Another 4003 S/8 on eBay

[flint]

Another S/8 is for sale on eBay. Buy it now price is $3500.00 —not sure I need another one, but this one looks pretty nice. From the numbers it is an '88. A '91, with some mods, just sold for $2,975.98 a couple of days ago. They are fantastic instruments. Not sure what it will sell for, but I'll be watching. What do you peeps think?

[flint]

Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-RICKENBACKER-4 ... 7C294%3A50

[hieronymous]

Wow - interesting mods - check out the bridge pieces - separate for each string! Plus, the octave courses are opposite from the standard S/8 arrangement.

[flint]

Wow - interesting mods - check out the bridge pieces - separate for each string! Plus, the octave courses are opposite from the standard S/8 arrangement.

Good eye ... I wonder who makes that mod ... is it different bridge as well?

[hieronymous]

I'm kind of obsessed with 8-strings! I noticed as well that, although the string courses were reversed, they used the same nut.

I've never seen a bridge like that on a Ric. I personally don't have too many intonation issues with mine, but others do. But 4-string Rics are enough of a pain to adjust intonation on - could you imagine doing an 8?

[cjj]

Kinda looks like one of the mute adjusting screws is broken off.

Interesting that the 2 "extra" screws in the tailpiece to prevent tail lift seem to be missing. The bottom one looks like it might not even have a hole in the wood under it, but it could just be the angle.

So all 4003 S/8's have the "teeth" cut out on the tailpiece?

[flint]

Whomever did the mods changed the octave string order without changing the nut (nuts ?????) ... the strings have been altered with the octave before the root string (like the 4008's) I don't get that ... either buy an 4008 (ok hard to find) or why not leave it stock ... or buy a custom 8 string. I noticed the missing screws (strange), one of the mute screws does look broken ... but the saddles are the mystery ... is this a Ricky bridge with a mod to the saddles? I do wish they produced this bass with a proper 8 string bridge ... but I guess if I want to I could replace the bridge on mine with something that would allow for individual string adjustment ... but I'm kind of a stock guy ... back to that bridge mod ... I have not found anything on the net that looks like it ... but it must be out there ....
at any rate these are rare beasts and returning it to stock would be fairly easy ... and without question these things have some monster sound!! So I guess the one that sold the other day on eBay is in line with this one. I'm not sure how many they produced (I wish I knew) ... if anyone knows please let me know ....

[hieronymous]

Actually I read that the reason that all the tuning machines are the same size is so that the owner can choose either arrangement. (I think it was John Hall who said it at either this or the Rickenbacker forum, but don't take my word for it.) I prefer the 4008 arrangement, and finally had my 4003S/8 restrung.

The bridge with separate saddles for each string is pretty cool! I would personally have a new nut carved, and did on my own. I personally went the route of having mine modded because I prefer the sound of the passive Rickenbacker 8-string over other 8s I've played (Tune & Zon) - I'm just a passive kind of guy! - and because of playability - I just couldn't get used to the S/8 arrangement, though I know that some prefer it. In general I like to keep my instruments stock, but not if it's a sacrifice of sound or playability.

[hieronymous]

So all 4003 S/8's have the "teeth" cut out on the tailpiece?

Mine looks normal (sorry, not a great shot in this case but you can see the teeth):



I think the missing teeth are yet another mod on the eBay bass. I think you might be right on the missing screw-holes in the body too...

[flint]

I heard the same thing about the tuners/strings ... not sure if it was from John or not —could have been. To be honest, I actually don't consider changing the string order much of a mod —if it works better for you; that is the important thing. The nut needed to be changed ... your bass looks sweet in black. Mine is a '91 fire glow. I have noticed there are zero bids on the one on eBay —I'm surprised ... maybe nobody has the cash to spend this Christmas ... what kind of stuff do you play with your 8 string?

[gearhed289]

The string arrangement mod is a must as far as I'm concerned. To each his own though. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my S/8 that this had already been done. VERY well, and with a white nut (more vintage vibe!). My first 8 was set up like a stock S/8, which in theory made more sense to me, but once I played it for a while, I could see that my theory was wrong!

Anyway, about the bridge - I want one! I asked the guy about it. He's not sure what it is or where it came from. He said he bought the bass from the Rickenbacker Page, so I e-mailed them. I have seen tailpieces like that with the "teeth" missing, and also one big opening where the strings go through to the back. Mine has the teeth, and four separate openings for the pairs of strings.

[cjj]

Kinda looks like one of the mute adjusting screws is broken off.

Well, in reading through his description, it seems that the screw is just missing...

[gearhed289]

Heard back from Mike at the Ric Page. He doesn't know anything about that bridge.

[hieronymous]

This is a fun thread! I wish the guy selling it would talk to the guy he's selling it for and find out what's up with that bridge. A one-off someone put together themselves?

[cjj]

Most likely. If it was some sort of production unit, we'd have seen 'em before...