NBD: Ricky 4003sw

[Hurricane Jimmie]

I’m leaving the cover on as well. I’m not used to playing with one, but it’s a weird kind of novelty playing around it. I do find it to be a useful position reference when I’m playing between the pickups.

I also have a 4003 that I bought back in 2011, and I've left the PU cover on that one as well. I bought it from our local music store. The owner talked about how the cover was important to the sound and a little tricky to remove/replace. I figured if that's how it's designed... then who am I to mess with it?
Plus I'm great at taking things apart...and not so great about putting things back together.
And I'm pretty lazy.

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

I frickin love these basses. Some of the best looking rics out there IMO

 

[luciens]

I also have a 4003 that I bought back in 2011, and I've left the PU cover on that one as well. I bought it from our local music store. The owner talked about how the cover was important to the sound and a little tricky to remove/replace. I figured if that's how it's designed... then who am I to mess with it?
Plus I'm great at taking things apart...and not so great about putting things back together.
And I'm pretty lazy.

The pickup cover has no effect on the sound. It's more of a cosmetic thing harkening back to the days of the horseshoe pickup. That PU had the magnets extending over the top a-la Chris Squire's rick, and others. You can remove the cover with no ill effects on the tone.

It is a little bit of a PITA to get it off there, as you have to take more or less the whole bridge PU assembly apart to remove it, but it's more just tedious than hard to do.

Ive owned several 400X's including one 4003s; if I get another one I want to do the 4003S walnut this time. I'm not the hugest fan of the binding, and the S is a little cheaper. And yes, the rounding of the body is a little more comfortable for the arm.

As for the playability of the 4003 neck, if you're used to Jazz bass necks, for example, it's a bit of a baseball bat in comparison. But the 33" scale helps to make up for it. And the thickness of the neck is more uniform over its length too. A very distinctive feel to play...

L

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I also have a 4003 that I bought back in 2011, and I've left the PU cover on that one as well. I bought it from our local music store. The owner talked about how the cover was important to the sound and a little tricky to remove/replace. I figured if that's how it's designed... then who am I to mess with it?
Plus I'm great at taking things apart...and not so great about putting things back together.
And I'm pretty lazy.

It's actually pretty easy to remove. It's just a piece of chromed plastic, it has no function in shielding or tone, its just a cosmetic object intended to mimic the look of the old "horseshoe" pups, analagous to the "ashtray" covers on a Jazz or P bass. The store owner who told you it has some function was misinformed. I took mine off immediately, since it's right over the "sweet spot" in string tension and tone over the bridge pup, but some people like them as a thumb rest, or just like the chrome bling. Here's a very clear video on removing the cover, 5 mins. work with a screwdriver. It takes longer to watch this video:


Tubeampology has a line of drop-in "trebel bezels" that infill the opening around the bridge pup, in either black or chrome, and with/without an integral thumb rest.
The Treble Bezel By TubeAmpology

Ric recently straight-up ripped off this design, right down to the name "treble-bezel". Kinda ironic for a company that prides itself on protecting it's IP, guess that doesn't extend to their own business practices. If you buy one, get it from Tubeampology, not the rip-off version on the Ric Boutique.

 

[Drog]

It's actually pretty easy to remove. It's just a piece of chromed plastic, it has no function in shielding or tone, its just a cosmetic object intended to mimic the look of the old "horseshoe" pups, analagous to the "ashtray" covers on a Jazz or P bass. The store owner who told you it has some function was misinformed. I took mine off immediately, since it's right over the "sweet spot" in string tension and tone over the bridge pup, but some people like them as a thumb rest, or just like the chrome bling. Here's a very clear video on removing the cover, 5 mins. work with a screwdriver. It takes longer to watch this video:


Tubeampology has a line of drop-in "trebel bezels" that infill the opening around the bridge pup, in either black or chrome, and with/without an integral thumb rest.
The Treble Bezel By TubeAmpology

Ric recently straight-up ripped off this design, right down to the name "treble-bezel". Kinda ironic for a company that prides itself on protecting it's IP, guess that doesn't extend to their own business practices. If you buy one, get it from Tubeampology, not the rip-off version on the Ric Boutique.

Yeah, I put on the Treble Bezel by TubeAmpology. They were good to deal with, I like the finished chrome look.

 

[bobyoung53]

It's actually pretty easy to remove. It's just a piece of chromed plastic, it has no function in shielding or tone, its just a cosmetic object intended to mimic the look of the old "horseshoe" pups, analagous to the "ashtray" covers on a Jazz or P bass. The store owner who told you it has some function was misinformed. I took mine off immediately, since it's right over the "sweet spot" in string tension and tone over the bridge pup, but some people like them as a thumb rest, or just like the chrome bling. Here's a very clear video on removing the cover, 5 mins. work with a screwdriver. It takes longer to watch this video:


Tubeampology has a line of drop-in "trebel bezels" that infill the opening around the bridge pup, in either black or chrome, and with/without an integral thumb rest.
The Treble Bezel By TubeAmpology

Ric recently straight-up ripped off this design, right down to the name "treble-bezel". Kinda ironic for a company that prides itself on protecting it's IP, guess that doesn't extend to their own business practices. If you buy one, get it from Tubeampology, not the rip-off version on the Ric Boutique.

I bought my first Ric in 1977 and back then you never saw covers on any basses, Fender, Ric or Gibson although they all came with them, I took mine off the second I got it back home when new. I like the looks of them and have tried to get used to them but as you say the cover is right over the sweet spot. I have always thought those bezels detracted from the looks, here's my 1979 4001, it looks better than that I'm just a lousy photographer, I've had this one for about twenty years.

, h

 

[ClassicJazz]

Congrats! Hopefully you didn’t have the issues I had. Absolutely horrible fretwork, which I heard is a common issue with this model. All the fret ends were so sharp to the point you could cut yourself. I had to redress all the ends top and bottom.

And for your consideration, some of the mods I did.
1) ZeroMod thumb rest. A must IMHO
2) Hipshot bridge. Dial in the intonation and string heights better. Plus I can easily palm mute the strings.
3) Black treble bezel.
4) Joe Barden noiseless pickups. Great output, keeps that Rick Sound, Zero noise!

 

[Drog]

@GCPENG I think we need more pics of that beauty. Back side and neck. Keep em coming

 

[GCPENG]

@GCPENG I think we need more pics of that beauty. Back side and neck. Keep em coming

Here’s the back. Nice grain, eh?

 

[etrs]

Got one (not as new). One of those instruments that, the first time you pick it up, makes you realize you're better at this than you thought.

 

[FloydianAnimal]

Nice NBD man! I got a 4003W a couple years ago and love it. Makes me want another Ric!

 

[stevieg]

Is it the right time to be spending cash on a bass that isn’t essential for me? Definitely not. Having said that, I present to you my brand new 2020 Rickenbacker 4003sw:
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Bonus photo of my bass posing with my apocalypse beard.
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This extends my streak of recent maple-neck purchases.

Off to remove those stickers and send in my warranty card!

Nice. Enjoy in good health.

S