Buying a 4003: What to look for?

[cjj]

Yeah, welcome to the RRF!
And, if you respond to all the new member posts, happy birthday posts and the hey, look at my new guitar posts, you'll probably get those 26 posts in one day...


Of course, you could ask more questions on peoples opinions on strings, amps, effects, colors, etc., etc., etc...

[cassius987]

Folks may claim their basses don't have dead spots, but I'd suspect that the the problem area just isn't very prominent.

Well... if you can show me a dead spot on my Jan. 2009 4003, my 1976 4001FL, or Scott Pope's 4002 I'll eat my shoe. But I'll grant you that they are audible on my 4003 from 2007, and 4003FL from 2008, for whatever reason. The 2007's dead spot has never really been audible enough to matter. The 2008 fretless's dead spot, specifically at the 10th "fret" on the D string, always bugged the **** out of me and I even sent it back to RIC once because it was so irritating. But, oddly, it has stopped being very audible lately, so that it's like my 2007--a non-issue. Maybe the drier climate here in Colorado tamed it?

[jps]

TFolks may claim their basses don't have dead spots, but I'd suspect that the the problem area just isn't very prominent.

I have yet to find one on my Zons.

[86kubicki]

I wouldn't want Joshua to eat his shoe, but....
What we're really talking about isn't so much a "dead spot" (although that's how the issue presents itself to players), but rather the sympathetic frequency of the bass. When a particular note matches the sympathetic frequency of the bass itself, the bass will absorb the energy of the string. The result is that the note will not ring as long or clear, and you'll feel greater vibration in the neck. Quite a number of factors will affect the sympathetic frequency of the bass - scale, types of wood used, mass, construction etc. - but in my experience this node usually shows up between the Bb and D (3rd to 7th frets on G string, 8th to 12th fret on D string). C to D seems more common for Fender style instruments, while Rickenbackers usually exhibit this a bit lower in the Bb to C range. I don't dispute that this may not be very noticeable on certain basses, but if I can't find the sympathetic frequency on a bass, I'll eat my touque.

P.S. My 4002 sympathetically vibrates at C (5th fret on G string).

[86kubicki]

P.P.S. Jeff, please send me your Zon and I'll find the spot. If its as tough to find as you say, this process may take years.

[jps]

P.P.S. Jeff, please send me your Zon and I'll find the spot. If its as tough to find as you say, this process may take years.

You haven't seen my fretted Zon that I just got back from Joe on Wednesday. He did some more custom work on it for me. Pics at 11.

[Tritone]

Well I emailed the store again. 6 weeks ago they said the basses would arrive in "2-3 months." But when I emailed them this week they responded with "2-3 months" again.

Maybe I should check out some other dealers. Anyone know a place that has a 4003 MID in stock?

[bosco64]

Maybe I should check out some other dealers. Anyone know a place that has a 4003 MID in stock?

Zac, Classic Axe in Gainesville, VA just got a new 4003 MID last week. It should be on their website: http://www.classicaxe.com. Good luck!

[jack1953]

With international buying and such, I'd advise buying from a well-respected Ric dealer. There's a few who's praises we sing here. That would be your safest bet.

After confirming that the 33.25" scale would not be a problem for me, I am seriously considering a Rick. Is there a reputable dealer that sells them at a discount?

[cjj]

Pretty much all authorized dealers sell them below the suggested retail prices listed on the RIC price list. And most, if not all of the dealers are reputable. If they get to be otherwise, RIC drops them as dealers...

[johnallg]

Knowing where you are would help us suggest. Are you near a Sam Ash so you could try before you buy? Pick of the Ricks is one of my personal favorites. There are many dealers that forumites are very comfortable dealing with.

[jack1953]

Knowing where you are would help us suggest. Are you near a Sam Ash so you could try before you buy? Pick of the Ricks is one of my personal favorites. There are many dealers that forumites are very comfortable dealing with.

I'm in Lee County Florida. We have a GC and a local store called Brent's Music. Slim pickings here.
Jack

[cjj]

There are dealers all over Florida:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/dealers.asp?state=FL

Slim pickings are here in Montana, where the nearest dealer is in another state, 800 miles away...