4003 fl finish

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

Hi

I have an impending delivery of a 4003fl. Just wondering if the mid 2000 fretless basses only came in fireglo?

All the best

Stevie
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 15029
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2000 5:00 am
Contact:

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by admin »

Stevie they came in a number of finishes not just Fireglo. Do a search in the Register and you can see for yourself. Congrats on the upcoming new arrival.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm

Please join the Official RickResource Forum Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

It’s an odd one I thought I had bought a Fireglo and the fellow selling has told me he also has an identical natural bass. I’ve only ever seen fireglo.
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

The other bass is Mapeglo and it has a matching headstock not the two tone one you sometimes see, I'm in a quandary.
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6553
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by bassduke49 »

Fretless basses are fairly rare, so you may not find many examples around to determine their spread across the color spectrum. Although fretless was considered by the company to be a separate model, it really was just a feature. The only difference was the fingerboard that had no frets. Additionally, the company listed only the original 4001FL and the subsequent 4003FL, but there are examples of fretless 3001, 4000, 4001S, 4002, 4003S, and 4003S/5 models.

The contrasting "head wings" was typical of basses from the '60s, and the feature was resurrected in 2005. So in between, no contrasting head wings.

Much more info in the book.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

I have the book but can't find it!, as in It's packed away somewhere!
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

Would there be any instances of a 2005/2006 mapeglo without wings?
Attachments
IMG_4554.JPG
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6553
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by bassduke49 »

Sure. Nearly all of the finish/equipment changeovers were a gradual process, no hard and fast date of change.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
StevieDee
New member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:27 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by StevieDee »

Thanks for the reply I just have to decide between the fireglo and the mapleglo now.
User avatar
lumgimfong
Intermediate Member
Posts: 704
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:57 pm

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by lumgimfong »

I find the FG more stunning with the bursted fronts and backs of headstock and body-and neck!!!
The MG is gorgeous in its own right, too. So you can’t lose.
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37139
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by jps »

My former '04 4003FL.
Lucite-Pickguard-b&w-02a.jpg
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6553
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by bassduke49 »

jps wrote:My former '04 4003FL.
Lucite-Pickguard-b&w-02a.jpg
WOW! They made a fretless Rick in the "Zone" scheme??? :wink:
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37139
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by jps »

bassduke49 wrote:WOW! They made a fretless Rick in the "Zone" scheme??? :wink:
Yes, a special one-off 4003FL/AA. :mrgreen:

Here is the enlarged, colorized version that Ted Turner made of that image.
Lucite Pickguard 02 800 PS .jpg
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6553
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by bassduke49 »

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
thx1955
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2823
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 6:00 am
Contact:

Re: 4003 fl finish

Post by thx1955 »

StevieDee wrote:Thanks for the reply I just have to decide between the fireglo and the mapleglo now.
Fireglo ..... nothing beats a nice Fireglo finish, each is slightly different, all are lovely.
I have both a Fireglo (73) and Jetglo (07) Fretless and both are really nice, the 73 Fireglo still prevails
"It's Red Jim, but not as we know it...."
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”