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yes/no Rickenbacker

quindecima

quindecima

Inactive
Sep 18, 2016
682
724
86
Walterville, Oregon
#1
I stopped into the local high-end guitar store today (you never know what wiill turn up) I looked at a Collins 290 but it was out of my available funds range then I ran across two Ricks a late seventies 4001 and kind of noodled with it unhooked and didn't care for it but then saw a early eighties 4003 that was excellent + just the barest of tiny dents spread here and there no buckle rash or edge chips, some minor fret wear neck like an arrow. Probably played at home or studio. I kind of liked it but it wasn't a Ruby Red (I forget the color) which I was lusting for but considering the condition I might over look the color. Anything about the early 80's 4003 I need to know? They were asking in the low $1900's
 
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#3
Not for that price!
you can get a new 4004 series for that price & they're heaps better IMHO

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rickenbacker_4004cii.jpg
 
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#4
For that price, buy a new one, better made, better electronics. Nothing special about the 80's models, nothing particularly bad either, but going price for a new 4003 is around $1750, and can be had for as low as $1500-1600 on sale. They are single coil basses, sound great, but they hum a bit. As Killed says, check out a 4004 with humbuckers if you want a dead quiet bass. the S models are a little cheaper if you prefer no body binding, dot FB inlays, and mono output, more like $1350.
 
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#5
I'd say it's overpriced, too, but as for what to know about early '80s Rics, I'm assuming it's the split pickguard model like my '83. If that's the case, it still has the old-style hairpin truss rods (so hopefully the prior owner/s knew how to adjust them properly), but instead of 1/4" truss rod nuts at the headstock it will have 3/8" nuts at the heel end under the pickguard. And it should have two extra screws in the tailpiece, so you'll never have to worry about lift. Unless someone removed it, it probably has the bass-cut cap on the bridge pickup. Easily modded to the push-pull cap bypass circuit of modern Rics if so desired. Other than that, I can't say I like mine any more or less than my '15 4003--they're both wonderful basses.
 
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#6
farace said:
I'd say it's overpriced, too, but as for what to know about early '80s Rics, I'm assuming it's the split pickguard model like my '83. If that's the case, it still has the old-style hairpin truss rods (so hopefully the prior owner/s knew how to adjust them properly), but instead of 1/4" truss rod nuts at the headstock it will have 3/8" nuts at the heel end under the pickguard. And it should have two extra screws in the tailpiece, so you'll never have to worry about lift. Unless someone removed it, it probably has the bass-cut cap on the bridge pickup. Easily modded to the push-pull cap bypass circuit of modern Rics if so desired. Other than that, I can't say I like mine any more or less than my '15 4003--they're both wonderful basses.
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The owner said it was an 1982 and I know the truss rod was at the bottom of the fret board. The Luthier said he had just adjusted the Truss rod and was letting it set for a while before he looked at it again. I guess I'll keep looking. I check epay quite often but havent seen anything that made me pant and sweat yet.
 
#8
JJR58 said:
:yawn:, I must be completely ignorant, so forgive me in asking.

Truss rod at the bottom?
I'm no Rick affcieanado, but that sounds a bit odd for an '82.

Do I not know something?
Click to expand...

From the 4003's introduction around 1980 they had the old hairpin-style truss rods with adjustment moved to the body end, hence the split pickguard. When Ric began using conventional truss rods ('85 or '86?) they reverted to adjusters at the headstock end. Keep in mind that the tail end of 4001 production overlapped the beginning of 4003 production by a few years, and the 4001 continued headstock-end adjustment.
 
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#9
farace said:
From the 4003's introduction around 1980 they had the old hairpin-style truss rods with adjustment moved to the body end, hence the split pickguard. When Ric began using conventional truss rods ('85 or '86?) they reverted to adjusters at the headstock end. Keep in mind that the tail end of 4001 production overlapped the beginning of 4003 production by a few years, and the 4001 continued headstock-end adjustment.
Click to expand...

I so did not know this.

Thank you Farace.
 
#12
I think I'll go back and play it and handle it for a while, at least that will tell me if I like the darn things in case I see one on Ebay I like. It can't be a whole lot different than a new one as far as playing and carrying it I darn sure don't want a 2x4 or worse
 
#13
I would recheck the 82, they're are really nice basses, they are pretty much 4001's with a better truss rod system (same truss rods which I actually like). If it's in nice shape that price is a little high but not out of line. I have to confess I like the older Rics better than the new ones but like them all. I currently own a 1979 4001 and a 1985 4003FL (factory fretless), if you do buy it make sure the cap has been taken out of the circuit, it will have no balls otherwise. They switched to the new truss rod system and took out the cap in late 1984 but again there was an overlap.
 
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#17
quindecima said:
Heck, I could remove the cap myself, where is that puppy located at?
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It's between the output of the bridge pickup and the selector switch, it's a tiny cap, comes from the bridge volume control IIRC to the 3 way switch, I just bridge a solid wire over it. A lot of Rics have already had it bypassed or removed, if the bridge pickup has little to no bottom it's still in there. The older Rics have thinner necks, more comfortable to play and they cut through better, they have that traditional Ric sound.
 
#18
quindecima said:
I stopped into the local high-end guitar store today (you never know what wiill turn up) I looked at a Collins 290 but it was out of my available funds range then I ran across two Ricks a late seventies 4001 and kind of noodled with it unhooked and didn't care for it but then saw a early eighties 4003 that was excellent + just the barest of tiny dents spread here and there no buckle rash or edge chips, some minor fret wear neck like an arrow. Probably played at home or studio. I kind of liked it but it wasn't a Ruby Red (I forget the color) which I was lusting for but considering the condition I might over look the color. Anything about the early 80's 4003 I need to know? They were asking in the low $1900's
Click to expand...

The early 1980s 4003 are the least collectable of all 4001 4003 basses. But some of them are good basses. 1986 is the first year of the modern 4003 with the modern truss rods. $1900 is a little high you can get a really nice brand new 4003 for less than that.
 
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#20
I prefer the older Rics. In the past 5 years I've had 4 Rics. I kept my '81; it sounds great, has a think neck and is easy to play. I sold my 2014 neck - sounded too woodeny and had a neck like a baseball bat. I also sold a couple of Rics made around 2005. I got lucky on the '81, but from now on it's 'try before you buy' with Rics.

If you found one you really like, $1900 is in the price range, although on the high side. Make an offer.
 
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