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Rickenbacker Bass Buying Advice

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Bassman1-909, Jun 2, 2020.

  1. Jun 2, 2020 #1
    Bassman1-909

    Bassman1-909

    Jan 1, 2017
    Hey Talkbass friends,

    I am looking to purchase a Ric' and I have a very specific idea of what I am looking for, ideally I'd be getting an early 4003 with a thin 4cm (1 9/16") neck and a fireglo finish. I'd also prefer the toaster pickup if possible (but that seems like an easy mod). My local shop had such a bass, but I wasn't thrilled with the look of the finish so I never pulled the trigger and now it's gone.

    So i guess the question is, (1) keep looking, (2) mod / refinish a vintage 4003 with the 4 cm neck, or (3) buy a new 4003 and have a local luthier shave the neck down?

    1. I can keep scouring the internet and my local shops until I find a Ric with a sufficiently thin neck for my liking and with a suitable finish, but unless it turns up in my local guitar shop with what everyone on these forums says about Rickennbackers I'm weary of buying such an expensive instrument without putting my hands on it. I'm open to the 4001 or even the 4001c64, but I haven't played one with a sufficiently thin neck (the 4001c64 had a 1-5/8" neck and while better than most still not quite as good as the 1-9/16").

    2. While I could refinish an 80s bass in another finish to make it fireglo (for whatever reason the 80s 4003 basses seem to have the necks I like), the vintage models aren't cheap and I'm concerned that the refinish will not look great (does anyone have any experience with this?)

    3. Is it totally crazy to just buy a new 4003 fireglo and have a luthier shave it down to make it 4cm? Has anyone had any experience with this? The new 4003 basses have necks that I just find too uncomfortable, but they seem to be a slight bit cheaper than the 80s ones, so I'm wondering if it makes more sense to mod up a new bass to get exactly what I'm looking for.

    All thoughts and experiences are welcome, thanks in advance!
     
  2. Jun 4, 2020 #2
    Bassman1-909

    Bassman1-909

    Jan 1, 2017
    Guess i posted in the wrong section, let's give this another try!
     
  3. Jun 4, 2020 #3
    Joe Nerve

    Joe Nerve Supporting Member

    Oct 7, 2000
    New York City
    Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
    Can't really help you with finding the Ric you want, but I can offer this...

    I have no idea how much playing experience you have on various basses, but for me, I've learned that I only like certain neck profiles because I'm used to them. Whatever bass I'm playing for a long time is what feels best. When I used to switch up a while back, I'd be thrown for a bit - but since I now play so many different basses, it really doesn't make any difference at all.

    I can almost guarantee that if you get a new one, and play it exclusively, in no time you'll like that even more than one with a thin neck.

    And I reserve the right to be completely wrong about that, because I'm not you :) .

    Now... if ya decide you want to buy a new Ric, I can drop some advice on how to get the best possible price, but I don't think you're going to be doing that.

    Good luck whatever your decide :) .
     
    bobyoung53 and Beej like this.
  4. Jun 4, 2020 #4
    bobyoung53

    bobyoung53 Supporting Member

    Aug 29, 2004
    Pueblo Libre, Lima, Perú

    I've been playing them for over 40 years and never heard of a 1 and 9/16ths nut on one, I'm not saying you didn't find one but they will be rare, they were usually 1 5/8ths (1 10/16ths) back then which is really not a lot bigger, they are 1 11/16ths now. Eighties 4003's into the mid nineties nuts are overall a little thinner than the later ones and thinner front to back too and so are some 4001's, they are not all identical though, some are a little fatter, some are a little thinner, it has to do with how they're sanded.
     
  5. Jun 5, 2020 #5
    farace

    farace

    Jul 9, 2016
    Connecticut USA
    I have never measured mine, but I can’t really feel a difference between my ‘83 and my ‘15. I might fail the princess and the pea test, too.
     
  6. Jun 5, 2020 #6
    Bassman1-909

    Bassman1-909

    Jan 1, 2017
    Actually this is a great point. My first bass had a jazz neck so I always found it to be the most comfortable, and actually prefer short scale (part of what drew me to the Ric was the shorter than standard scale) but as I have been working on my left hand technique I've found it easier to play larger necks. When I've played other 1 5/8th inch necks, I've found them to be pretty comfortable on the vintage models. When I played a new 4001c64S i found the neck to be fine but the harder when seemed to be non-rolled neck edge wasn't as comfortable, but I suppose that is gonna be true with all vintage v. new rics. However, I did find that the newer 4003 rics were just a bit too big.

    I wouldn't mind picking up a new bass, they are a bit cheaper than the vintage (especially if I get a used newer model), but I was wondering about the feasibility of having the neck sanded down to a slimmer width and profile, or whether it's better to just pay the extra coin up front for the vintage style neck.
     
    Joe Nerve likes this.
  7. Jun 5, 2020 #7
    Joe Nerve

    Joe Nerve Supporting Member

    Oct 7, 2000
    New York City
    Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
    If you do wind up buying a new one, I have 2 suggestions.

    1. Don't ever pay the asking price.

    Rickenbacker doesn't post their prices, and dealers are all over the map with them. Years ago there was someone on TB who worked at MF and was giving people great deals. I don't remember how much a 4003 was listing for at the time, but I was offered one for $400 less. I called Americanmusical and asked their price. I laughed, and then said I got a much better offer. They asked how much, I told them, and they IMMEDIATELY responded with, "We can do that." That floored me, and also helped a lot when I eventually wound up buying one a couple of years later. I didn't save $400 2nd time around, but I got real close.

    2. Consider getting on Musiciansfriend's mailing list, and buy from them when they email you a 15% or 20% off deal. Also, join their Backstage Pass program which gives you an additional 8% (I believe they may have renamed it REWARDS PROGRAM). When I bought my Ric, with an additional 15% off code, I was able to get a backup mini head, for just a few extra bucks once the rewards kicked in.
     
  8. Jun 5, 2020 #8
    Joe Nerve

    Joe Nerve Supporting Member

    Oct 7, 2000
    New York City
    Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
    If you do wind up buying a new one, I have 2 suggestions.

    1. Don't ever pay the asking price.

    Rickenbacker doesn't post their prices, and dealers are all over the map with them. Years ago there was someone on TB who worked at MF and was giving people great deals. I don't remember how much a 4003 was listing for at the time, but I was offered one for $400 less. I called Americanmusical and asked their price. I laughed, and then said I got a much better offer. They asked how much, I told them, and they IMMEDIATELY responded with, "We can do that." That floored me, and also helped a lot when I eventually wound up buying one a couple of years later. I didn't save $400 2nd time around, but I got real close.

    2. Consider getting on Musiciansfriend's mailing list, and buy from them when they email you a 15% or 20% off deal. Also, join their Backstage Pass program which gives you an additional 8% (I believe they may have renamed it REWARDS PROGRAM). When I bought my Ric, with an additional 15% off code, I was able to get a backup mini head, for just a few extra bucks once the rewards kicked in.
     
  9. Jun 5, 2020 #9
    ajkula66

    ajkula66

    Sep 23, 2016
    The land of a thousand dances...
    My take is that if C64S did the trick for you, just buy one.

    Sanding the neck on a newer Ric may not get you where you need to be and the value of the bass would go down significantly.

    Good luck.
     
    Pet Sounds likes this.