Rickenbacker 4003 1997

[bobomatic]

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.

Can confirm everything this man said. My Rick’s… um…. jewels grew at least 4 sizes with this very swap. It still sounds like a Rick, just one that transformed into a werewolf at Midnight.

 

[JMacBass65]

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.

Yup, they always turn heads.

 

[Picton]

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.

I've owned two, and I didn't try either before I bought them.

Loved both. Getting rid of the first one was an error; replacing it with the second was a big relief. Both were 1978-1983 vintage, so nice skinny necks.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I've owned two, and I didn't try either before I bought them.

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Loved both. Getting rid of the first one was an error; replacing it with the second was a big relief. Both were 1978-1983 vintage, so nice skinny necks.

Well, you’re just so special.

 

[Picton]

Well, you’re just so special.

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I guess I'm just lucky. But I also know, just from reading here, that I'm not as particular about necks as a lot of my fellow bass players. I find I can play almost anything, as long as the nut ain't too wide. So maybe it's that, too.

 

[TTA]

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.

my 96 neck is very thin. last year before transition to cnc and the thinner horns. 97 would be first yesr of cnc

 

[devnulljp]

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.

It's an easy mod to add a push/pull and a .0047 cap though

 

[Jeff Scott]

It's an easy mod to add a push/pull and a .0047 cap though

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I did it a bit differently on my July '73 4001. For a while I got a blank Pickguardian pickguard that I installed a harness that I made.

VVT with a toggle switch to bypass the cap. IIRC, I still have that pickguard/harness in my parts box. Clarostat pots and C&K switch.