Hello friends. I've been eyeing a very well-preserved 1997 Rick 4003 that appeared in a shop here in my city. I love the sound of Rush from the 70s/early 80s. However, I've seen that the Rick 4001 and 4003 have considerable differences in tone and playability. I even read that the 4003 has a thicker neck. This wouldn't be a big problem because my Precision also has a very thick maple neck and I'm already used to it. However, are Ricks from that era really any good? I wanted to buy a 2025 4003 with an updated bridge and push-pull, but the price difference is considerable... I was thinking of maybe going to test it out...
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Rickenbacker 4003 1997
- Thread starter Asllan Pizzatto
- Start date
From what I remember reading on here, the 90s Rics had some of the thickest necks. If you have a chance to play it first, it would be a good idea. They can be very polarizing instruments.
You won't know until you try it.
I love my '93, it has the very same size neck as my StingRay.
I love my '93, it has the very same size neck as my StingRay.
The bridge pickups of the 4003s made from 1981-2005 are in the "modern" mode at all times, so that bass' tone will be different than a pre-1986 4001 or a post-2005 4003. Try it out in person if you can to see if you like the sound.
On another note, it might be worth saving up for a new one. The new ones are some of the best 4003s Ric has ever put out. You'll get the single truss rod, V2 bridge, treble bezel, and the Vintage Tone Control on the treble knob standard. The regular 4003s are $2,500 and the S models (the 4003 without the Rick-O-Sound stereo output, shark fin inlays, and nicer fretboard) are $2,250.
On another note, it might be worth saving up for a new one. The new ones are some of the best 4003s Ric has ever put out. You'll get the single truss rod, V2 bridge, treble bezel, and the Vintage Tone Control on the treble knob standard. The regular 4003s are $2,500 and the S models (the 4003 without the Rick-O-Sound stereo output, shark fin inlays, and nicer fretboard) are $2,250.
The neck on my old April '98 4001V63 was virtually the same dimensions of the two 4001s I had from 1973. The two 4004 ('13 and '15) models I have do have thicker necks but are still quite comfortable.
I just love when other people who aren't me play Rick's. Live the look and sound, but I can't gel with them. I recommend a test drive.
Yeh, I had a late '90s V63 that had a baseball bat neck. That's the reason I got rid of it.
I love Rickenbackers, but they are absolutely a “must try” bass. I’ve had 7 or 8 over the years ranging anywhere from so so to fantastic. The thinnest necks were a ‘72 4001, an ‘80 4003 and my 2025 4003. I have a 2012 that had a fat neck and a very woodeny tone. The other ones were in between. Coincidentally, the ones with the thinnest necks also sounded the best to my ears.
This is me with Jazz Basses and Stingrays!
The right bass in the right hands sounds magical. Sometimes, my hands aren't the right ones.
As others have said, they are a "must try" kinda thing. That said, you might do yourself a disservice if you try it, don't like it, and move on. I found that it was worth adapting to, just for what they bring to the table, which is part tone, part looks (gotta be honest). My Fenders are my "go to", But I love having a Ric to play from time to time.
I've mentioned looks in one other thread. I bring any of my other basses and usually never hear a thing, or maybe one or two comments per year.
If I break out my Ric, band members, patrons, and total strangers give the oohs and ahhs every single time.
I have a 1996 4003, I’ve heard it had a thinner neck( yeah) and no sharp binding. I did replace the bridge to a hip shot. But honestly, it looks great, but I’m always searching for a beefier sound like my thunderbird
The ‘92 V63 I had briefly had a thicker rounded C neck, that was much fatter feeling (in depth) than either my 4000 or my ‘04 Cii.
Overall, I liked the bass, but the thick neck (and additional 1.5 pounds) were turnoffs.
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You’d love the 4004’s hb sound, then! I’ve also seen people replace one or both of their 4001/3 pickups with Rick HB1s.
The only problem with that is the standard wiring harness’s pots tend to choke the excellent treble response of the hb1s.
A new hb-appropriate wiring harness fixes that.
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Same. I drooled over that bass before I bought it, unaware then of the neck profile differences in the 4000 series. Bought it from Ishibashi in Japan, and sucked up the import duty/VAT. I loved it, loved the sound, but then going back to my '73 and '74 4001s, I began to dislike the neck profile. I also extremely disliked the foreshortened 'cresting wave'. Eventually, it niggled me that much that I moved it on.
I later found out that the V63 and the 4001CS shared the same 'footprint', and after having sellers regret in letting go my CS, I found another one, but it had the baseball-bat neck and shortened cresting wave'. That was a no-no.
That said, the finish on that V63 was beautiful. This is the only photo I can find of it.
Just go play it and see how it strikes you. I usually play passive Jazz-type basses, but when a Ric is in order the 4003 that I like best is this one, manufactured in 1992. It's bone stock, and never has had need for repairs or modification. I'm not saying "all 1992 4003s are wonderful", but at least one of them is:
Probably sounds great through that Bassman, too. My Ricks sounded quite nice through this, especially when connected to a real bass cabinet.
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