Great thread, now people can check to see who all admitted to getting one when they sell theirs for more than the sale price but say it was bought before the sale! 
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*Official* MF MID Rickenbacker Sale thread
- Thread starter tk4207
- Start date
- Status
I couldn't pass on the opportunity to buy this at the sale price.
I hope that your experiences is better than mine.
Mine was made in March 2010. I was somewhat surprised.
The finish looked stunning. I checked it from top to bottom and couldn't find any finish flaws. The binding on mine is not white. it's more of a yellowish brown. Is it supposed to be that way?
Before I plugged her in I checked the neck. I couldn't believe it. Major bow. I mean major! The rods had a bit more adjustment left, but there was no way I was going to try and straighten it. I called MF, got a return authorization number and it'll be going back.
I was told an exchange would take about two weeks.
I've dealt with MF before. Some of the sales folks will talk, others won't. I'll get to the point. MF has several hundred of the 4003 in stock. That includes all colors. They have a glut and will be happy to sell as many as they can. I suspect the other colors will go on sale eventually. Just wait and see.
I'd suggest checking yours carefully. The inventory is old, it's vast, and there could potentially be some problems.
I'll let you know how the replacement is once it arrives.
Sorry to hear that, but I suppose, if it's been sitting in storage for more than a year I can see how the neck might have developed problems. As for the binding, mine started out stark white, but slowly turned into a creamy off-white. If yours was sitting for awhile it may have yellowed on its own, but I'm no expert on this stuff.
That sucks dude, I've heard that this is inventory from Feb/March 2010, not a big deal to me personally. Now of course, if it has any flaw or problem, I'm sending it right back for a replacement... same thing I'd do if it were a $400 bass.
Which is part of the reason we're trying to keep all the new Ric buyers in this thread, so we can all compare the build and sound quality and see just how consistent a batch of 30 or so of the exact same factory instrument turn out.
I read alot of online product reviews for alot of different products, and so often you see products where either its a RAVE review or a terrible one. Which leads me to believe that its not a problem with the product itself, but the factory QC consistency. If you get a good one, you're money. If you get a lemon, you got a lemon
Personally, I'd still rather order a bass of MF and have it shipped to me BRAND NEW than buy something off a rack at Guitar Center. God knows how many hands and how many knocks and how many sneezes have hit that thing before it gets to me. At least this way, I know its coming from the factory, and its either GOOD or BAD, no in between. And if its Good, and I don't like it, I can sell it at a profit 6 months down the road
Updated
1. BrentSimons
2. SubSectorSucker
3. James_E
4. martinmcfly
5. Tumeni Notes
6. Crankee Yankee
7. Medford Bassman
8. WalWarrior
9. SOB
10. Toastfuzz
11. A-Step-Towards
12. kevinmoore73
13. GeezerDeacon69
14. PMagers
15. smaynor
16. rizzo9247
17. ctbass
18. paganjack
19. cr250_977
20. silverburst
21. Spectrum
22. OnlyJerry
23. whoapower
24. CBRXJ
25. Aceonbass
26. Fair Warning
27. deeptubes
28. Bitterdale
29. MtJam
30. diptixon
31. gumbystuff
32. toshibajoe
1. BrentSimons
2. SubSectorSucker
3. James_E
4. martinmcfly
5. Tumeni Notes
6. Crankee Yankee
7. Medford Bassman
8. WalWarrior
9. SOB
10. Toastfuzz
11. A-Step-Towards
12. kevinmoore73
13. GeezerDeacon69
14. PMagers
15. smaynor
16. rizzo9247
17. ctbass
18. paganjack
19. cr250_977
20. silverburst
21. Spectrum
22. OnlyJerry
23. whoapower
24. CBRXJ
25. Aceonbass
26. Fair Warning
27. deeptubes
28. Bitterdale
29. MtJam
30. diptixon
31. gumbystuff
32. toshibajoe
Hm, so these are actually 2010 stock. Now it makes sense why they ran a sale. Still a good deal. I'm not surprised if there's relief in the necks at this point, a whole year later in storage, although with two-piece necks these are supposed to be a lot more resistant to relief than previous Rics. For those who are willing to make adjustments they're quick and simple, but you'll want a 1/4'' nut driver from your hardware store, preferably with thin side walls so you can get it snug over the nuts.
I'll stay out of the thread but thought I'd offer that for other people who get Rics with relief in the neck and would like to set it up properly.
I'll stay out of the thread but thought I'd offer that for other people who get Rics with relief in the neck and would like to set it up properly.
Wait wait wait...if they have Ricks that are over a year old that they can't sell...why is there a 2 year wait on a new Rick?
Getting a bit nervous here 
Getting my Rickenbacker and finding out that it's a lemon bass would be pretty bad, since returning it from Norway costs alot. And I'm not even sure they give international customers return policies. Does anyone know?
Getting my Rickenbacker and finding out that it's a lemon bass would be pretty bad, since returning it from Norway costs alot. And I'm not even sure they give international customers return policies. Does anyone know?
That was a single example of a bent neck... considering MF is a music instrument company, they probably know how to store their merchandise. Curious to see if alot more of these issues crop up... I always expect to have to perform a setup on a bass when I first get it, so if the action on mine is high and is easily fixed through a proper setup, I dont call that a lemon. If the neck is bowed beyond repair, or if the setup requires maxing out the truss rod, I'd call that a lemon.
Don't know what is worse, the year in storage, or the 5 day period where its taken out a cold warehouse, loaded onto a hot truck, loaded into a cold shipping center, loaded onto another hot truck, etc. etc.
OnlyJerry, for you that also adds the variable of international travel. If I were you, I'd assume its going to be a top-notch quality instrument, and if you can't do a proper setup on it due to inherent build problems, then worry
Don't know what is worse, the year in storage, or the 5 day period where its taken out a cold warehouse, loaded onto a hot truck, loaded into a cold shipping center, loaded onto another hot truck, etc. etc.
OnlyJerry, for you that also adds the variable of international travel. If I were you, I'd assume its going to be a top-notch quality instrument, and if you can't do a proper setup on it due to inherent build problems, then worry
Okay, I see multiple 'very unsatisfied' votes in the poll. DO TELL, PEOPLE! I think we've heard from one already.
gnjpowell
Inactive
- Nov 12, 2010
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- Bass & guitar tech, FOH sound, backline rentals
Hehe, thanks for that Toastfuzz Most likely it'll be a good one, and if there are going to be any issues I assume most of it can be straightened with some setting up.
Most likely it'll be a good one, and if there are going to be any issues I assume most of it can be straightened with some setting up.
Mine has a very small amount of bow in the neck... as in it is not perfectly straight out of the box. Looks like most necks I've looked at on other basses, so it seems normal. Action is a bit high but I've done no adjustments yet. I also noticed a bit of white right around some of the frets, like some dirt or something.
I have not voted yet. I've yet to plug it into an amp. Im flying home with it tonight. After I do some basic tweaks and oil the fretboard, I will vote. I will vote based on build and whether it is fully functional and not based on whether I love it or not (it might just not be my style...I don't know yet)
I have not voted yet. I've yet to plug it into an amp. Im flying home with it tonight. After I do some basic tweaks and oil the fretboard, I will vote. I will vote based on build and whether it is fully functional and not based on whether I love it or not (it might just not be my style...I don't know yet)
I'm not sure how many people realize this, but...
Ass soon as MF generates a shipping label, they consider it shipped. It could be on the shipping dock for two days, but they still consider it shipped.
I learned that little tidbit a while back.
Exactly. Tracking should show up in 24-48 hours. ( according to MF CS)
I've always wondered why this is so. What is so special about a Ric neck that would make you set it up differently than any other bass?
Yep, the relief will vary on these, no doubt.
Short of a proper set-up from someone who knows what they are doing, I have yet to hear what I would consider a QC issue with the MF Sale MB Rics.
Those tweaks should include the recommended (and somewhat idiosyncratic) Ric set-up procedure. We hope you know how that is properly achieved.
Also, aren't the 4003 fingerboards covered with a coat of poly? What is oiling the fingerboard going to accomplish?
I've always wondered why this is so. What is so special about a Ric neck that would make you set it up differently than any other bass?
Um... aren't most basses "best" setup with the neck totally flat? Doesn't that just make sense in general? I dont know why you would purposely want a bow in the neck, unless you wanted high action or were compensating for uneven frets. Every bass I have, I try to achieve a perfectly flat neck, and adjust string height at the bridge.... maybe I've been doing it wrong this whole time
If you've been doing that succesfully with every bass you've owned, I am officially jealous.
My experience is only certain basses will let me get low action with a flat fingerboard, and the Ric 4003 is one of the few.
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