New guy here... 4001 or 4003?

[mrboziffer]

Hey all, I'm new here and looking for some advise.

I'm considering getting a Ric bass and am trying to decide between an old 4001 or newer 4003. I think I understand some of the differences, but correct me if I'm wrong...

4003 has better truss rod construction
4001 risks warped necks from improper setup
4001 plays better with low tension strings, preferrably flats
4001 has the bridge cap cutting some bass response
4003 has the push/pull pot to include the cap or bypass it
Both seemed to be priced somewhat similarly, at least when it comes to basic colors... I'd want a JetGlo anyway, so nothing fancy

Is there anything else I need to know or be on the lookout for? Also, how do the pups differ? Are the 4003 higher output pups? How do the "toaster" neck pups sound compared to the poled pups?

Thanks!

[rickfan60]

Hey all, I'm new here and looking for some advise.

I'm considering getting a Ric bass and am trying to decide between an old 4001 or newer 4003. I think I understand some of the differences, but correct me if I'm wrong...

4003 has better truss rod construction
4001 risks warped necks from improper setup
4001 plays better with low tension strings, preferrably flats
4001 has the bridge cap cutting some bass response
4003 has the push/pull pot to include the cap or bypass it
Both seemed to be priced somewhat similarly, at least when it comes to basic colors... I'd want a JetGlo anyway, so nothing fancy

Is there anything else I need to know or be on the lookout for? Also, how do the pups differ? Are the 4003 higher output pups? How do the "toaster" neck pups sound compared to the poled pups?

Thanks!

Better truss rods - maybe. If you know how to setup the old ones there are NO problems at all.

Warped necks - refer to the previous answer.

4001s will play well with any modern strings.

The bass-cut cap is easily shunted. The 4001 has as wonderfully deep voice once this is done.

The 4003 is a fine bass. I have several. I suggest playing a few of both and pick the one that feels and sounds right to you.

[jps]

Hey all, I'm new here and looking for some advise.

I'm considering getting a Ric bass and am trying to decide between an old 4001 or newer 4003. I think I understand some of the differences, but correct me if I'm wrong...

4003 has better truss rod construction
4001 risks warped necks from improper setup
4001 plays better with low tension strings, preferrably flats
4001 has the bridge cap cutting some bass response
4003 has the push/pull pot to include the cap or bypass it
Both seemed to be priced somewhat similarly, at least when it comes to basic colors... I'd want a JetGlo anyway, so nothing fancy

Is there anything else I need to know or be on the lookout for? Also, how do the pups differ? Are the 4003 higher output pups? How do the "toaster" neck pups sound compared to the poled pups?

Thanks!

Better truss rods - maybe. If you know how to setup the old ones there are NO problems at all.

Warped necks - refer to the previous answer.

4001s will play well with any modern strings.

The bass-cut cap is easily shunted. The 4001 has as wonderfully deep voice once this is done.

The 4003 is a fine bass. I have several. I suggest playing a few of both and pick the one that feels and sounds right to you.

Welcome, John!

I agree with all of Ted's comments regarding the differences. I have several Rick basses and guitars, with both old and new truss rods. Once you learn how to deal with them there basically is no difference, although I favor the older design.

I'd want a JetGlo anyway, so nothing fancy

I think JG can be quite fancy!

[mrboziffer]

HA! I agree, JetGlo is hot... I just meant nothing like AutumanGlo which IIRC is pretty rare.

This is good to hear about the 4001s... personally I like older gear. I'm not a vintage snob or anything, but older guitars seem to play better to me. They feel broken in.

I'm not crazy about this cap in the way of the bridge pickup, but I guess I wont know until I try one. I'll be on the lookout for one to test drive. I can always modify it.

[rickfan60]

I love 'em all. 70's 4001's are good solid gigging machines as are the 4003s. The new stuff is especially sweet if you can find one.

[ram]

John, welcome to the forum! You can't go wrong with either (or both )... just have to figure out which neck profile you like and start the quest! Good luck with it!

[johnallg]

Welcome aboard! Solve your dilemma and get one of each!

The current higain pups will have higher output, more aggression, and more growl. The toasters are similar with a little less output and a more refinement to the tone. The earlier higains (late 60s to early 80s) have a more toaster tone with a little more aggression. At least this is the way I hear and experience them all.'

Toasters = 7.4k windings and alnico5 magnet rods (6)
Early higains = 8k windings and the plastic magnet bar under the 4 poles
Current higains = 12k windings and the plastic magnet bar under the 4 adjustable poles

[jps]

John S.

PM sent.

[jaymi]

HA! I agree, JetGlo is hot... I just meant nothing like AutumanGlo which IIRC is pretty rare.

This is good to hear about the 4001s... personally I like older gear. I'm not a vintage snob or anything, but older guitars seem to play better to me. They feel broken in.

I'm not crazy about this cap in the way of the bridge pickup, but I guess I wont know until I try one. I'll be on the lookout for one to test drive. I can always modify it.

Welcome....it is all a matter of preference. I have had 85 rics now-a mix of both...i still prefer a little of each..I currently have all 4001's...I am about to sell a Walnut (which is MUCH more rare than autmnglo, even though it looks similar)

[mrboziffer]

Thanks for the great info, everyone! I didn't know the toasters were alnico... man, I would love to here those. That's a pretty big selling point for me. I forgot to mention that I'm a guitar player and haven't had a bass in years. When I was a teenager my brother and I found a used, but mint, 90's 4003 for around $500 and shared it. I remember it sounded awesome and felt wonderful... much better than some other basses I had owned. For some reason I ended up selling it just a year later for $700.

Anyway, how do the neck profiles differ between the two?

[jps]

Anyway, how do the neck profiles differ between the two?

It depends a lot on when each was made. The '08 4003 I have has a neck profile that is virtually the same as my two '73 4001s.

[cassius987]

Neck profile varies a lot. If you're into skinny you'll be safe to get an '08. The '09s are (allegedly) getting fatter.

Toasters sound AWESOME but for me they are best ran in pairs--I don't like blending two totally different pickups together. Fortunately 4003s are setup so that you can put any pickup in the bridge position (any RIC pickup at least)--and the neck pickup is already cross-compatible with the others, except of course the infamous Horseshoe.

Here's how I came into playing Rics: in 2006 I played a used 2004 4003 and didn't like it. (Probably a bad setup and it kind've seemed poor quality too, maybe a fake?) Then I bought a new 2007 and LOVED it and recorded a great album with it. Then I bought a new 2008 4003 fretless and loved it even more (despite a dead spot problem it is my main player)! And now I have a new 2009, ironically the first RIC bass I ordered after the 2004... and sure enough it is even better than its predecessors in many ways. The 2009 sustains like the dickens (not a dead spot on it--not even a "sick" spot or a "feeble" spot!) and plays like the best of 'em! I adore it. At first I was irked by Ric's price increase (which thankfully took place after my order) but if all 2009s play and sound like mine then I think they are definitely worth the current price and then some, and I really do mean that. Of course, it all in the eye of the bass holder, too, so try one out...

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the forum, John.

4001 plays better with low tension strings, preferably flats.

Flatwound strings do not necessarily have lower tension than round wound strings. Most flats have more tension than rounds of the same gauge. Tension depends on the overall construction of the string.

[ram]

What Joey said... all kinds of things come into play for string tension (core material, how it is wound...). I've had D'Addario EXL170s on my '74 4001 for decades and just love 'em. And they are pretty low tension strings.

as for neck profiles it's mostly the thickness from the finger board... my '74 4001 is in the thin vein while the '00 4003s5 is thick. My 4004L has a slightly wider finger board (sweet for adding additional strings) but its thinckness remainds me of my 4001. There is a good thread concerning girth you might want to check out.

[tmossman]

Don't forget the 4004's.