable hitting the bass and it put a tiny ding in the finish. This would never happen with a Fender or Musicman - or a Marty Bell finish because they're all using polyethylene-type finishes which are way more durable IMO. I don't know if RIC in fact uses lacquer or not, but it seems that they do things the same as they have been doing for many years. I heard they have CNC machines now, but not sure if it has actually improved their lead time or not.

I called around and found another local dealer who says he has some S's on order since March, so I will probably order my MG thought him - he's going to check ETA next week. What has the average lead time been for you guys who have ordered S's? It seems like there are a lot more JG and FG on the street than MG, so maybe they did a run of those first - or made more of those than MG?
Click to expand...

The Hipshot will certainly sit flat and never, ever bend unless something completely catastrophic happens to the bass, in which case the bridge is the least of your worries.

The finish is softer than earlier basses, but I don't know how far back that started, I suspect it came with the introduction of the UV cured clear.
The clear on my 2010 is relatively easier to scrape off than the 1970s and early 1980s clearcoats.

Even if you're careful, it will happen to any guitar over time, so that's just player wear and that's life, I wouldn't call it an issue by any means.
Heck, people are trying to do that on purpose with Fenders! :)
 
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