My 4003 arrived from Japan today!

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:24 am

It's a beauty! Feels very different than all of my older ones.

It's odd, and this was discussed in another thread, but the tailpiece has the 2 added screws and as best as I can tell they are original to the bass, although it doesn't make sense on a 2004.

Bass:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/DSCN0817.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/DSCN0816.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/DSCN0815.jpg

Tailpiece:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/DSCN0819.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/DSCN0818.jpg

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:35 am

"although it doesn't make sense on a 2004."

Probably a late-80's BT tailpiece. These had the 2 extra screws. My '86 Shadow has them. It's a good thing: BT tailpieces are more prone to tail-lift because the powdercoating process weakens them.

The pickguard is also older stock.

Great looking bass, congrats!

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:37 am

How can you tell about the pickguard? Odd that someone would switch the stuff out on such a new bass.

xakattack · Post by **xakattack** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:56 am

man, that bass is bad ***!

nice score.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:00 am

Thanky Thanky.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:02 am

"How can you tell about the pickguard?"

The knobs are not parallel. a '04 guard has parallel knobs. The change was in '98 or '99. Your pickguard is probably a late 90's. But RIC sometimes use older parts. If you follow "Ric outlet" auctions on eBay, you'll notice they still have some BT parts left.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:05 am

Nice one Sean.

It's like half shadow bass and half black-star.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:06 am

Strange days indeed.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:07 am

Hey Dave, yeah...half and half and all mine! haha

Now I need to start sniffing out one of each of those again. I probably should have bought Skiffington's when I had the chance.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:09 am

Think the differences have anything to do with it once being in Japan? Maybe used some old stock items for export?

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:13 am

Sean does it have shark tooth or dot inlays?

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:16 am

SHarktooth. I forgot to photo them!

I just noticed that it also has the Japanese owners manual in the case.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:18 am

I would replace the knobs with the all black vintage knobs ...

relayer4u · Post by **relayer4u** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:35 am

That's a real dark beauty you got there Sean!

Congrats.

Ditto on the vintage knobs, the darker the better!

stts64 · Post by **stts64** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:22 pm

Congrats!! I have always had a great luck with my basses I found in Japan. This is where my CS came from too. And they come so quick.I think I got all mine in 4 days.