I have also always thought the feel of the 4003 varied over time, and even within eras. I had a 1992 (on loan) for over a decade that felt like no other 4003 I've ever picked up. A lot of it was the shallow neck profile it had, but all variables stacked up to something I've yet to find another to match.
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Rick 4003 - do you love yours?
- Thread starter truand85
- Start date
I have also always thought the feel of the 4003 varied over time, and even within eras. I had a 1992 (on loan) for over a decade that felt like no other 4003 I've ever picked up. A lot of it was the shallow neck profile it had, but all variables stacked up to something I've yet to find another to match.
Okay... my Rick 4003:
- The neck? Rickenbacker bass necks tend to run in (normally) year-long batches of comparatively "thin", and comparatively "chunky". But, that's compared to Rick bass necks. All of them taper very little, width-wise, from the 1-11/16" nut to the body; they tend not to thicken much from nut to body, either. "Like playing a pencil" is a pretty common description - or complaint; take your pick... Honestly, I've never had a 4003 in my hands with a neck that came anywhere close to feeling like a "chunky baseball bat". Never; and, I've handled a lot of them over the years... 4003's from certain years have thicker necks than the 4003's did the year before; and they might have thicker necks than the 4003's will, the year after. And, even within a given year, because they get so much hand finishing, Rick bass necks can vary quite a bit. My 4003 is a 2001. 2001 is considered a "chunky neck" year; but, mine is not. It has a thin, flattened "D" contour neck; almost identical to the neck on my '73 4001, in fact. And, 4001's have notoriously thin necks... I don't know what 2021 Rick's necks are like (no Rick dealer in the town I moved to last year), but I doubt they have necks "like a baseball bat". That's P-Bass territory...
- Thumpy quality? Yes, a 4003 can thump - if you want it to. Some Old School flats, with the cap cut into the treble (bridge p/u) tone circuit, and you'll have all the thump you might need. There are basses that can out-thump them - my '78 aluminum-necked Kramer 450B, with flats? I can thump your fillings out of your head with that thing. My '13 Gibson T-Bird - with or without flats - can out-thump a 4003, too. But, a 4003 can get the job done...
- Fun to play. Well... have you ever played one? If there was ever, in the history of bass guitars, a bass guitar that needed to be played before buying it - it's a Rickenbacker. Talk Bass is filled to overflowing with people who hate Ricks, because they bought one - and found out that it was odd; the binding hurt their arm; the body felt odd/weird/uncomfortable; the neck was weird; it neck dived too much; etc., etc., etc. ad infinitum. I have no doubt - at all - that the phrase "Try before Buy" was coined because of Ricks... As for my 4003? I must be the misshapen troglodyte that Rick basses were designed for; both my Ricks fit me perfectly - like, a rubber glove perfectly. Out of all 23 of my basses, they are definitely the most fun to play. But, for you? Play one before you buy one. And, if you can? Play several, and try to find a neck that you like....
- Preferred strings? I prefer flatwounds. I only have 2 basses that don't wear them; one wears TI Jazz Rounds, and one wears Roto TruBass 88 Tapewounds. My 4003 wears Optima 4440L RB (Rickenbacker Bass) flats. Rick basses used to come from the factory with German Maxima Flats. Which were on the '68 4001 that I learned to play bass on - in 1968. Maxima got bought out/absorbed by Optima; who, to placate all us Rick players who whinged constantly about missing the old Maximas, duplicated them as closely as they could. The RBs are pretty darned close to the sound of that '68 4001 that I hear in my head... My 4001 would wear them, too, but it has neck issues that older 4001's are prone to. It currently has no strings, but it will get some (supposedly) ultra-low tension flats, as soon as I can get off my lazy butt and put them on the thing.
- In closing? Because I have so many, most of my basses tend to be specialized for different types of music that I like to play. I use the Ricks for British Invasion and early/mid '60s Rock. I very seldom finger pick my Ricks. I use a hard rubber pick, 99% of the time; play between the pickups - resting my hand on the bridge pickup cover; and I use the mute most of the time, too. But, I'm old - and left handed; my Rick bass playing idol is a certain left handed English bass player...
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Okay... my Rick 4003:
- The neck? Rickenbacker bass necks tend to run in (normally) year-long batches of comparatively "thin", and comparatively "chunky". But, that's compared to Rick bass necks. All of them taper very little, width-wise, from the 1-11/16" nut to the body; they tend not to thicken much from nut to body, either. "Like playing a pencil" is a pretty common description - or complaint; take your pick... Honestly, I've never had a 4003 in my hands with a neck that came anywhere close to feeling like a "chunky baseball bat". Never; and, I've handled a lot of them over the years... 4003's from certain years have thicker necks than the 4003's did the year before; and they might have thicker necks than the 4003's will, the year after. Period. And, even within a given year, because they get so much hand finishing, Rick bass necks can vary quite a bit. My 4003 is a 2001. 2001 is considered a "chunky neck" year; but, mine is not. It has a thin, flattened "D" contour neck; almost identical to the neck on my '73 4001, in fact. And, 4001's have notoriously thin, skinny necks... I don't know what 2021 Rick's necks are like (no Rick dealer in the town I moved to last year), but I doubt they have necks "like a baseball bat". That's P-Bass territory...
- Thumpy quality? Yes, a 4003 can thump - if you want it to. Some Old School flats, with the cap cut into the treble (bridge p/u) tone circuit, and you'll have all the thump you might need. There are basses that can out-thump them - my '78 aluminum-necked Kramer 450B, with flats? I can thump your fillings out of your head with that thing. My '13 Gibson T-Bird - with or without flats - can out-thump a 4003, too. But, a 4003 can get the job done...
- Fun to play. Well... have you ever played one? If there was ever, in the history of bass guitars, a bass guitar that needed to be played before buying it - it's a Rickenbacker. Talk Bass is filled to overflowing with people who hate Ricks, because they bought one - and found out that it was odd; the binding hurt their arm; the body felt odd/weird/uncomfortable; the neck was weird; it neck dived too much; etc., etc., etc. ad infinitum. I have no doubt - at all - that the phrase "Try before Buy" was coined because of Ricks... As for my 4003? I must be the misshapen troglodyte that Rick basses were designed for; both my Ricks fit me perfectly - like, a rubber glove perfectly. Out of all 23 of my basses, they are definitely the most fun to play. But, for you? Play one before you buy one. And, if you can? Play several, and try to find a neck that you like....
- Preferred strings? I prefer flatwounds. I only have 2 basses that don't wear them; one wears TI Jazz Rounds, and one wears Roto TruBass 88 Tapewounds. My 4003 wears Optima 4440L RB (Rickenbacker Bass) flats. Rick basses used to come from the factory with German Maxima Flats. Which were on the '68 4001 that I learned to play bass on - in 1968. Maxima got bought out/absorbed by Optima; who, to placate all us Rick players who whinged constantly about missing the old Maximas, duplicated them as closely as they could. The RBs are pretty darned close to the sound of that '68 4001 that I hear in my head... My 4001 would wear them, too, but it has neck issues that older 4001's are prone to. It currently has no strings, but it will get some (supposedly) ultra-low tension flats, as soon as I can get off my lazy butt and put them on the thing.
- In closing? Because I have so many, most of my basses tend to be specialized for different types of music that I like to play. I use the Ricks for British Invasion and early/mid '60s Rock. I very seldom finger pick my Ricks. I use a hard rubber pick, 99% of the time; play between the pickups - resting my hand on the bridge pickup cover; and I use the mute most of the time, too. But, I'm old - and left handed; my Rick bass playing idol is a certain left handed English bass player...
Thanks for taking the time to post this. I'll hunt some down locally first.
That's tempting! Is the neck chunky?
Love mine.
The necks and the body sizes vary over different periods. Mine has the large horn body, and it has a mainly C shaped neck.
Current Rics have narrow horn bodies, and the back of the necks are flat and shaped like a 2x4 with flat sides. Shaped like a [
I just am not fond of them.
So more than ever, it takes finding one that jives with you.
The necks and the body sizes vary over different periods. Mine has the large horn body, and it has a mainly C shaped neck.
Current Rics have narrow horn bodies, and the back of the necks are flat and shaped like a 2x4 with flat sides. Shaped like a [
I just am not fond of them.
So more than ever, it takes finding one that jives with you.
I got one the second year they restarted the full sized inlays (I can't remember what year). That was the absolute best neck of theirs I ever had. Like you, I've not found another like it since.
I love my 2021 Jetglo 4003S, and I'm a lifelong Fender guy (mostly). Only had it for five months and used it at six gigs, but I've no regrets whatsoever. I like the D shape neck, it plays great for me but then I'm not that particular about different neck sizes. The pickup cover is staying on as it doesn't bother me at all and I like the look. I play finger style only in front of it using Optima RB flats, usually with both pickups turned down slightly and favoring the neck a wee bit more often. I'm probably trying to make it sound like my 66 P bass
I do not share this opinion. I have never heard a pbass sound anything like a RIC .
I get a lot closer with a J, but still no similar
Of course, i dont use effects, so theres that.
I have a ‘79 Ric and it absolutely doesn’t have a baseball bat sized neck. Every time I try one of the newer models I wonder how people can endure wrestling with one of them. I love my Ric and have been playing it for 42 years and it’s the only instrument in my gear closet that isn’t going anywhere
Or else they dial in the bridge pickup with the tone dimed and complain there's no bottom end.
I think the problem is that bassists used to Fenders expect Rics to be as consistent one to the next. They aren't. Rics are more of a high volume custom shop instrument than a mass produced instrument. The necks vary in size from year to year. Even though the overall design hasn't changed much since 1957, slight tweaks have occurred. Don't judge them by other specimens. It is very important to play as many as possible to find the one that suits you. The one you put back on the rack may be the one that's perfect for the next customer.
This thread needs more pictures…
Old pic…. I have changed a few things since… Top is now a 5 string, pickguard changes etc…
the 4004 is more ergonomic, but I actually like the slabside bound bodies.
I prefer Ric’s to P’s and J’s. And I very much like Thunderbirds too, could not pick a favorite between those two types. My favorite Ric is the one I played last.
Old pic…. I have changed a few things since… Top is now a 5 string, pickguard changes etc…
the 4004 is more ergonomic, but I actually like the slabside bound bodies.
I prefer Ric’s to P’s and J’s. And I very much like Thunderbirds too, could not pick a favorite between those two types. My favorite Ric is the one I played last.
The ergonomic complaints should be fairly obvious: no elbow relief, and very minimal body contouring on the back. The vast majority of basses have at least some elbow relief, and if you play with your forearm touching the bass, that hard binding edge may wear on it. It's no worse than an acoustic guitar, or a bound tele, but it either bugs you or not. The body is only 1-1/4" thick, so the lack of back contour doesnt matter much. If it was 1-3/4" thick like a Jazz, it would probably feel like a plank. Again, none of that is an issue on the more rounded S models. The lack of neck taper feels odd at first, but I find a Ric easier to play above the 12th than most basses.
I had a couple Rics many years ago and they didn't quite fit, but I knew I'd have to try again at some point because nothing sounds quite like one. With the Covid lockdown eliminating all my gigs I had to keep a hand in the music and along came a dead mint 2014 4003. No hesitation, BIN.
It is a wonderful example with a very comfortable neck, no baseball bat here. I have Chromes on it and I love the tone they impart. It will always wear flats, one kind or another. For me it's comfortable to wear and easy to play. i did drop in a Hipshot bridge. I have no plans for flipping this one! Definitely try before you buy. I got a good one right out of the gate. You will find one that suits you.
It is a wonderful example with a very comfortable neck, no baseball bat here. I have Chromes on it and I love the tone they impart. It will always wear flats, one kind or another. For me it's comfortable to wear and easy to play. i did drop in a Hipshot bridge. I have no plans for flipping this one! Definitely try before you buy. I got a good one right out of the gate. You will find one that suits you.
