Choosing My Next Ric

[VRICKY63]

Sounds like a later model 4003 would be closest to fitting the bill for what you're describing. It's got the push/pull tone pot so you can dial in the cap if you want to get more growl / treble. Some 4003s have just shipped to local retailers - if you bring up the 4003 model on rickenbacker.com you can see where they've been shipped to. Neck thickness is personal preference, but if you find the 2009 necks thicker than you like (and it may be thicker than your hopefully-soon-to-be-recovered 4001) then you may want to try a 2008 - the "measure your girth" thread showed the 2008 necks to be almost as thin as the late 70s 4001s.

Good luck! (don't forget to try a C64S at your local retailer if he has one - ya never know....lol)

The 08 model "thin neck" is front to back ,at least on my 08 4003. The neck is P bass wide ! I had to have it converted to a 5 string just to make the reach to the E string easy ! I now own an 05 4004Cii 4-2-5 and the 08 4003 4-2-5. The neck on the 4003 is more comfortable.

[cassius987]

So did you ever confirm if it was actually wider than the factory spec? My friend Derek's GrayGlo is (I love that bass regardless--quite a slapper). All of mine are just under the factory spec by a hair or two.

I love the "P Bass width" because, to me, a Jazz Bass feels like a toy in my left hand. However I understand that you have a medical condition that compounds the issue. Best of luck with the 4-2-5, I hope it gets what you wanted out of the bass.

[VRICKY63]

The nut is 1 3/4". The neck is factory spec. The 4-2-5 is working very well for me