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WHAT??? Rickenbacker 4003S!?

#401
Mind Eroded said:
I just got mine today from POTR. Delivered almost 12 months to the day that I pre ordered. I'd like to make an amendment to my previous post on this thread, POTR delivered me a perfectly set up bass(shout to Chris from the store). It came to me in way better shape than how my previous 4003 arrived from mf. Glad I took the mom and pop route on this...

The bass is not cosmetically 100% but close to it, a few paint imperfections and hints of white streaks around the neck pocket. I'm not gonna OCD about it. Has the dreaded poles not matching up to strings on the neck pick up that people complained about previously. I don't hear a noticeable difference in output on my G string, where this misalignment is most apparent. plugged in through my half stack, there is a noticeable buzz when tone knobs are fully engaged. A lot more than on my jazz or P. Pickup selector switch feels loose and staticky. Other than that, it's a great bass that I look forward to jamming on, esp at the next band practice with the full set up.

Included, Obligatory crappy iPhone pic
Click to expand...

Congrats,
I don't know about you but I thought mine sounded a little better than my 4003. I don't know why but it does. I have a Jetglo.
 
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#403
Mind Eroded said:
I wish I could tell you, I sold the 4003 jetglo in 2008 so it's been a minute. Maybe it's just the honeymoon thing but it feels a lot better in my hands than the old bass.
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Mine seems a bit lighter than my 4003 did, plus I like the body contours better than the binding. Can't compare the sound as I no longer have the 4003, but I know my 4003s sounds excellent. Congratulations on the new bass!
 
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#404
BASSKADET said:
Congrats,
I don't know about you but I thought mine sounded a little better than my 4003. I don't know why but it does. I have a Jetglo.
Click to expand...
It's the Jetglo that makes it sound better.

Mind Eroded said:
I wish I could tell you, I sold the 4003 jetglo in 2008 so it's been a minute. Maybe it's just the honeymoon thing but it feels a lot better in my hands than the old bass.
Click to expand...
the current basses have slimmer necks than back in 2008; I know that the 2013 and 2015 Laredos (they have the same neck shape as current 4003 models do) feel great to me. I did love my old 2008 4003 enough to vintage-ize it while I had it. :cool:
 
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#405
I seriously want a 4003S. I've been hoping they'd make something like this for years. I've owned 3 Rics and this will be the last (ha!). Unfortunately the Canadian Peso is in the toilet right now so this will take some thought.
A war between Israel and Iran will solve my problems-I need to drive up the price of oil. Anyone have friends in the CIA? I think a false flag operation is in order here.
All my life I've done everything the hard way. Starting a war for a good price on a Ric-any thoughts?
 
#406
Rickenmonster said:
I seriously want a 4003S. I've been hoping they'd make something like this for years. I've owned 3 Rics and this will be the last (ha!). Unfortunately the Canadian Peso is in the toilet right now so this will take some thought.
A war between Israel and Iran will solve my problems-I need to drive up the price of oil. Anyone have friends in the CIA? I think a false flag operation is in order here.
All my life I've done everything the hard way. Starting a war for a good price on a Ric-any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Move to the States. lol Wildwood has two last I looked.

Jeff, did you see that special edition Laredo 4004 Wildwood has?
 
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#407
QUOTE="BASSKADET, post: 18422633, member: 93213"]Jeff, did you see that special edition Laredo 4004 Wildwood has?[/QUOTE]I can't see what makes this a special edition beyond the bubinga fingerboard which used to be standard on them.
 
#409
image.jpeg
The monkeys have decended. It finally arrived 10 months after I ordered it. Worth the wait.
 
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#413
1stnamebassist said:
The Mapleglo to me looks so much nicer with the contours than with the binding. I'm not usually a Mapleglo
fan but that thing is beautiful! Have fun!
Click to expand...
Thanks man. I didn't really like the Mapleglo until I saw the 4003S model. There is just something about it I am really digging and I love the feel of this baby. I played it for 3 hours tonight.
 
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#414
Twangster101 said:
Thanks man. I didn't really like the Mapleglo until I saw the 4003S model. There is just something about it I am really digging and I love the feel of this baby. I played it for 3 hours tonight.
Click to expand...
I like mine much better than the last 4003 I had which was also very nice. It seems more comfortable with the contour and I like the look better without the binding. Rock on!
 
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#415
1stnamebassist said:
I like mine much better than the last 4003 I had which was also very nice. It seems more comfortable with the contour and I like the look better without the binding. Rock on!
Click to expand...
Me too! I didn't really think I would like it as much as the 4003 but I'm telling you I like the "s" model more than the 4003. Might just be the new kid on the block syndrome but she's had all my playing time for the last week. I did get my Fireglo out tonight and played her some since she has flats on her. I'm thinking the "s" model will tomorrow lol.
 
#419
Looks like the 4003S is a whopping 200€ cheaper than the normal model here in Europe, which puts the price a hair under 2000€ (according to Thomann at least). So no new Rick for me (still) for a while. Looks like availability is "unknown" too. Gotta keep my eye out for a used one from somewhere.. I especially like the mapleglow (natural) look on these. :)
 
#420
PaulBoyer said:
No idea. By some accounts, RIC's "B series" was the first attempt by a major(?) manufacturer at replicating older versions of their instruments. Of course, the "vintage features" of the B series were laughable, enough to make John Hall s***can it and develop the more "vintage accurate" V series.

The problem identifying a bona fide "B" bass is that the only difference between it and a plain ol' 4001S or 4003S (because production of the B series spanned the changeover) was the Toaster pickup. And anyone with an extra hun and soldering gun could make that change in half an hour. So you can never tell when you see a B series bass unless you are dealing with the original owner who bought it as such. It took me months to find such a person, and his photos of his 4003SB grace the book. I've not seen another.
Click to expand...

Hey Paul -
Another note on the B Series basses is that the necks were HUGE - big, fat & clubby.
The store I worked at in the early 80's was one of the top Ricky dealers in the country at the time. When the B Series was introduced ('84 or '85,) we sponsored a booth at Beatlefest in L.A. that year. Charlie Malyska (the So. Cal. Rick rep at the time) and I brought down all 5 models (including a Fireglo & Mapleglo bass) to display at the show and take orders (we sold 1 guitar.)

I was down at the offices/showroom several times during those years, and all of the B model basses I saw had the same fat necks.
 

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