Rick 4003 - do you love yours?

[truand85]

I'm a chunky neck P bass kinda guy. I have 2, rounds/flats and love em both, one is a early 00 US made AP with a chunky neck, slightly curved fretboard. The other is a parts MJT body with an AVRI J Torres neck that is a slimmer profile with flatter and a little bit wider fingerboard.

Both are great but I am finding that even when swapping strings the US P with the chunkier neck has a thump to every note I just can't do without.

Sorry that was a little long winded but wanted to give some context. I've been reading a lot of TB lately, and a lot of various posts mention the chunky, baseball bat necks on Rick 4003s. Somehow I've never played one though I have experience with a good number of different basses, and I am curious to hear what you think about yours or your experience with them. Does it have that thumpy quality to it? How fun are they to play? What kind of strings do you prefer?

I play fingerstyle and a lot of different music styles from funk to jazz with plenty of classic/alternative rock in between, I'm not really looking to fill a gap in tone more finding a nice chunky thumpy neck.

Thanks in advance!

 

[FunkHead]

I'm a chunky neck P bass kinda guy. I have 2, rounds/flats and love em both, one is a early 00 US made AP with a chunky neck, slightly curved fretboard. The other is a parts MJT body with an AVRI J Torres neck that is a slimmer profile with flatter and a little bit wider fingerboard.

Both are great but I am finding that even when swapping strings the US P with the chunkier neck has a thump to every note I just can't do without.

Sorry that was a little long winded but wanted to give some context. I've been reading a lot of TB lately, and a lot of various posts mention the chunky, baseball bat necks on Rick 4003s. Somehow I've never played one though I have experience with a good number of different basses, and I am curious to hear what you think about yours or your experience with them. Does it have that thumpy quality to it? How fun are they to play? What kind of strings do you prefer?

I play fingerstyle and a lot of different music styles from funk to jazz with plenty of classic/alternative rock in between, I'm not really looking to fill a gap in tone more finding a nice chunky thumpy neck.

Thanks in advance!

They can get much more thumpier but how's this?

 

[FunkHead]

 

[truand85]

Thanks those just reinforce the feeling I need one in my life...

 

[FunkHead]

Thanks those just reinforce the feeling I need one in my life...

I have had a RIC for 30 years or so. I love them. I have a few P-basses too and they are equally great.

Amazingly, I set up a patch on my Boss GT1000-core for my RIC 4003 and my P-bass sounds great with that patch too.

 

[truand85]

I have had a RIC for 30 years or so. I love them. I have a few P-basses too and they are equally great.

Amazingly, I set up a patch on my Boss GT1000-core for my RIC 4003 and my P-bass sounds great with that patch too.

Awesome I'm happy to hear you like both equally, I've wanted one for years but never went there. I've had a lot of basses come and go, but I think a 4003 would stick...

 

[FunkHead]

Wildwood guitars has some in stock. They usually give a nice discount VS. the listed price.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I might be an oddball, but I personally find Rics and Precisions to sound very similar. Both can thump, clank, grind, and provide a wide array of sounds. Rics might be a bit more flexible on the fly due to the nature of their electronics, but Precision’s can cope just as many tones with the added benefit of having hum-cancelling pickups and more comfortable contours and hardware.

I have ultimately sold every Ric I’ve ever owned because of this. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try a Ric out, but I would recommend purchasing from a credible retailer with a solid return policy. You might be like me and realize the Precision can give you everything you want from a Ric and ultimately save you about $1,800 in the process.

 

[Root 5]

4003s have a sound unlike anything else - I think of smoky & throaty. You can play the warmest ballad or metal with them.

The issues I have had with my late 90s/mid 2000s pair is that the nuts were cut much too high across all strings ( .038” on the E; should be ~ .020-.022”; easy fix ) and the bridge saddles don’t go low enough for my liking and no individual saddle adjustment. ( new ones do. )

That said, when the nut is adjusted and the relief flattened one can have very good low action on a 4003.

Recently played a new matte black 4003S and it had great action and an awesome fat neck. In love!

 

[Root 5]

I might be an oddball, but I personally find Rics and Precisions to sound very similar. Both can thump, clank, grind, and provide a wide array of sounds. Rics might be a bit more flexible on the fly due to the nature of their electronics, but Precision’s can cope just as many tones with the added benefit of having hum-cancelling pickups and more comfortable contours and hardware.

I have ultimately sold every Ric I’ve ever owned because of this. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try a Ric out, but I would recommend purchasing from a credible retailer with a solid return policy. You might be like me and realize the Precision can give you everything you want from a Ric and ultimately save you about $1,800 in the process.

To my ears they sound nothing alike and if I had to pick one Fender, I’d say it’s closer to a Jazz bass. Play them all side by side and of course pickup selection factors into the equation.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm a chunky neck P bass kinda guy. I have 2, rounds/flats and love em both, one is a early 00 US made AP with a chunky neck, slightly curved fretboard. The other is a parts MJT body with an AVRI J Torres neck that is a slimmer profile with flatter and a little bit wider fingerboard.

Both are great but I am finding that even when swapping strings the US P with the chunkier neck has a thump to every note I just can't do without.

Sorry that was a little long winded but wanted to give some context. I've been reading a lot of TB lately, and a lot of various posts mention the chunky, baseball bat necks on Rick 4003s. Somehow I've never played one though I have experience with a good number of different basses, and I am curious to hear what you think about yours or your experience with them. Does it have that thumpy quality to it? How fun are they to play? What kind of strings do you prefer?

I play fingerstyle and a lot of different music styles from funk to jazz with plenty of classic/alternative rock in between, I'm not really looking to fill a gap in tone more finding a nice chunky thumpy neck.

Thanks in advance!

Not a fan of chunky necks , but you should play what you like. How it feels in hand is an important part of the experience. I never had a 4003, but I played one a few years ago and the neck size and the finish (or lack thereof) was the first thing I noticed compared to a Rick 4001 I had for about 34 years.

I currently have a PB and have played more than a few others, but it never occurred to me that any of them had a chunky neck. Now my Warwick Corvette 5 string is another story. It’s the deepest “D” shape neck I’ve ever played. I’m sure that’s to offset the tension of the extra string.

Anyway, glad you found a winner!

 

[truand85]

Not a fan of chunky necks , but you should play what you like. How it feels in hand is an important part of the experience. I never had a 4003, but I played one a few years ago and the neck size and the finish (or lack thereof) was the first thing I noticed compared to a Rick 4001 I had for about 34 years.

I currently have a PB and have played more than a few others, but it never occurred to me that any of them had a chunky neck. Now my Warwick Corvette 5 string is another story. It’s the deepest “D” shape neck I’ve ever played. I’m sure that’s to offset the tension of the extra string.

Anyway, glad you found a winner!

Might be weird but my palms are longer than my fingers so a chunky neck feels good inhand, I just get a better response.

I've owned a Corvette 4 in the past and a Peavey Cirrus 4, both had nice chunky necks but string spacing was a little tight.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I'm a chunky neck P bass kinda guy. I have 2, rounds/flats and love em both, one is a early 00 US made AP with a chunky neck, slightly curved fretboard. The other is a parts MJT body with an AVRI J Torres neck that is a slimmer profile with flatter and a little bit wider fingerboard.

Both are great but I am finding that even when swapping strings the US P with the chunkier neck has a thump to every note I just can't do without.

Sorry that was a little long winded but wanted to give some context. I've been reading a lot of TB lately, and a lot of various posts mention the chunky, baseball bat necks on Rick 4003s. Somehow I've never played one though I have experience with a good number of different basses, and I am curious to hear what you think about yours or your experience with them. Does it have that thumpy quality to it? How fun are they to play? What kind of strings do you prefer?

I play fingerstyle and a lot of different music styles from funk to jazz with plenty of classic/alternative rock in between, I'm not really looking to fill a gap in tone more finding a nice chunky thumpy neck.

Thanks in advance!

My 2018 4003 has a chunky baseball bat neck and plenty plenty thump when the bridge pickup is soloed - totally different than the iconic bridge pickup sound.

My 2008 4003fl is the same.

 

[truand85]

Wildwood guitars has some in stock. They usually give a nice discount VS. the listed price.

Looks like they only have mapleglo, but ills keep an eye out for other finishes on there.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Might be weird but my palms are longer than my fingers so a chunky neck feels good inhand, I just get a better response.

I've owned a Corvette 4 in the past and a Peavey Cirrus 4, both had nice chunky necks but string spacing was a little tight.

Yeah, my fingers are a little shorter than my palm as well, but I don’t have stubby fingers. My palm is not overly wide, so I’m thinking I was dealt a good hand for playing bass…LOL!!

 

[FunkHead]

Looks like they only have mapleglo, but ills keep an eye out for other finishes on there.

I think there's JetGlo's and FireGlo's if you scroll down further.

 

[Madvora12]

I have a 4003s and love it. I bought it for the look and didn't even touch one before I got it from the classifieds here. It's a very different feel from my other bass, which is a Fender Mustang, but I have no problem going between both. One thing I noticed it that the Ric can put out a lot more volume than the Mustang. The Ric also can sound a little muddy with my amp dials all at noon, even with the tone knobs on the bass all the way up, but can be adjusted pretty well with the treble on the amp. I like playing with both pickups on. It sounds great.
As for the feel, one thing you'd notice is the balance is great. It can sit perfectly in your lap when sitting. No need to have a strap on it. The neck seems very thick, but if it's comfortable to you, then you'll know. It didn't take any real adjustment period for me.

 

[Ric5]

Rick 4003 - do you love yours?

I have a love hate relationship with Rickenbacker basses

I love the look and the sound. I have the bridge / tailpiece, I hate mechanical mutes, I hate pickup covers,

All of my 4001/4003 basses got sold and now I play 2 modified 4004 basses

and I have a Rickenfaker that I really like

the only Rickenbacker bass that I want that I do not own would be one like this

 

[Planespotter]

After gassing for nearly 20 years I got my first 4003 last spring. It’s a matte black 2018 model. I definitely did not love it at first. The neck is chunky, but not like my P bass. It’s more that it’s not tapered the way a fender is. I had issues with the bridge lifting straight away and got a Hipshot replacement. I struggled with the big chrome treble pickup surround and string cover, and eventually ditched it for a flat pickguard from pickguardian. After all that I love it now!

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

If anyone here is unhappy with their 4003, send it to me.

Email for shipping address.

KTHXBYE.