Old-Timer's Take on 4003 vs C64S

[woodyng]

great picture,fran! i do really like the satin finish on the maple....plus seeing someone playing one of these looks a lot better than just a shot of one in a stand,where it tends to look "wrong".....beautiful bass!

[Starless]

OK, I'll give this a shot... some comparison pictures for illustrative purposes can be found here: http://www.eiderlife.com/Rickenbacker.

4003 on the left, C64S on the right.

[fireglo]

Great shots! Thanks for taking the time to photograph those beautiful basses.

Francesco: Which bass do you prefer now? The C64S or the V63? Also, thanks for that picture! I love that bass!

[rickinroma]

OK, I'll give this a shot... some comparison pictures for illustrative purposes can be found here: http://www.eiderlife.com/Rickenbacker.

4003 on the left, C64S on the right.

It seems that the C64S in the pictures has the modern strap button....the one used on the 4003...

my C64S has the vintage type

Francesco: Which bass do you prefer now? The C64S or the V63?

thanks
as I previously said, the V63 might not be the most faithful reissue (both aestetically and electronically terms)...but IMHO in overall terms it's probably the best model of 4001/4003 ever made by Rickenbacker

[Starless]

It seems that the C64S in the pictures has the modern strap button....the one used on the 4003...
my C64S has the vintage type

Yes, I have the original strap buttons in the case but will be leaving the 'modern ones' on for locking purposes!

[rickaddict]

It seems that the C64S in the pictures has the modern strap button....the one used on the 4003...

my C64S has the vintage type

Hey Francesco- I'm not sure if you know this being that you're a little far removed from most Rick dealers/players there in beautiful Roma- but those new RIC strap buttons are for Schaller strap locks. They work fabulously. I've used 'em since 1981 or so and haven't launched a bass out of my hands since.

I personally remove the RIC strap button from all of my Ricks, vintage, re-issue or otherwise and replace it with a Schaller strap lock button. My Ricks are just too important to me to trust anything else.



Great photo, BTW.

I like both my V63's ('92FG and '98JG) and my C64S, but have to say I prefer the C64S. With it's zero fret, satin finish, great tone, and Macca vibe, its just too unique and cool a Rick. And it also looks great (unlike the V63) with that damn horseshoe removed.

I bought mine off ebay (from another forum member) in '03 for $1600.00. Hard to believe, but nobody wanted one back then because it wasn't a V63! Whiners whined about the backward headstock, but if you're gonna have a Macca re-issue bass, you've gotta have the backward headstock! That would be like whining about the CS model not being offered in JG!

[rickinroma]

those new RIC strap buttons are for Schaller strap locks. They work fabulously. I've used 'em since 1981 or so and haven't launched a bass out of my hands since

yes I have them on my 4003

I thought the schaller button on that C64S was a sort of inconsistence coming originally from the factory...

I agree with you
I also love both V and C...I intended to say that the V63 in overall terms seems to be more complete, like an allround ultimate bass for any occasion... a kind of middleway between the modern needs and the vintage vibe

[rickaddict]

yes I have them on my 4003

I thought the schaller button on that C64S was a sort of inconsistence coming originally from the factory...

Cool! I wasn't sure if you knew what the funny-looking new strap button was all about.

And I do understand those who choose to keep their Ricks in their all original, undisturbed factory form including original strap buttons. I modify mine slightly, but I only do mods that can be easily reversed, so I make sure to be very careful to not disturb the threads in the wood when I change strap buttons, screws, etc.

Here's a photo of mine from a few years ago. My apologies in advance to Mike Gutierrez who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when the camera clicked!



Could someone Photoshop him out to save him any future trauma?!

[rickinroma]

And I do understand those who choose to keep their Ricks in their all original, undisturbed factory form including original strap buttons.

I am that kind of person

However I suppose/hope that the replacement of the Vintage button with a modern Schaller one does not require anything more than a unscrew type V and screw the S one without having to enlarge the holes or whatever...

I had seen that picture of yourself and Mike in one of the Confluences threads

[rickaddict]

Thanks for posting this C64S appreciation thread, Graeme. I've enjoyed your observations. And you take great photos too. My C64S is also a 2003.

Odd how large the hole in the pick guard is for the Toaster. Mine is that way too and I've seen others.

For the record, though...the bass sounds great with roundwounds too! I have Elixers on mine. Slick, buttery-smooth feel and they don't have to sound like a buzz saw if you don't want them to.

I highly recommend by-passing the bass-cut capacitor and removing the heavy, string-blocking horseshoe as well.

And here's a photo that I feel is most appropriate for any 4001C64S appreciation thread... the original:

[rickinroma]

Odd how large the hole in the pick guard is for the Toaster. Mine is that way too and I've seen others

+1



how about the almost see-through white pickguard of the C64S....?

is this a feature that Paul's bass has since his original cracked pickguard was replaced at RIC with a new one apparently thinner and less solid one?

[rickaddict]

And I do understand those who choose to keep their Ricks in their all original, undisturbed factory form including original strap buttons.

I am that kind of person

Understandable! Why mess with such beauty!

However I suppose/hope that the replacement of the Vintage button with a modern Schaller one does not require anything more than a unscrew type V and screw the S one without having to enlarge the holes or whatever...

Nope, same length, same thread.

I even went out and found a screw in the same length and thread when I made the switch to Schaller strap locks in the early 80's on my first Rick (before Rick and Schaller teamed up to make their own Rick/Schaller strap lock button). So even as a 15 year old kid, I knew better than to mutilate a defenseless Rick!

[Starless]

I highly recommend by-passing the bass-cut capacitor and removing the heavy, string-blocking horseshoe as well.

I have been scathing in my opinion of the 4001/4003 PU cover, but I am persevering with the horseshoe. I think the added weight helps balance the guitar - it doesn't head-dip as fast as the 4003 does (although that might be due to there being less mass in the C64S neck - not sure). Also, I am happy to use it as a rest when picking and have been working on palm-muting behind it, while picking in front of it - seems to work quite well although some more practice is required.

The 4001/4003 PU cover is no more than a useless piece of plastic, but I think I owe it to the horseshoe to give it every chance - it is a major part of the vintage-ness and coolness of the bass.

[rickaddict]

how about the almost see-through white pickguard of the C64S....?

is this a feature that Paul's bass has since his original cracked pickguard was replaced at RIC with a new one apparently thinner and less solid one?

I don't think so. I think that's just a current problem with RIC not being able to find opaque pick guard material like the stuff they used in the 60's and 70's. Macca's bass went back to RIC in the early to mid 70's and got a new pick guard (among other repairs). All of my original white Rick pick guards from the early to late 70's are opaque.

My see-through pick guard on my C64S kinda bugged me, so I took it off and painted the back white as per Dale Fortune's instructions (Gloss white lacquer dusted on in light coats). It turned out very well and I'm glad I did it.

[Starless]

[
how about the almost see-through white pickguard of the C64S....?

The 4003 is even thinner and more transparent. I don't think it does the bass any favours - just looks like they used cheap (Mexican or Korean) plastic.

For all of Rickenbacker's desire to maintain standards and preserve their reputation for quality, you have to look at a typical 60's bass (V63, C64) and compare it to the standard model of today (4003) and then realise that standards have fallen off over a 40 year period, to the extent that a 60's quality instrument is today considered as 'special'.