Ordered a Rickenbacker 4003 yesterday, any advice?

Chances are, it is pretty close. Don't fix what isn't broke.

 

Congrats on your first Rickenbacker! My advice? Just play the snot out of it and enjoy it!!

 

Be ready to love it or hate it.
If you hate it try loving it.
If you just can’t love it no matter how hard you try...send it to me and I’ll love it for ya!
Apparently there’s no middle ground on these per TB-er’s stories.
I own a 2009 4003 Mapleglo purchased used which I love.
Here’s to hoping you love yours when it arrives!

 

Replacement Hipshot Bridge is probably the single most/best thing to do unless you just bought a really new one that has the revised Rickenbacker bridge.

 

Don’t let your opinion be colored by what anybody else says. They are more idiosyncratic than some basses, but it either works for you or it doesn’t. You are probably better off not hearing the gripes or accolades, a minor “issue” you never noticed is irrelevant if you dont read how you are “supposed” to think about it.

 

That’s what NBD posts are.

New Bass Day!

...so when you get it...
Pic heavy too!

 

Good luck to you.

 

Oh, I see you joined TB today, so if no one else has said it yet let me be the first...
WELCOME TO TALKBASS!
Have fun.

 

Well, I obviously like them, but they do cause a lot of hate and discontent around here. Some of which is sorta justified; and a lot of which is what I call "the Talking Parrot Syndrome". People - a number of whom have probably never even held a Rick, much less played one - just repeating the hate spewed by other Talking Parrots over and over, ad nauseum. Anyhow...
- If it's a new one? Fill the warranty card out Immediately, and send it in. RIC warranties, unlike other, saner warranties, start the day the instrument was made. NOT the day you bought it. However... the serial number will tell you what month/year the bass was made, so all is not necessarily lost. If it's used? Warranty is pretty much a moot point...
- If you have actually played a Rick or two, and still like them? Then, 3 major points of hate & discontent don't apply. A lot of griping is about the ergonomics; the binding hurting people's arms; and the weird, skinny "pencil" neck. Personally? Rick basses fit me like a glove...
- Truss rod(s). I guess brand new Ricks now have one truss rod, rather than the traditional two. Lots of whining about the 2 rods. Personally, I just adjust mine like the owner's manual says to, and there's never been a problem. There can be a problem getting a wrench/socket/nutdriver on the nuts, though... Personally, the Ric nutdriver works on all of mine...
- The Bridge/tailpiece. If you got a new Rick, these are supposed to be "fixed" - finally (?). If not? Yeah, the old bridge is a major source of hate and discontent. And, if you like to change strings a lot; like to fool around with stuff; and are constantly trying new strings? You'll probably hate the bridge, too. It is fiddly, and a pain to set up and intonate. But you can do it; and, if you're like me - and leave the thing alone after you get it how you want? That bridge is famous for never needing any attention - ever again. And, no; tailpieces newer than about 8 years old or so, do not fold in half anymore. And, that mute that everyone loves to hate? It actually works; quite well, if you get it set right. I use mine - a lot... But, if it really, really bugs you? Hipshot makes a pretty nice replacement bridge...
- The bridge pickup cover. Take it off (not all that hard); leave it on - that's up to you. I like them where they are, but lots of people do not...
- Pickups. Single coils, and unless you do the reverse-wiring mod, they can hum like crazy in the right situation. They seem to be pretty sensitive to height adjustment, too. I have no problems, but again; some people do...
- Finish. The paint RIC uses - especially the clear coat - is pretty brittle, and lots of people have had problems with it cracking under/around the tailpiece. Jetglo finishes seemed particularly prone to this. Mine is a '73 4001, so the paint is very different. The other one (a COY '01 4003) is a factory custom finish; I have no problems with paint...

Other than that? Ricks don't really have any problems that any other neck-thru bass also has. IME, anyway; and I have a bunch of the things...

 

Yes, most people who complain about them have not taken the time to get accustomed to them which is probably the same with Gibson basses. I usually ignore them.
To make it perfect? Take the silly bridge pickup cover off it, make sure it's set up the way you like it, most new basses are set up kind of mediocre, make sure the nut is cut low enough. And don't be afraid of double truss rods.

 

People have been complaining about the bridge for centuries, it never has bothered me but the new bridge is supposed to be a little more amenable to easy set up, you can move the strings from side to side for example.

 

Congrats!

And just when DID the new bridge show up in 4003's?

 

Typical Rickenbacker complainer: Ooh what a pretty bass, ooh it sounds great too, I think I'll get one, OK got it! 5 minutes later: This thing doesn't play like my Fender, it's a piece of crap! I'm selling it and I'm going to bash these things in every Rickenbacker thread I see for the rest of my life!!

 

Or, run before it’s too late.

 

Don't worry. It will be either just first Ric or the last one.