Rick 4003 - do you love yours?

[truand85]

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

Is it a 4001? 4001s seem to have skinny necks, but 4003 can have chunky necks though based on this thread it seems to vary a lot...

 

[truand85]

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.
View attachment 4510235

Love it, that's a real beauty. Love the inlays, binding and black pickguard. Gonna need to get a 4003 (non S).

 

[steve_ss]

<------- That little picture to the left are my (top to bottom)
3000 short scale
4003W walnut
4003FL fretless

I love them all, each for different reasons. Variety is the spice of life?
I'll add my 4003W:

 

[truand85]

<------- That little picture to the left are my (top to bottom)
3000 short scale
4003W walnut
4003FL fretless

I love them all, each for different reasons. Variety is the spice of life?
I'll add my 4003W:

View attachment 4510257

Love those Walnut ones also... It's going to be hard to pick. 4003W or Fireglo? How do you choose? Just buy one of each?

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Love those Walnut ones also... It's going to be hard to pick. 4003W or Fireglo? How do you choose? Just buy one of each?

Ive played a few walnuts and they all had chunkier necks than the glo models. Of course like another member said, Rics vary from bass to bass so it might have been luck of the draw.

 

[truand85]

Ive played a few walnuts and they all had chunkier necks than the glo models. Of course like another member said, Rics vary from bass to bass so it might have been luck of the draw.

Good to know I'll keep that in mind. There's a few locally I will go try out next week.

 

[GIBrat51]

View attachment 1061235 View attachment 1061237 View attachment 1061238 View attachment 1061239 View attachment 1061240

Pictures? OK, but since I can't access my picture files with this laptop (yet), you'll just have to suffer this old post from the Lefty Union thread. But, at least there are Bonus Basses. So, from left to right;
- '94 Gretsch G6119BO-LH Broadkaster. Yes, it's a factory lefty; the only lefty Gretsch bass I've ever seen...
- '78 Fender P-Bass. No baseball bat neck on this one; it has the optional "A" contour neck - same as a Jazz Bass, more or less...
- '95 Alembic Epic. What else can I say...
- '01 COY 4003, and my '73 4001. COY for 2001 was Desert Gold; not many Ricks in that color. Only about 8 4003s, and mine might be the only left handed Rick in this color. The 4001 is pretty beat up, but it still plays like (yes) buttah... And, last but not least;
- '78 Kramer 450B Lumie. The neck diving champion of the World - but, man! The tone is worth it...

 

[Gizmot]

Is it a 4001? 4001s seem to have skinny necks, but 4003 can have chunky necks though based on this thread it seems to vary a lot...

Yes - - it's a 4001. I put the 4003 high-pass / push-pull control mod in. I also swapped the stock neck pickup for a Nordstrand Audio Nordenbocker, which is reverse-wound and allows full humbucking performance when both pickups are on. I also ditched the crappy stock tailpiece for a Hipshot, which made the bass look and sound better.

I keep wishing that Rickenbacker would give me an excuse or some good reasons to buy another bass from them, but so far, they haven't done it.

Every 4003 that I've tried had a fat neck that I would consider unplayable.

 

[FenderBassist]

I wanted to love my 4003 but I couldnt deal with the neck. Mine wasn't chunky enough and the fretboard width was too narrow for my fingers. Loved the look, had a neat sound, but couldnt hang sadly.

 

[shaggy45]

I love my 4003

She can thump but I prefer the more grittier tones. Neck is somewhat chunky but it doesn’t bother me and I have small hands.