I just about bought that exact bass a couple days ago. I decided to think about it for a bit, and next time I checked, it was gone! You snooze you lose, right. congrats buddy. It pairs nice with that borracho in your avatar!
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WHAT??? Rickenbacker 4003S!?
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I just about bought that exact bass a couple days ago. I decided to think about it for a bit, and next time I checked, it was gone! You snooze you lose, right. congrats buddy. It pairs nice with that borracho in your avatar!
I thought that more would have been received and posted by now. In any case, congrats to all!
Mine is still at Dave's in LaCrosse 
I'll be getting it in this week, however. There are some interesting plans for this one... Think 1967-69 4000 replica in Jetglo. Horseshoe, back-painted clear plexi guard, ORIGINAL 1960's back-painted plexi truss cover... But there's something more interesting than all of that. I'm working with David at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], the gentleman responsible for the transparently clear, non-invasive active preamps. He specializes in hum-canceling modules for single coil Jazz basses... We are working on a module for the Horseshoe, which is on its way to him from RIC as I speak. If this workable idea is operable in the prototype stage, I will send him my High-Gain's for development. What this amounts to is: A DEAD SILENT Rickenbacker with original pickups mated to a tonally-neutral active preamp. I am excruciatingly excited to hear if an original tone can be achieved SILENTLY with RIC pickups 
I'm going with a three-band preamp, with the pair of potentiometers being concentric. This poses an issue; I want to keep the look of the 4000 and it's twin knobs, but with more capability in potential EQ shaping should the need arise. So I enlisted the help of a great custom knob maker, Clayton Corrello (website), who will make a set of custom lower knobs to match in style to the stock vintage-style knobs found on v63's and the like. It's nice to have something look like a sleeper yet be full of hidden, custom surprises
If this all doesn't work, the Talkbass Classifieds will be awash with Rickenbacker-related goodies and the 4003S put back to bone-stock! Haha
I'll be getting it in this week, however. There are some interesting plans for this one... Think 1967-69 4000 replica in Jetglo. Horseshoe, back-painted clear plexi guard, ORIGINAL 1960's back-painted plexi truss cover... But there's something more interesting than all of that. I'm working with David at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], the gentleman responsible for the transparently clear, non-invasive active preamps. He specializes in hum-canceling modules for single coil Jazz basses... We are working on a module for the Horseshoe, which is on its way to him from RIC as I speak. If this workable idea is operable in the prototype stage, I will send him my High-Gain's for development. What this amounts to is: A DEAD SILENT Rickenbacker with original pickups mated to a tonally-neutral active preamp. I am excruciatingly excited to hear if an original tone can be achieved SILENTLY with RIC pickups I'm going with a three-band preamp, with the pair of potentiometers being concentric. This poses an issue; I want to keep the look of the 4000 and it's twin knobs, but with more capability in potential EQ shaping should the need arise. So I enlisted the help of a great custom knob maker, Clayton Corrello (website), who will make a set of custom lower knobs to match in style to the stock vintage-style knobs found on v63's and the like. It's nice to have something look like a sleeper yet be full of hidden, custom surprises
If this all doesn't work, the Talkbass Classifieds will be awash with Rickenbacker-related goodies and the 4003S put back to bone-stock! Haha
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OK...this thread just became seriously g.a.s. inducing...I hope these don't get discontinued ever..
Twangster101
You gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie?
For you that have received the 4003S, does the neck feel like the 4003? If not what are the differences?
Thanks again
Thanks again
Still a pronounced D-shape, but with thick shoulders... Comfortable, but I wouldn't call it thin feeling by any means...
I would agree with that. It was very similar to the current 4003 neck I compared it to in the store. Not as slim as the vintage 4003s basses were back in the day.
Twangster101
You gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie?
Thanks guys. I was hoping it would be close to the current 4003 shape. I've got a Mapleglo 4003S on order now and was wondering about the neck.
Personally... I am having a very difficult time liking this neck, to be honest. My v63 is the large end of a massive C-shaped baseball bat, but even that has a narrower width than this one... I really do like the bass, but I was hoping to LOVE it. Well, I still have many many many modifications for it in the near future, so I suppose I'll see how it is when it's all done.
Twangster101
You gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie?
Alright, I now LOVE the bass! The neck took a week or so to convince me that it is indeed a nice profile 
Current spec:
-Shielded cavity,
-250k Vol // 500k Tone // .047uF cap,
-vintage knobs,
-AWESOME Pickguardian 4000 clear plexi // backpainted guard in 2015 hole pattern (PERFECT fit; absolutely NO modification needed),
- Kalium (Circle K) balanced tension strings (.094-.039),
-Dunlop Straploks (be sure to drill and dowel current hole with .125" material; this is completely reverse-able for drilling back out for original strap pins, which are quite low-quality in my opinion)
Modifications in-process:
-original '62 truss-rod cover (clear plexi // backpainted - it's a GEM),
-new RIC Horseshoe,
-Audere hum-cancelling module and ultra-transparent preamp (prototype, and specifically for the HS p/u)
VERY happy with this bass, even if it's apparent where they cut corners: thin chrome plating, low-quality plastic for original truss cover, swirly finish under the clearcoat.
What they got right: dead straight neck, PERFECT fretwork, bridge-pickup-string alignment is PERFECT, original pickguard neck p/u route is spot-on.
Developments from vintage basses to modern that I like: Tilt-back headstock (they had to lengthen it in order for the frontal profile to remain cosmetically coherent, and it looks great in my opinion), thinner upper horn, easier access to upper register (they moved the scale {bridge / nut} up in order to align the 20th fret above the body joint, a la the 1969 21 fret 4001's), MORE NECK THICKNESS IN THE NECK PICKUP CAVITY (vintage basses ~10mm, this one ~19.5mm).
Developments needed: Shield the damn cavities! Use very rudimentary, entry-level electronic science to cancel this gawdawful hum! For eff's sake, it can be done, with several solutions to that issue. My 1969 Norton 750 Commando has electronic ignition. Updates don't always need to compromise or otherwise spoil the vintage style that sells the product.
I understand that these developments may have been out for a while now, but I have been under a rock. The most modern RIC or Rick I have ever owned was a 1996 4003, but otherwise was 1973-1979 4000/4001 basses.
Current spec:
-Shielded cavity,
-250k Vol // 500k Tone // .047uF cap,
-vintage knobs,
-AWESOME Pickguardian 4000 clear plexi // backpainted guard in 2015 hole pattern (PERFECT fit; absolutely NO modification needed),
- Kalium (Circle K) balanced tension strings (.094-.039),
-Dunlop Straploks (be sure to drill and dowel current hole with .125" material; this is completely reverse-able for drilling back out for original strap pins, which are quite low-quality in my opinion)
Modifications in-process:
-original '62 truss-rod cover (clear plexi // backpainted - it's a GEM),
-new RIC Horseshoe,
-Audere hum-cancelling module and ultra-transparent preamp (prototype, and specifically for the HS p/u)
VERY happy with this bass, even if it's apparent where they cut corners: thin chrome plating, low-quality plastic for original truss cover, swirly finish under the clearcoat.
What they got right: dead straight neck, PERFECT fretwork, bridge-pickup-string alignment is PERFECT, original pickguard neck p/u route is spot-on.
Developments from vintage basses to modern that I like: Tilt-back headstock (they had to lengthen it in order for the frontal profile to remain cosmetically coherent, and it looks great in my opinion), thinner upper horn, easier access to upper register (they moved the scale {bridge / nut} up in order to align the 20th fret above the body joint, a la the 1969 21 fret 4001's), MORE NECK THICKNESS IN THE NECK PICKUP CAVITY (vintage basses ~10mm, this one ~19.5mm).
Developments needed: Shield the damn cavities! Use very rudimentary, entry-level electronic science to cancel this gawdawful hum! For eff's sake, it can be done, with several solutions to that issue. My 1969 Norton 750 Commando has electronic ignition. Updates don't always need to compromise or otherwise spoil the vintage style that sells the product.
I understand that these developments may have been out for a while now, but I have been under a rock. The most modern RIC or Rick I have ever owned was a 1996 4003, but otherwise was 1973-1979 4000/4001 basses.
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I don't understand why you went from the supplied by RIC redesigned-to-vintage-look pickguard to the recent "DH" style? Why not have had Tony make something like he did for me but without the neck pickup opening?
I would have loved to, but I wanted to avoid drilling additional holes that wouldn't allow me to go back to stock as they would be visible... I do very much prefer the vintage hole pattern though.
I understand, I made no new holes on my old 4001V63 when Tony made this pickguard for me (photo below) except for the ones for the finger rest, but on the 4003 I wanted it to look correct, but I only had to make one new hole, all the rest were the same as stock.
And as this an admission, you owe me $50 that I will get....This guy sold me the said Ric without disclosing its miserable history, hence the $50 I had to spend getting it to work....GREAT SELLER
I check this this thread every once in a while to see if any more 4003S models and more specifically if any 4003SW models have popped up. It has only been four months since I ordered mine, so maybe I'm about halfway through my wait time.
I play my 4003W daily and really love it, I cant wait to play the SW.
I play my 4003W daily and really love it, I cant wait to play the SW.
Hey, now! These babies are rolling. Mine has arrived in Wisconsin. Who'd have thought Rickenbacker could move so quickly.
They probably started production on them in 2006 so they'd be ready by 2015!
This one just looks RIGHT! the way the PG outline flows into the PUP surround and into the Bridge is beauty...Makes the newer design look primitive.
