New 4003 binding issue?

[SingingBassist]

This slight "step" in the binding is due to the scraping process...the binding is taped off on the sides before color is applied, but the top surface of the binding is scraped to remove the color before clearcoat is applied. It's part of the process, and because this is all handwork, the depth of this scraped area varies. Sometimes it's virtually flush with the color area next to it, and sometimes it's slightly recessed. In any case, it's a difference in surface of only .010-.015". That's 1/4-1/3 mm.

Entirely normal.

Thank you very much for the excellent information! Put my mind at ease.

[s4001]

Go forth and rock that bad chicken.

[rickenbrother]

Joey, I don't think most of the basses on the TB forum thread have problems at all. Looks like 5 or 6 people had issues and they're the ones who are making the most noise and going back & fourth on the situation. The poll at the top shows almost 50% of the people who got 'em were "Very Satisfied" with the bass. Mine was flawless out of the box (received yesterday & dated November 2010). It just needs a slight neck tweek and will be perfect.

BTW, the white powder the original poster talks about is probably just some left over polishing compound that got stuck in the gap.

Thanks for the info, Bill. I rarely peruse Talkbass and when I do, I just look in the amps section and read posts made by knowledgable people.

[whoapower]

Brett - if that's the only issue, I'd keep it. As long as it doesn't cause an issue in the future, there shouldn't be a problem with it. But do contact Ric Customer Service to check!

Someone needs to get to the bottom of that MF blow out sale. This could negatively affect RIC's reputation.

I fear the same. Having just received a May 2011 MID 4003 yesterday, if I were to ever sell it years from now, I'd have to point out the issues with the bass and that's what disappoints me the most. This blowout sale is good and bad - it allows enthusiasts to buy one at a cheaper price, but it also floods the market with a % (hopefully small) of units that shouldn't have passed quality control.

[Ivan3000]

In all honesty, don't worry about it. Just play it and Love it! BTW welcome to the forum!

[FretlessOnly]

Joey, I don't think most of the basses on the TB forum thread have problems at all. Looks like 5 or 6 people had issues and they're the ones who are making the most noise and going back & fourth on the situation. The poll at the top shows almost 50% of the people who got 'em were "Very Satisfied" with the bass.

And one of the Mods mentioned that some the IP addresses of the "dissatisfied" voters matched those of members who had indicated in the thread that they were not purchasers (which was pretty clear from the tracked number of purchasers in the thread and the number of votes cast). So, the very satisfied percentage would likely be quite a bit higher than 50% if you could remove the votes from the usual suspects who have nothing better to do than perpetuate their vision of the bass universe as absolute truth.

[rickenbrother]

Hey guys, before submitting a post, please use the preview button and be wary of who you have quoted as posting something. Make sure it's the right person.

[FretlessOnly]

I just checked every quote and original source of quote in this thread and everything matches up. If you meant my quote of byu, I quoted it from the thread "Quote" button in byu's post and edited it just to remove extra text I wasn't directly responding to (as I often do to make a specific point to certain information in a post).

[libratune]

Someone needs to get to the bottom of that MF blow out sale. This could negatively affect RIC's reputation.

I fear the same. Having just received a May 2011 MID 4003 yesterday, if I were to ever sell it years from now, I'd have to point out the issues with the bass and that's what disappoints me the most.

Are there specific issues with the bass you received? If there are, you didn't mention them.