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Rickenbacker 4003 neck too thick?

#21
There are regular specs everywhere about ric's (4001-4003) neck profile.
They are 42.9 mm (1 11/16'') width at nut and 54.0 mm (2 1/8'') at 12th fret.
And there is no info about width at the last fret. 12th fret is just a half way of a rick's fretboard and sizes at nut and at a neck pickup can differ pretty dramatically.
 
#22
I've played 4003's in stores and TBH, the necks are really thin in my hand and for my liking (i'm used to playing precisions and gibsons as well as jazz basses) But even so, the jazz neck isnt like the rick neck. But i have a very good rick copy and the neck on that is much better to me, than the actual rick. But to answer your question, the necks on 4003 basses arent thick, they're just wide and thin.
 
#24
saboteur said:
Anyone having a ric here? Can't believe how not popular ric is a bass here.
Click to expand...

Lots of people have Rics and they are very popular. There are entire mega threads dedicated to them. Your question has already been answered though.

There is little difference between the 12th fret and the end of the fretboard. However, it greatly depends on the year of the bass in question. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
 
#25
They vary a lot in thickness as noted. Probably a big love or hate factor is the minimal taper in a Ric's neck coupled with slight lower tension than other longish scale basses due to their 33.5" scale. I personally don't like the combination for playing above maybe 7-8th fret as it seems to derail double-stopping or true solo-ing(for me) quite badly. But the sound is divine, the look is killer - I have a 4003 that is intact, another I am doing some major modding to.

Try before you buy since they are fairly individual in build.
 
#26
I have a 4003 and a 4004 ... The neck on the 4004 is a thick mutha but those humbuckers put out a thick loud sound. The 4003 neck is thinner faster ..more like a modern P bass but not quite as thin. Rics are great sounding..you need at least one.
 
#27
If you ever get to play a 60s Rickenbacker bass 4000, 4001, or 4005. The necks are very thin front to back. My old 68 was so thin that I could bend it while playing. The down side was those necks would fail more and it was hard or impossible to flatten them out. 70s 4001 necks are pretty comfortable but chunkier than a 60s 4001. When Rick came out with the 4003 they were determined to make a bass that had a strong neck, and they succeded. But the profile of that neck really varies from 1980 to present. Even in the same production year they will make a slim neck and a fatter neck. Also the v63 basses abd C64 vary as well. It does seem to me that the C64 basses seem to mostly have slimmer necks.

You may have to play a certain Ric to ascertain the girth and comfort.

The newer Ricks made in the last 3 to 5 years seem to have really nice necks.
 
#28
JackBruceFan said:
I have a 4003 and a 4004 ... The neck on the 4004 is a thick mutha but those humbuckers put out a thick loud sound. The 4003 neck is thinner faster ..more like a modern P bass but not quite as thin. Rics are great sounding..you need at least one.
Click to expand...

I just got a 4004cii yesterday and the neck is quite nice ... to me anyway.
 
#29
They vary a lot in thickness as noted. Probably a big love or hate factor is the minimal taper in a Ric's neck coupled with slight lower tension than other longish scale basses due to their 33.5" scale. I personally don't like the combination for playing above maybe 7-8th fret as it seems to derail double-stopping or true solo-ing(for me) quite badly. But the sound is divine, the look is killer - I have a 4003 that is intact, another I am doing some major modding to.

Try before you buy since they are fairly individual in build.
 
#30
Ok, guys. I found an owner on EBAY, he properly measured it and now I got the answer I've been looking for.
So for those who can also look for true specs here it is - neck width at 20th fret is 57.15 mm (2 1/4'').
Agree, guys, it is pretty different to width at 12th fret which is 54.0 mm (2 1/8'').
 
#31
saboteur said:
Ok, guys. I found an owner on EBAY, he properly measured it and now I got the answer I've been looking for.
So for those who can also look for true specs here it is - neck width at 20th fret is 57.15 mm (2 1/4'').
Agree, guys, it is pretty different to width at 12th fret which is 54.0 mm (2 1/8'').
Click to expand...

Again, this depends on the particular bass/year in question. If you took a 1985 4003 and measured it against a 2009 4003 you'd get two different measurements.
 
#32
bassgod0dmw said:
Again, this depends on the particular bass/year in question. If you took a 1985 4003 and measured it against a 2009 4003 you'd get two different measurements.
Click to expand...
Maybe. I just take classical specs from an original site: http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=4003
Everywhere I looked I found only those specs for 4001-4003 basses. There are just no other specs for ric basses on the internet, whatever they've been selling or described. So I guess they all are something more than pretty close.

Then again. I asked of possible owners of 4001-4003 rics about concrete measurements of concrete their instruments and nothing else philosophic or about feelings of somebody somewhere.
Kind of that.
 
#34
Well. I've just received an email from another owner of a different ric of a different year on EBAY...
And guess what? Yes, it is all the same 57.15 mm (2 1/4''). bassgod0dmw, isn't it a miracle?
 
#36
bassgod0dmw said:
Hey, sorry for trying to be helpful to you. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Wow. I didn't mean to offend you! I'm sorry if it seemed so!:rollno:
Just try to get me right - I came to ask what is your rics' (4001-4003) neck width at 20th fret and that's all.
You were really helpful and teaching and I liked your lection about history of basses. It was very interesting to me!
Thank you very much, bassgod0dmw!
 
#38
saboteur said:
There are regular specs everywhere about ric's (4001-4003) neck profile.
They are 42.9 mm (1 11/16'') width at nut and 54.0 mm (2 1/8'') at 12th fret.
And there is no info about width at the last fret. 12th fret is just a half way of a rick's fretboard and sizes at nut and at a neck pickup can differ pretty dramatically.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but the thing about Rics is that they don't. That's what people have been telling you.

One of the things Rickenbacker basses are known for is their necks not differing much in width, all the way down. Hence, I would expect that at the 20th fret, a 4001's or 4003's neck wouldn't be much wider than it would be at the 12th fret. Mine isn't.
 
#39
Sartori said:
Yeah, but the thing about Rics is that they don't. That's what people have been telling you.

One of the things Rickenbacker basses are known for is their necks not differing much in width, all the way down. Hence, I would expect that at the 20th fret, a 4001's or 4003's neck wouldn't be much wider than it would be at the 12th fret. Mine isn't.
Click to expand...

+1 this is probably the single best thing about a rick bass. makes so much sense, I wish more companies would do it. my rick has easily the most comfortable neck I've ever played.

ricks are not exactly famous for their ergonomics, but the non-tapered neck, slightly shorter scale, and well-placed upper strap button make them extremely comfortable once you get used to their quirks.
 

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