What's "wrong" with a new 4003?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:27 pm

Well maybe not my best work but it was a lot funnier than the usual Information Technology work that I do ...

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:19 am

cabsav · Post by **cabsav** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 10:05 am

ok... this thread has really got me thinking about giving up my ideas of hunting down a 70's 4001 and buying a new 4003 instead. someone please, make up my mind for me! give me all the pros~

ps. sorry to distract from the beavis & butthead tangent

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:08 am

pros IMHO:
great sound
built like a tank
brand new, has warrantee
pick the color you like
can get replacement parts
can use any strings with no problems
great truss rod design
easily replaceable if stolen
great cases
easily keeps up with or surpasses any other new basses in sound and quality no matter what the price
nice polish rag (little bit of levity)
is yours to break in the way you want to, is a clean slate with no problems
very versatile
is a Ric
looks almost exactly like they have for many years unless you are an anal retentive member of the Ric forum, haha!
are a bargain for what you get.
many others, someone else?

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:43 am

has that unforgettable new RIC smell...

cabsav · Post by **cabsav** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:18 pm

so you're saying "get the new one"?

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:20 pm

Yeah I think so.

Not a big bonus, but RIC started lacquer finishing the fingerboard end binding since April, 2003. I hope to buy a new 4003 JG with black TRC and pickguard this year. The bass player from the band I signed wants a new 4003. I showed him the 4003 Montezuma Brown (bound to be rare and collectable anyway because of its finish) pics and he wants one.

My only humble complaint about new 4003 basses is that the necks would be a lot nice if they were a little thinner. Would help decrease some head dive too if the necks were thinner.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:48 pm

Three things I don't like about the 4003 ...

1 - Ric-o-sound ... an obsolete feature whose day came and went a long time ago ...

2 - mechanical mute ... this was always a bad idea ...

3 - they don't make a 5 string 4003 ... anymore

but those are negatives for the 4001 as well ...

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:58 pm

Think about a 4004 instead of a 4003, a very nice alternative.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:12 pm

you also know that it won't end up on "the fakes thread", or "that bass has the wrong pickguard" thread

marty · Post by **marty** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:14 pm

I have a Montezuma Brown 4003 and according to the serial it was made in week 32 of 2003, which is well after April, but it doesn't have any finish on the binding at the neck end.

What are the resons for not finishing it anyway?

I didn't even notice it not being finished until I saw it mentioned in the forum.

As for the mute....I quite like the idea of the mute, but it doesn't really work too well even if you flatten the curve out a bit.
You have to have a very low action....if the foam was a bit thicker it would work I suppose.
I might even put a thicker piece in..not essential but it's nice to use the mute from time to time.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:18 pm

How high is your bridge? I have no problems with any of mine (6 basses) I use it sometimes for an upright effect or for certain Beatle Songs like Lucy in the Sky With diamonds, exact sound and decay.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:27 pm

A nice alternative indeed! I've been thinking about how nice a 4004L would look in a Monty Brown finish! And those quiet pickups, humbuckers... berry berry nice...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:54 pm

Three things I don't like about the 4003:

The somewhat reshaped pickguard (easy to fix);
the not-so-characteristic tone (easy to fix);
the 60s-style headstock (not that easy to fix).
Well, two out of three ain't bad...

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:58 pm

A 4004L wouldn't have a pickguard at all to worry about....