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Rickenbacker

#441
I picked up a new Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo last night. Man, it's nice!:) :) I was going to wait for the 2002 color to come out and order one, but I would have a hard time waiting for it.

Unfortunately, I had to return my Spector NS-5CR. The one I purchased was the old model selling for $1000 on Musician's Friend. Went through too much poop. The first one I ordered was very noisy. The one they sent to replace it had 3 inch gashes in the paint down to the wood on both sides of the neck, along with a huge ding in the headstock. I figure I'll just save the $1500 for the new FM model and contact Bass Central when I'm ready. Won't be until October at least, but I think it makes more sense for me.

But the Rick will keep me plenty happy!
 
#445
Originally posted by Stig Jones
I must get round to posting a pic of miy Rick sometime (4001, 1982 in a sort of creamy/nicotine white colour :) ) Where`s me camera....
Click to expand...

Something like that ?

myrick2.gif


All the best,
 
#447
I had a '72 4003 also. In '77, I used a homeade stereo box and played it through an SVT w 8X10 on one side, and an Acoustic 360 w 1X18 Cerwin Vega reflex on the other side!!!:D :D

The sound could only be described as thunderous! I could flatten any Marshall stack without turing the vol on either am past 3! :cool: :D

Sold it all in '79 :(
 
#449
Originally posted by Stig Jones
very veryyy similare, except mine is more of a deep yellowy/cream and pickguard is in white, all metalwork is chrome. Yours looks very nice! :)
Click to expand...

Thanx. When I purchased it (by mail order) in last July, there was no choice : this finish or nothing. I decided to take it anyway.

Finally, after a few months, I find it nice, indeed. The luthier from the customer service even claimed it is an EXCELLENT+++ 4003. I wanted to sell it and by something else, but finally I keep it.

If yours is creamy, it is due to time. Mine will also yellow as years go by... White Rickenbacker seldom remain pure white :(

Should you need an excellent luthier to have your Rick refinished, let me know, I know a fabulous one, who is a specialist in Ricks.

All the best,
 
#450
Originally posted by jaylanb
Couldn't be a 4003 in 1972... Was probably a 4001... Anyway, the differences between both are few.

All the best,
Click to expand...

I've often wondered, what are the main differences between the 4001s and 4003s?

By the way, am I like the only person here who loves to leave the pickup plates on over the back pickups. :) It seems like everyone takes theirs' off.
 
#451
Originally posted by LiquidMidnight


I've often wondered, what are the main differences between the 4001s and 4003s?

By the way, am I like the only person here who loves to leave the pickup plates on over the back pickups. :) It seems like everyone takes theirs' off.
Click to expand...

The main difference between a 4001 and a 4003 is the double truss rod. Unless you remove the nameplate on the headstock, the difference between both models is invisible from the outside.

When the 4003 model appeared, there was an outside difference : the pickguard was in 2 parts on 4003, and 1 part on 4001. Then the 4001 was discontinued (big mistake), and the 4003 took the 1 piece pickguard from it. From the outside, a current 4003 looks quite like a 4001, though on some recent 4003's some hardware is now plastic (was metal long ago).

About the bridge PU cover : Chris Squire also keeps his covers on. Paul McCartney removed it from his 4001S. It's a matter of taste. IMHO, the best tone when you play with a pick is obtained when you pluck... at the place where the cover was ;)

All the best,
 
#453
If I could go back in time and buy a Rick again, that would be a 4001, not a 4003. They're great of course, but their double truss rod (which I don't believe is a real improvement) is more difficult to setup.

On all other matters, a 4003 is exactly the same thing as a 4001.

All the best,
 
#455
Originally posted by HeavyDuty
Uhhh, aren't ALL 4001s and 4003s double truss rod?
Click to expand...
I think they added the dual truss rods once round wound strings became popular. so (I think) there's some 4001's with them and some without, depends on the year. but what I don't understand is, my flatwounds have way more tension then any roundwounds I've ever used. so go figure.
I thought there was some other differences also. I think the headstock tiltback angle is slighty more on the 4003. I could be wrong, there are guys who know this stuff on this board. also the control cavity is wired different, that's why guys with the 4001's do the bypass surgery.
 
#457
No standard 4001 has a double truss rod.

The 4003 appeared in 1980 and the 4001 was discontinued in 1984. Even the latest standard 4001 had a single truss rod.

Though, some reissues and some limited editions were produced then : 4001V63, 4001CS, 4001C64, 4001C64S, and all of them have the double truss rod.

All the best,
 
#458
Jean -

I'm sorry, but we're going to have disagree on this one. I'm about 99.999% sure about this, as I thought the same thing before I bought my Ric and did a bunch of reading and research.

Check around the Ric enthusiast sites for discussion/data about the truss rod update that was made in the early '80s. One of the visual differences between the 4001 and 4003 is the shape and size of the metal bar under the truss rod nuts, and the earliest 4003 models had the truss rod adjustment on the body end with a two-piece pickguard.

Both Rickenbacker’s 1957 and 1968 catalogs mention the double truss rod as one of the features / advantages of their basses.

My 1981 4001 has two truss rods, as does my uncle's 1975 4001 and my friend's 1973 4001.
 
#459
HeavyDuty,

Please check this link :
Invalid Link Removed
and read the 4003 series section.

You can also read this page :
Invalid Link Removed
saying, about this 64 reissue : "The only concession to modern technology has been a redesigned truss rod system permitting round wound strings as standard."

All the best,
 
#460
Jean -

There's nothing on either of those pages that refutes my assertion.

As I said, the design of the double truss rod was changed in the early '80s (1984 is the most commonly reported date). This was a design refinement, not a complete redesign.

Ric's site refers to the beefed up redesign, and the page at the Ric Registration Site refers to "rods" (plural) for all models.

As I understand it, the old double truss rod design was a tad bit delicate. That's why Rickenbacker recommends "assisting" the neck with manual force when adjusting the neck relief, to prevent stripping the nuts or worse. The nuts are tightened down after the desired relief is set.

The newer 4003 design can supposedly be cranked into adjustment just like any other model bass, but I'm not that brave!

The Rickenbacker single truss rod vs. double truss rod debate is one of the most persistent rumors in the bass world. I wouldn't be surprised if Rickenbacker did make some 4000 series basses with a single truss rod, but they would be very unusual, rare and valuable! I could be wrong about this, but I really don't think so. (I wouldn't be so vocal about it if I didn't really believe it!)

Question for all: Does anyone here have a 4001 with a single truss rod?
 

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