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WHAT??? Rickenbacker 4003S!?
- Thread starter PubliclyViewable
- Start date
Wow. I must have missed the Ric scandal last year. Those pictures are downright sad. How they can continue to charge near-custom prices and expect the customer base live with that level of quality is beyond me. I've played, and owned, Squiers etc with far better QC than the examples posted here. Here's to hoping Ric can pull itself together by the time I'm ready to get one. The GAS is too strong to put me fully off just yet 
Wow. I must have missed the Ric scandal last year. Those pictures are downright sad. How they can continue to charge near-custom prices and expect the customer base live with that level of quality is beyond me. I've played, and owned, Squiers etc with far better QC than the examples posted here. Here's to hoping Ric can pull itself together by the time I'm ready to get one. The GAS is too strong to put me fully off just yet
I concur with every word. I currently have a very nice Squier Precision right next to me...
I hate to be that guy, and I know this isn't the thread topic OP intended but...are you kidding me, Ric? The kind of basses you can buy for that money, even on the TB classifieds, let alone the open market, FAR surpass these examples. I understand it may be unfair to pick on one bass or 6 string here or there, but these clearly weren't isolated issues. I know that there is no way ANY Nordy/Lull/Sadowsky Metro/G&L/EBMM/Yammy/Lakland/Carvin/Spector/Dingwall/Nash/Valenti has EVER left the building with anything even close to resembling these issues. And yet all of these in some way or anything are competing with Rics self-appointed price point. Perhaps NAMM will shine some new light on the company.
Yeah, I was hoping to keep the optimism a little higher; maybe leaving a little vitriol and spit left over for the "Owners and Admirers Club(s)" to dispense instead... 
But no worries. I completely agree with everything said here. I want this bass to be one I can justifiably GAS for; hoping that it's not just a nice thing to see on the internet only to have it be a calamity on the display wall...
But no worries. I completely agree with everything said here. I want this bass to be one I can justifiably GAS for; hoping that it's not just a nice thing to see on the internet only to have it be a calamity on the display wall...
Honestly, I was unaware of all these QC issue/drama the last few years... I've owned 2 Rick's, a 76 and a 2001, I still regret selling the 76, but these new 4003S are giving me some serious GAS!! Hopefully these will be readily available, the non slab top is what is really appealing for me, thanks to OP for posting this!!
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,654
- 2
- 16,425
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
Looks like I'll be buying one!
Possibly a dumb question here. Has Rickenbacker ever made a five-string? I'd live to try one.
One of the fellas I jam with occasionally plays an old Rickenbacker lap steel... thing sounds incredible - sustains for days, and that open D tuning... when you rake across the strings it's like the Gates of Hell just slammed shut behind you, and Robert Johnson walked up.
Yes tb'er ric5 knows way more about there fivers and issues, its been like over a decade since they have.
I had a 4001V63 and really regret selling it. I wanted a Chris Squire sig but they were/are very hard to come by and I couldn't afford one anyway so I found a V63 which was close but these 4003S models are even closer. I'll hope for the best in regards to the QC and hope I win the lottery.
edit.... Squier's was a 4001s not a 4003s so my V63 was closer but still these are cool.
edit.... Squier's was a 4001s not a 4003s so my V63 was closer but still these are cool.
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This perhaps explains why this year after I bought my 2012 Mapleglo 4003 and tried to register on the Ric site Forum; why, I never was accepted into the forum. Did he assume I was not worthy? I absolutely love the one I bought 2nd hand. From what it appears, John takes criticism about his QC as a personal insult. Rickenbacker is an icon in the music industry. IF he had a QC issue he needed to address it not assume the customers were a PIA. You find the source of the problem and fix it. Businesses who ignore internal problems and blaming the customer usually cease to exist. Perhaps the 4003S is John starting to listen to the customers.
I've said it elsewhere on this forum and bears repeating: I knew a fella that bought a brand new 4003 from an authorized dealer. The neck did the pretzel act and needed to go back to Rickenbacker.
Because the customer failed to send in his warranty card - RICKENBACKER REFUSED TO HONOUR THE WARRANTY! He had the purchase receipt and the word of the dealer. Too bad. No warranty service for you!
I like Rickenbackers; I own two of them. But the above has kind of sullied the respect I have for them.
Because the customer failed to send in his warranty card - RICKENBACKER REFUSED TO HONOUR THE WARRANTY! He had the purchase receipt and the word of the dealer. Too bad. No warranty service for you!
I like Rickenbackers; I own two of them. But the above has kind of sullied the respect I have for them.
thats great news! looks nice. i think that i played 4001s once.. the ric is more comfortable without the binding and with little contour at the body. and not everyony uses the stereo option. although the binding and the triangle fret markers looks sexy..
i wonder how much they will cost. it shuld be less because 4003s is simplified version. but they can charge more because its special model, reissue, most wanted, only for japanese or german market or what ever bs they can came with... but why the negativity?
i wonder how much they will cost. it shuld be less because 4003s is simplified version. but they can charge more because its special model, reissue, most wanted, only for japanese or german market or what ever bs they can came with... but why the negativity?
1. RIC offers new model people have been asking for
2. OP starts a thread about cool new model
3. Thread turns into hate-fest for John Hall because he is offering new model, which nobody has even seen in person yet
4. ????
2. OP starts a thread about cool new model
3. Thread turns into hate-fest for John Hall because he is offering new model, which nobody has even seen in person yet
4. ????
Wonder the the price will be? Ric makes about a thousand models of guitars, but just two bass models.
I believe the 4003s was previously made and discontinued in 1995 - From Wikipedia "Standard versions and collectible versions of the 4003 have included the 4003s (special)(discontinued 1995) "
*edit* - I stand corrected. Evidently from reading the manufacturer forum there is some word of them coming back.
*edit* - I stand corrected. Evidently from reading the manufacturer forum there is some word of them coming back.
I was wondering the same thing... If the 4003S becomes a standard production model I,m thinking maybe the same price point as a standard 4003...that would be nice
The 4003S originally had a production run from 1982 to 1996. The company felt that the "vintage" models (4001V63, 4001C64/C64S) pretty much satisified the desires of those looking for an unbound body and simpler trim. The last C64 was made in 2011, and except for special orders (and not counting the more "modern" 4004 series), there has been no unbound Ricks for the last four years. Looks like demand has brought back a classic. I'm curious about how it will be priced. I love the look of the SW.
