Do the newer 4003 basses have thinner upper horns?

[Jim Dandy]

I just noticed that the upper horn on the new 4003 basses (at least from late 2009/2010) seem thinner than in previous years. Has anyone else noticed this or am I mistaken?

[paul_yan]

Yes, some of us have.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=393752

Welcome to the forum, Jim.

[Jim Dandy]

Paul - Thanks for the link and the welcome. I missed that thread when I searched earlier.

Do you know when they made the change to the thinner upper horns?

I have to say, the combination of the newer thinner neck and the thinner upper horn is a very nice combination.

[paul_yan]

Very much agreed, Carl.

The earliest thin horn that I've touched and played is my 1st week of May 2009 4003 JG. So I tend to think that both the thinner (than 2001~2009/03) 2-piece neck and thinner (than pre-2009/04) horn combination debuted in April 2009.





The neck thickness of my 2010/01 FG is practically the same as my 1998 4003 FG, but still thicker than my '86 Shadow and '72 4001 FL MG. My 2009/05 JG is slightly thicker than my 2010, but definitely thinner than the 2001~2009/03 ones.

I've tried to carefully measure the thickness of both necks with more precision, here's what I got:

2009/05 neck thickness:

1st---- 22.8 mm
5th---- 23.6 mm
9th---- 24.4 mm
12th----24.8 mm
15th----25 mm

2010/01 FG neck thickness :

1st---- 22.7 mm
5th---- 22.9 mm
9th---- 23.2 mm
12th----23.4 mm
15th----23.5 mm

[Jim Dandy]

Paul - thanks for the information and the pictures. That JG sure is pretty! I think my next Rickenbacker will be a JG.

[jps]

Paul - thanks for the information and the pictures. That JG sure is pretty! I think my next Rickenbacker will be a JG.

I'll help reinforce that thought!

[Ric N. Backer]

The horns have been shaved down some, and the pickguard is slightly closer to the top edge of the body.

I like the larger dots on the side of the neck!

[aceonbass]

The pickguard is not closer to the top edge of the body. The cutaways were cut in closer for better upper register access, which gives that illusion. Unfortunately this weakens the neck where it transistions to the body with the big route in there for the neck pickup.The newer two piece neck construction helps a lot here though.

[Ric N. Backer]

The pickguard is not closer to the top edge of the body. The cutaways were cut in closer for better upper register access, which gives that illusion. Unfortunately this weakens the neck where it transistions to the body with the big route in there for the neck pickup.The newer two piece neck construction helps a lot here though.

Let me reword that.

The space between the top of the pick guard and the body has diminished. The same is true on the sides to some extent.

I still like the larger dots on the side of the neck!

[godber]

We had a little chat about that...viewtopic.php?f=2&t=395189&hilit=+4003