Model of the Week Nine: The 4003S four-string

[dog]

This is my favorite "model of the week" so far. I feel like a kid in a candy store. When Paul gets around to the V63, I'm sure I'm going to wet my pants.

[johnallg]

Ron, I never bonded with that bass when I got it. The neck had an S shape to it (ended up being the rods heavily curved and flipped over), the tailpiece was lifted up about 1/4" from 3 years of HEAVY tension LaBella rounds, and I wasn't than hot on BT. I got the 2 problems quickly sorted, and came to a pleased peace with BT. But the sound was not to my liking - too aggressively muddy. So I put in a '73 higain I had and an 8k Sergio rewound coil magnetic shoe bridge pickup and can't seem to put it away and take out another. Love it and the neck.

Good story... really puts me in my place for getting down in the dumps when the action on one of my basses goes up a hair and having to spend 5 minutes with a 1/4'' driver...

I didn't want to give up on the bass, Josh. And interestingly, today I had to tweak the rods about 1/8 turn to straighten it back out - dryer conditions in the winter. Usually I would already have had to tweak them but with it being below or just above zero here the air in the house has dried out more.

[johnallg]

john-stunning bass! i love the combination of chrome/black parts for the pickups/bridge---that would look great on a jetglo as well,i think.....

Thanks very much, Woody! I think it is a very nice combo of black/chrome also. Very understated. On a JG with BT it would look equally good - the black body would set it off and the shoes and neck pickup cover would compliment the guard screws.

[johnallg]

Nice job on your MG S, John. I like the contrast of the chrome with the BT. And great job putting the two extra screws on your tail piece. Now you'll never have to deal with that problem again.

Thanks, Jeff. Means a lot. The two screws were necessary and worked out well. There were high tension La Bella rounds on this bass when I got it (3 years in the case just before I got it - guitarist who had it for his studio) and it had about 1/4" of lift. Gary C. sent me closeups of his adventure with his BT 5-string tailpiece and I followed his methods so he gets the credit there. The 2 screws took out the last of the lift and add insurance it won't happen again. I have mixed feelings about seeing them there, but they are necessary.

[johnallg]

Also wanted to say to John A - NICE Mapleglo BT/horseshoe!

Thanks! Nice S you have there - is the guard black and reflecting light or is it clear? Can't really tell in the lighting. Great action shot! I like the way the Rickenbacker name on the TRS looks red - a neat idea on a non-more-black bass.

[johnallg]

Sorry that I'm a little late the party but here are my 2 4003S basses:

The Jetglo one used to belong to Mark Henson; the Mapleglo one I got for a steal at BassNW. it is now with awaiting a refin from our esteemed Paul W. Just fantastic basses.

Ron, great flame in that MG! I sure hope it remains an MG or at least a see-thru finish. Also, does the JG have BT or is that the lighting.

[bosco64]

Sorry that I'm a little late the party but here are my 2 4003S basses:

The Jetglo one used to belong to Mark Henson; the Mapleglo one I got for a steal at BassNW. it is now with awaiting a refin from our esteemed Paul W. Just fantastic basses.

Ron, great flame in that MG! I sure hope it remains an MG or at least a see-thru finish. Also, does the JG have BT or is that the lighting.

John, the Mapleglo will be refinished in a clear blue, I didm't want to cover up all that beautiful flame! For the Jetglo, no BT; just the lighting and poor photography skills...

[gearhed289]

Also wanted to say to John A - NICE Mapleglo BT/horseshoe!

Thanks! Nice S you have there - is the guard black and reflecting light or is it clear? Can't really tell in the lighting. Great action shot! I like the way the Rickenbacker name on the TRS looks red - a neat idea on a non-more-black bass.

It's a mirror guard and a 4004L TRC with the chrome letters. I like the black and shiny look!

[johnallg]

Also wanted to say to John A - NICE Mapleglo BT/horseshoe!

Thanks! Nice S you have there - is the guard black and reflecting light or is it clear? Can't really tell in the lighting. Great action shot! I like the way the Rickenbacker name on the TRS looks red - a neat idea on a non-more-black bass.

It's a mirror guard and a 4004L TRC with the chrome letters. I like the black and shiny look!

Yeah, mirror. Makes sense with what I see. The chrome lettering was picking up the lighting and the red letters look cool. Great picture.

[jlessick]

1981 FG


1995 JG



These were both sold to fund the purchase of a v63.

[johnallg]

Dayum, beautiful FG! Owning a V63, I'm not sure I would have sold those two S basses to get the V.... My opinion.

[gearhed289]

These were both sold to fund the purchase of a v63.

Interesting. A couple of years ago I bought a FG V63 that I thought might replace my '89 S. But the S won that battle. I kept the "hot" toaster though. Put a scatterwound 7.4 on the V63 and sold it to someone here.

[teeder]

I've had a '80 4001S and a '86 4003S and prefer my '92 V63.

[rickaddict]

I've had a '80 4001S and a '86 4003S and prefer my '92 V63.

I've had a '98 and a '92 V63 and so far I prefer my '87 4003S's.

[wints]

That 81 FG is spectacular.

I'd have a hard job letting that go, especially for a V63 in the CLG shade of FG...