Do the new 4003's have thinner necks ???

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:30 am

I am ready to order a new 4003 and i was wondering if anybody out there has a new one and does it have a thinner neck profile ??

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:39 pm

I played a newer 4003 for the first time a few weeks back and it was a lot thicker than my 72', and way thicker than my 96'... but it still felt just fine to me. I don't think the thickness is a big deal at all.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:53 pm

My 2004 Monty Brown has a gorgeous thin neck. I think its luck of the draw. Try different ones until you get one that suits you.

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:29 pm

I played two 2006 4003FGs in the same store; one was half a Louisville Slugger, and the other was flatter. Not as thin as my 69. They were both comfy tho...

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:34 pm

Though my experience suggests otherwise, I am told that RIC has not altered the neck thickness for a long time and that they would vary by only fractions of a millimeter at that. That may be true but the general opinion here seems to be that they do vary and by quite a bit sometimes. There was a thread a while back about chunky 4003 necks. Several people weighed in on the subject and the opinions were very consistent. I was thinking we could do something like start a thread that documents neck thickness at predetermined points.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:52 pm

"I was thinking we could do something like start a thread that documents neck thickness at predetermined points."

Interesting proposition. It would prove/disprove our subjective evaluations. Kinda up the male alley anyway isn't it??!!

Then again, some of us may not like the comparisons. My Nov. 2004 MapleGlo is thinker than my $20 wonder used Austin P/J copy, but still very comfortable and playable. Yeah, it would be interesting....

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:21 pm

I'd be interested in seeing those stats. I have a few 4003's. My '94 seems to be the thinnest neck, but the difference doesn't matter to me except on just a couple of songs with repetitive left-hand patterns around the 3rd fret at mid to high tempo (ie worst case scenario for left hand fatigue). YMMV.

I would be interested in any stats, though. Where would the measurements be?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:24 pm

Hi Dean. Check out the thread called "A measurement is worth..." We are collecting data there.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:32 pm

Cool, thanks Ted! (I have been maxxed out lately but am glad to be back on the Forum now).

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:36 pm

For what its worth, my '05 4003 BBR seems thinner (thumb to fingertips), than my '04 BB.

But then again, I've got big hands, and really dont have a problem with chunky necks.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:33 am

Scott: Grab a set of calipers and post a set of numbers. It is really interesting to see the actual difference between a thin and thick neck. So far it appears to be just a few hundredths of an inch!

Dean: It's good to have you back!

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:54 am

Another factor that has a big impact on feel is the
shape or profile; a gentle "C" will feel thinner than a pronounced "D" of the same depth.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:49 pm

i sold my burgundy 2002 4003 mainly because the neck was like a baseball bat. it was very deep and uncomfortable and everybody that played it commented on the size of the neck.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:38 pm

I find it impossible to play the D shaped neck without my thumb slipping around to the binding.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:01 pm

The shape is indeed key. I think shape plays a big role in the way we perceive the neck. So far the numbers are bearing out what JH said about the neck dimensions not changing very much over the years. I am now more inclined to believe it is a shape difference that we feel and not a significant thickening of the neck itself - but let the measurements continue.