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Rickenbacker 4003: The Struggle is Real
- Thread starter JPbass77
- Start date
I’ve only ever gotten my hands on some older used ones. On every one, the transition from the neck to the headstock was terrible. For that, I’m turned off from them despite being, IMO, the coolest looking bass ever designed.
I had a 70s 4001 for a couple months and hated the hassle of the bridge (which had also lifted) and two finicky truss rods. Combined with uncomfortable, non-countoured top and a neck that just felt wrong in my hands, I got rid of it pretty quick.
I currently have a lawsuit era clone that I put a Hipshot bridge on and which has only one truss rod. Considering it was less than half the cost of a real Ric and the truss rod is "normal," I'm more happy with that bass than the real deal.
I currently have a lawsuit era clone that I put a Hipshot bridge on and which has only one truss rod. Considering it was less than half the cost of a real Ric and the truss rod is "normal," I'm more happy with that bass than the real deal.
I recently put Dogal JH172 Flats on my Rick 4003. Dogal 172 are Stranded core. I would have thought it would be very difficult to get my Rick setup perfectly but it was easy. The relief stayed spot-on and action is fantastic. The intonation was very, very close and 3 strings were done in seconds. I had to flip one saddle around to get the necessary range of adjustment. That took all of 1 minute.
The OP's Saddle locations looks pretty wonky. It looks like a bad D string honestly. I would never expect an OEM Rick bridge to have enough range to get that D string in Spec.
The OP's Saddle locations looks pretty wonky. It looks like a bad D string honestly. I would never expect an OEM Rick bridge to have enough range to get that D string in Spec.
I definitely have a love hate relationship with mine. Had an '05 4003 in Midnight Blue, and have a '77 4001 in BurgundyGlo. I hated the neck on the '05 and then one of the truss rods snapped in adjusting. It was my first adjustment, but upon that happening we saw that they'd been torqued hard and the plate they have in the truss cavity had a noticeable amount of material ground away from adjustments. Ric support is godawful and couldn't even tell me what kind of truss they used when the 4003's had 2 truss rods (which is like a 30 year span). Finally got them replaced, but still hated the neck and never gigged either out so I moved the 4003 on to a new home.
Still have my 4001 and am getting the bridge pickup rewound at the moment. It's a sweet sounding bass. It's an instrument I've thought was super cool since I was in high school. It was a dream instrument to get. It's also a problem child in my experience between the weird truss system, troublesome bridge, and a desire for a little more pickup output.
Don't imagine I'll sell it, but it's likely to never be my main bass when my Fender, Dingwall, G&L, and even Gibson Ripper are more stable and consistent.
EDIT: Voted that I couldn't justify the price, particularly of a new one. My 77 cost me a hair over 2k years ago.
Still have my 4001 and am getting the bridge pickup rewound at the moment. It's a sweet sounding bass. It's an instrument I've thought was super cool since I was in high school. It was a dream instrument to get. It's also a problem child in my experience between the weird truss system, troublesome bridge, and a desire for a little more pickup output.
Don't imagine I'll sell it, but it's likely to never be my main bass when my Fender, Dingwall, G&L, and even Gibson Ripper are more stable and consistent.
EDIT: Voted that I couldn't justify the price, particularly of a new one. My 77 cost me a hair over 2k years ago.
Snapped Truss Rods are from being abused. Imagine the amount of unnecessary force that had to have been applied to actually have a "noticeable amount of material ground away from adjustments." It takes only a very slight amount of turning force to adjust Truss Rods when done right.
I play my Rick every day and it's always 100% playable. Relief stays spot on and it barely needs tuning once strings have settled in.
I play my Rick every day and it's always 100% playable. Relief stays spot on and it barely needs tuning once strings have settled in.
I bought a Ric 4003 new in 1987 for $600 bucks. Was never satisfied with the sound so I put a Dimarzio model 1 in the neck position and a Model J in the bridge position. Still was not happy so I sold it and never purchased a Ric again. It was a good looking instrument though. Clear maple finish with black hardware.
Oh, I know. It's more just cautionary on the used ones. Conversely my '77 has never needed an adjustment and plays nice. I just don't like futzing with them and at this point am not gonna be able to afford a new one since they have single truss rods anyways.
I bought a new 4003 in 2015 and I've had some issues with it. I sent it back to the factory for a refin because the finish was bubbling up around the bridge. 10 years later, it's doing the same thing but it's out of warranty. It's minor, so I'm not overly worried about it anymore.
Set up wise, mine is definitely a diva. Whenever the seasons change (I live in northern Indiana) I always need to give it a small adjustment to keep it in playing shape. The pup selector switch is on the fritz. Still works, but I have a replacement on standby.
I took it to Sweetwater years ago for a set up and they tremendously screwed it up. That was the motivation I needed to learn to do it myself. Ever since then, besides the occasional set up tweak, it's been a solid bass that I've gigged and recorded with for years.
With how expensive they are now, I can't say I'd ever buy another one. I have mine, and I love it, but I don't think I'd sign up for that journey again for $2000 + dollars.
Set up wise, mine is definitely a diva. Whenever the seasons change (I live in northern Indiana) I always need to give it a small adjustment to keep it in playing shape. The pup selector switch is on the fritz. Still works, but I have a replacement on standby.
I took it to Sweetwater years ago for a set up and they tremendously screwed it up. That was the motivation I needed to learn to do it myself. Ever since then, besides the occasional set up tweak, it's been a solid bass that I've gigged and recorded with for years.
With how expensive they are now, I can't say I'd ever buy another one. I have mine, and I love it, but I don't think I'd sign up for that journey again for $2000 + dollars.
The newest Rics have weeded out most of the most annoying issues, and now they are no harder to setup than any other bass. Weirdly, the older 4001, which feature all the problems people hate about Rics, sell for more than brand new, which I truly do not get. Still, the average $1800-2000 price tag puts people off. It’s still true that they offer few concessions to ergonomics, although the “s” models with no binding are more comfortable to play for sure. It’s the price you pay for that look, and most of all that TONE. There just isn’t anything else that sounds like a Ric. though can get close.
I decided I loved Rickenbacker basses back in the Seventies. I eventually managed to afford one nearly thirty years later. I kept for about five years and then sold it for the same sum I’d bought it, which was pleasing. But the reasons I sold it were the constant fiddling with the truss rods that it needed and the irritatingly poor bridge design. Loved the look, the sound and the chunky neck, though.
Now I‘m content to play my four (rather good) Ali Express Fakenbackers and don’t want the hassle of getting another real one. Sorry.
Now I‘m content to play my four (rather good) Ali Express Fakenbackers and don’t want the hassle of getting another real one. Sorry.
Rickenbacker finally adopted a more modern, adjustable bridge (or there's always the Hipshot) which was a big help.
The truss rods (IF the factory left a large enough rout to get a normal wrench in there, sigh!) are simple IF you adjust the bass side to your spec, then repeat on the treble side.
The wonky ergonomics, pickups, and clumsy neck volute, you're on your own.
The truss rods (IF the factory left a large enough rout to get a normal wrench in there, sigh!) are simple IF you adjust the bass side to your spec, then repeat on the treble side.
The wonky ergonomics, pickups, and clumsy neck volute, you're on your own.
I've played a lot of Rics, never liked them except for 1. It was a 1979 4001, blacked out at Willies American Guitars back when us commoners could come in and play the instrument without an appointment or the counter douches deeming if you're worthy or not (seriously what an awful trend, Eddies Guitars in St Louis does this and I'll never go in because of it). That 79 Ric was awesome it had a nice tone, a sleek neck and for once my plucking hand wasn't uncomfortable.
I'm tempted to make a FSO routed for Rickenbacker electronics, as that seems like the best of both worlds when it comes to tone and ergonomics.
I'm tempted to make a FSO routed for Rickenbacker electronics, as that seems like the best of both worlds when it comes to tone and ergonomics.
I think Rics are absolutely beautiful. I always feel like they look like something that should be in an art museum.
I’ve had older ones. Whoever designed the bridge is currently burning in hell I’m pretty sure. And you definitely want to read the manual before you do anything with the truss rods. Yes they can be a pain in the a$$ relative to most Fender designs.
That said I’d definitely buy a newer one, I think they sound great and I’ve never had any ergonomic issues with them.
I’ve had older ones. Whoever designed the bridge is currently burning in hell I’m pretty sure. And you definitely want to read the manual before you do anything with the truss rods. Yes they can be a pain in the a$$ relative to most Fender designs.
That said I’d definitely buy a newer one, I think they sound great and I’ve never had any ergonomic issues with them.
I was going to post something along these lines. It’s a stunning looking bass.
But, wow, the ergonomics. I bought my 4003 sight unseen in 2002 as a ‘dream’ bass, based purely on the looks and the legendary status, and when it arrived in the UK from the US I had to really fight to make it work with my style of playing. I (almost!) wanted to go back to my Hohner P and Squier J - instruments I never had to even think about.
I still have that bass in the rack and will never sell it. And while it gets very little play these days, I am ambivalent as ever about it. It can be a bear to play in some respects - not least the razor sharp upper bout - but the neck is great.
And again, it looks like a piece of art. An annoying but lovable piece of art.
It’s such a shame to hear stories such as yours. I find the exact opposite. Especially when playing live with my group. My Rick practically plays itself. The notes just come forth so effortlessly that any ergonomic issues disappear.
I've never owned a Ric and never will unless someone gives me one for free. Way out of my budget.
I played one in a shop a handful of years ago. It was built well and sounded real nice. The ergonomics were a little off for me, but I could get used to it.
I played one in a shop a handful of years ago. It was built well and sounded real nice. The ergonomics were a little off for me, but I could get used to it.
