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rickenbacker NBD^2

jacolyte

jacolyte

Inactive
Oct 9, 2008
376
493
boston area, usa
#1
today, my rickenbacker family doubled in size with the arrival of two brand new 4003s:

rsz_fam.jpg


the new ones are the two in the center (as clever readers will already have surmised, due to the pickup and truss rod covers, as well as the stickers). it's the first time in 36 years of playing that i've ever gotten two instruments at once. although i live in boston, i got them from apple music in portland, oregon - the owner is retiring and they're blowing out inventory at irresistible prices. i wasn't in the market for any basses but, when i found out the prices, i couldn't say no. not only were the prices great, the staff (i spoke with a guy named frank) were friendly and helpful, and the basses arrived double boxed and in perfect condition.

both new instruments are stellar, with minor, easily addressed issues. the black one, for some reason, doesn't have notches for the strings in the bridge saddles and despite this, strangely, the A string is noticeably lower than the others. the instrument is playable and sounds fantastic, and the saddles can easily be notched (i'm lucky enough to live near jim mouradian, an amazing bass tech, super nice guy, and the guy who built the CS bass for chris squire).

the red one arrived with the action much too low for me, but a 1/3 turn of the allen screws on both sides of the bridge dialed it right in. the pickups are MUCH hotter than any of the other 3 (they're not closer to the strings; they're just LOUD!), and that's fine with me - no two of these basses are quite alike, and i like that about them.

i'm breaking them in by strapping on the headphones and playing along with some of my favorite yes, gentle giant, and rush songs. 8-)

long live rickenbacker! 8-D
 
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#15
Ric purist alert: It'd ruby, not red, dammit. And black? Oh, geez, that's jetglo! Before anyone asks, that's not natural on the left, it's mapleglo. And the 'blue' one is midnight blue, for God's sake. Whew, I feel better now.

Good news, OP, I think you are only a fireglo away from every color in the current lineup. No, wait, not if you want to include walnut series. And if you want to "square" your collection again, well, that's really going to cost you now.

Congrats on the basses, they all look great. You can really see the difference in the fingerboard material when you compare the new ones to the MB. And I think the MG is the new fingerboard, too? They went from bubinga to Caribbean rosewood in later 2011, I believe.
 
#16
rekesbass said:
I think you're seeing the reflection of the couch in the bridge making it appear to be unfinished..giving it a satin\matte look..
Click to expand...
No, I was referring to the bridge not having slots in it as stated by the OP. How can a bass leave a factory without the bridge being completed? He bought two basses, one had a completed bridge and one did not? Maybe I misunderstood.
 
#18
jacolyte said:
today, my rickenbacker family doubled in size with the arrival of two brand new 4003s:

View attachment 609111

the new ones are the two in the center (as clever readers will already have surmised, due to the pickup and truss rod covers, as well as the stickers). it's the first time in 36 years of playing that i've ever gotten two instruments at once. although i live in boston, i got them from apple music in portland, oregon - the owner is retiring and they're blowing out inventory at irresistible prices. i wasn't in the market for any basses but, when i found out the prices, i couldn't say no. not only were the prices great, the staff (i spoke with a guy named frank) were friendly and helpful, and the basses arrived double boxed and in perfect condition.

both new instruments are stellar, with minor, easily addressed issues. the black one, for some reason, doesn't have notches for the strings in the bridge saddles and despite this, strangely, the A string is noticeably lower than the others. the instrument is playable and sounds fantastic, and the saddles can easily be notched (i'm lucky enough to live near jim mouradian, an amazing bass tech, super nice guy, and the guy who built the CS bass for chris squire).

the red one arrived with the action much too low for me, but a 1/3 turn of the allen screws on both sides of the bridge dialed it right in. the pickups are MUCH hotter than any of the other 3 (they're not closer to the strings; they're just LOUD!), and that's fine with me - no two of these basses are quite alike, and i like that about them.

i'm breaking them in by strapping on the headphones and playing along with some of my favorite yes, gentle giant, and rush songs. :cool:

long live rickenbacker! 8-D
Click to expand...

...but you are missing a FireGlo! ;)

Looks like a nice group. Enjoy!
 
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#19
jacolyte said:
today, my rickenbacker family doubled in size with the arrival of two brand new 4003s:

View attachment 609111

the new ones are the two in the center (as clever readers will already have surmised, due to the pickup and truss rod covers, as well as the stickers). it's the first time in 36 years of playing that i've ever gotten two instruments at once. although i live in boston, i got them from apple music in portland, oregon - the owner is retiring and they're blowing out inventory at irresistible prices. i wasn't in the market for any basses but, when i found out the prices, i couldn't say no. not only were the prices great, the staff (i spoke with a guy named frank) were friendly and helpful, and the basses arrived double boxed and in perfect condition.

both new instruments are stellar, with minor, easily addressed issues. the black one, for some reason, doesn't have notches for the strings in the bridge saddles and despite this, strangely, the A string is noticeably lower than the others. the instrument is playable and sounds fantastic, and the saddles can easily be notched (i'm lucky enough to live near jim mouradian, an amazing bass tech, super nice guy, and the guy who built the CS bass for chris squire).

the red one arrived with the action much too low for me, but a 1/3 turn of the allen screws on both sides of the bridge dialed it right in. the pickups are MUCH hotter than any of the other 3 (they're not closer to the strings; they're just LOUD!), and that's fine with me - no two of these basses are quite alike, and i like that about them.

i'm breaking them in by strapping on the headphones and playing along with some of my favorite yes, gentle giant, and rush songs. :cool:

long live rickenbacker! 8-D
Click to expand...

I bought my Ruby Ric from Apple last year. It sucks that they are gone...walking distance from my office. It was always great doing business with them.

Edit: congrats!!
 

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