The Blue Burst Has Arrived!!!

[squirefan01]

Can you compare the neck to other Ricks? I wonder if they are shipping 4003s with thinner necks yet.

Thanks

[bob_the_bass]

Greg ... my new fretless definitely has the new (thinner) neck profile

Bob

[bob_the_bass]

I initially set the action the same as my two 4003 fretted basses, but with the action that low I got "neck buzz" - I've adjusted the string hight to the point where I get no buzz, but this has the action quite a bit higher than my fretted basses. It isn't a problem & the bass plays like a dream, but I was just wondering if this is to be expected?

Cheers

Bob

[alan]

I think I'm in love. You very lucky boy, she so pretty.

[kcole4001]

Beauty!

[ilan]

Bob: not necessarily. My fretless bass is a Fender P and I have the action set up very low for that "mwah" sound. I had to have the board redressed to achieve it. But the Fender board is unfinished rosewood, so that wasn't a problem.

Tweak the rods carefully until the neck is as straight as you can get it to be. If that isn't enough, maybe you should have the fingerboard redressed and refinished by a luthier.

[ajish4]

"my new fretless definitely has the new (thinner) neck profile"....

I'm now a happy man!

[sloop_john_b]

I've played several new ones in shops lately that have had the "new" profile.

[gray]

I am all about the new profile. I played my first full-length show with it last night and it never wore me out once. If it weren't for the near-blister situation, I could have played for another 3 hours. My old one didn't feel like that.

That bass, though, looks really fantastic! Blue Burst looks great with the walnut headstock wings.

[bob_the_bass]

Ilan, i've sussed it. The nut is cut much lower than my fretted basses (by design I'm sure). I've tweaked it to the point where I am happy with the sound & feel - the neck is as flat as you would expect - no messing with the truss rods my friend!

All the best

Bob

[squirefan01]

That's good to know guys. Thanks. When I get back to looking for another Rick, it will definitely have to have that thinner neck.

[loendmaestro]

Oh my is that nice!

Congrats....

[peter_sillery]

Here is a link to one of these on e-bay at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4003FL-BBR-Fretless-Blueburst-As-New_W0QQitemZ200145397953QQihZ010QQcategoryZ41439QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[scotty]

Very nice BBR is lovely.

[heinpete]

The Blue Burst has some nice wood grain and a more smooth colour transition than some of the FG (maybe due to the nature of the blue colour itself). Also the headstock seems less bulbous than of the FG bassed. Very nice, congratulations Bob!