Do all the basses made from April 2009 on have thin necks?

[paul_yan]

Merci beaucoup, Joey!

[VRICKY63]

This neck thickness stuff can be confusing and misleading . My 08 4003 has a thin neck but thin only front to back. The width is still very wide and nothing like a 70s 4001 or Jazz bass neck.

[jps]

To get a perspective on this I measured the width of my four Rick basses at the nut (N) and heel (H) of their necks:

'67 4005WB - N=1 5/8" H=2 1/4"
'73 4001 - N=1 5/8" H=2 1/4"
'98 4001V63 - N=1 11/16" H=2 3/8"
'08 4003 - N=1 3/4" H=2 5/16"

For kicks here is the dimensions for my '07 Höfner 500/1V63:

N=1 11/16" H=2"

[s4001]

This neck thickness stuff can be confusing and misleading . My 08 4003 has a thin neck but thin only front to back. The width is still very wide and nothing like a 70s 4001 or Jazz bass neck.

That's the kind of Ric neck I like.

[rickaddict]

This neck thickness stuff can be confusing and misleading . My 08 4003 has a thin neck but thin only front to back. The width is still very wide and nothing like a 70s 4001...

I agree. My 2003 4001C64S has a very thin neck front to back. Thin and flat, but wide and not so small in girth. It's a great bass, but I prefer 70's 4001/80's 4003 necks.

[paul_yan]

I for one prefers the wide neck width of the post '95 4003 basses. I just hope them to be thin, front to back.

[pringlw]

In reading this, I'm not sure where my 4003 stands in this. It's manufactured in week 3 of 2009. Does that mean it has the 2008 neck? Probably nobody knows for sure but I'm just curious.

[teeder]

'08 4003 - N=1 3/4" H=2 5/16"

1 3/4! Wow, that's P-bass territory! Looks like I won't be buying a new one any time soon!

[jps]

'08 4003 - N=1 3/4" H=2 5/16"

1 3/4! Wow, that's P-bass territory! Looks like I won't be buying a new one any time soon!

Don't let that number put you off, it feels early '70s, really. I do no notice a difference in feel between it and my '73 4001.

[cassius987]

I'm amazed that people notice such small differences (and that they emphasize how much it matters). I can't even feel the difference between any of my basses, which all measure up quite differently for girth. Pardon me for asking but... is it possible that the bass community has developed a collective sensitivity to an issue such as this and made it a bigger deal than it really is? I can't tell you how many times I've met people who say they can only play Jazz Basses for the feel and it's like a religious dogma to them... it's actually offensive to them that other basses would be made any differently than the paper-thin Jazz Bass neck. I just find this attitude annoying. I'm sure if I put one of those guys up on stage with a P Bass they'd survive, and probably even do just fine.

The 1972 4001 I played? It felt absolutely no different to me, in terms of the neck, than any other Ric or any other bass I've played in general with the exception of some Ibanez and Warwick instruments. I just don't get what the "fuss" is about.

Or maybe I just have big hands.

EDIT: I remember now, that my friend's early 2008 Jetglo/Grayglo has a 1.75'' width at nut and all of my Rics are 1.625''. So I guess I can't speak for width at nut compared to neck thickness, however, I really enjoyed playing my friend Derek's bass a lot. It has a very solid feel and a great tone, and I was not aware of the extra width until the venerable Mr. Scott Pope decided to measure our basses. If Derek ever decided it was too thick for him I think I'd gladly buy it... maybe even trade it for my thinner-width 2007 AFG.

[jdogric12]

Dude, how long have you been collecting and playing Rick basses?

[cassius987]

Only a handful of years, but my argument extends to all basses. While Ric players talk about this stuff a lot, Jazz Bass players (that are exclusive to them) are even more passionate about it, I have noticed.

[jdogric12]

Ah, I see. Hang in there, buddy!

[rickaddict]

I'm amazed that people notice such small differences (and that they emphasize how much it matters). I can't even feel the difference between any of my basses, which all measure up quite differently for girth. Pardon me for asking but... is it possible that the bass community has developed a collective sensitivity to an issue such as this and made it a bigger deal than it really is?

The 1972 4001 I played? It felt absolutely no different to me, in terms of the neck, than any other Ric or any other bass I've played in general with the exception of some Ibanez and Warwick instruments. I just don't get what the "fuss" is about.

Or maybe I just have big hands.

Maybe you do have big hands!

I notice a difference. For those of you who don't, that's great 'cuz the new necks are generally more stable.

Joshua-- I thought I remember you commenting on how great the neck feel is on your friend's 4002? That's what I'm talking about, especially down by the nut! All of my late 70's Ricks (4001's, 4002, 4005) feel virtually the same to me, and my late 80's Ricks are pretty similar too. They probably feel "just right" to me because my first Rick and only bass for some 20 odd years is a 1980 4001. Any who...blindfold me, and I guarantee you I'll be able to tell a late 70's 4001 from a new 4003 over and over again.

Why the difference in feel? I think it's more than one factor. I think the neck girth has increased, I think the width across the fretboard has increased, and I think the string spacing at the nut has increased. My newer Rick basses (2003 4001C64S, 2006 4003) have a machine-slotted nut with the slots closer to the edge of the fretboard and wider string spacing by about 1/8 of an inch from E to G than my late 80's Ricks.

Is it a big deal? To some players no, to some yes from what I can tell here. Maybe it has to do with my fingering, where the bones are in my fingers, or where my calluses have formed, but the older necks are just more comfortable for me to play.

[jdogric12]

Very well put, Jeff.

My '83 4002 is a little baseball batty, but I put up with it because IT IS A 4002!!! Kind of like a super hot significant other that can get away with being obnoxious because she is super hot. Aside from that, I'm pretty picky. I've sold a Mar '73 4001 and a Shadow because they just didn't cut it. Pretty picky.