Is this a 4001 or a 4003 (or ric at all?)

[yeled]

Hi,

I've purchased this bass from ebay, and I am wondering if someone can give me some clear information on exactly what model this is?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3759464082

http://rubberduck.com/tmp/IMG_1499.JPG
http://rubberduck.com/tmp/IMG_1501.JPG
http://rubberduck.com/tmp/IMG_1502.JPG

The seller isn't trying to rip me off - he is also unsure now I've planted the seed of doubt. He says this in his latest post:

Charlie,

> According to this web page it has the horseshoe pickup
> and is after 74 as the neck pickup is closer to the rear as
> in the photo's. It also has the one piece pick guard. As to
> whether it,s a 4001 or a 4003 I just don't know. The truss
> rod cover is at the headstock but this doesn't necessarilly
> prove anything.

He says the serial number is L07197.. We are assuming that is a zero there. This means (so the rickenbacker.com site says) that is was made in December 1987. I made him double check it was L0, not OL

My first concern is: is it a real ric?
and is it a 4001 or a 4003?

I am very new at all of this, and I'm still picking up on some of the terminology.

Thanks,
Charlie.

[jnbass]

This bass does NOT have a horseshoe pick-up.

It would appear legit, probably a 4003.

Usually better to ask before buying

[rickfan60]

I am guessing your bass is a 4003. A peek under the pickguard or truss rod cover can tell us a lot.

[doctorwho]

Quite true, Ted.

I saw in the ad that the seller called the color "dark green"; I've seen pictures of one Jetglo taken in bright sunlight that made it have a slight green tint, so maybe that's where he's coming from.

[yeled]

Hi,

thanks for your replies! I received this from the seller again today .. a nice bloke.

> Charlie,
> Went and saw my tech this afternoon anyway as I had other business over there.
> We went through his Guitar books and as you said it is a 1987 model (L0 the
> second being a numeral denoting 1987 and the first denoting December or vice
> versa). Now, and this is where it gets interesting, the transition period was
> 87 for 4001 over to 4003. This model apparently was December 87 and according
> to the Bacon Book it could be a 4003.
>
> In one of Simons' repair manuals it shows a 4001 truss rod at the neckstock
> and it is fairly messy. I took the trussrod cover off this one and it looks a
> lot more like the illustration of the 4003.
>
> However a definitive answer was not forthcoming as there were too many
> inconsistencies in the manuals.(Oh for a simple numbering system from the
> septics) Anyway I advertised it as a 4001 and I will go with that if it is a
> 4003 then you win.


So 4003 it looks like (meaning I dont have to be careful of what strings I use?)

I figured it was really black - and the black enamel is turning green - sound right?

and your opinion on it being 'real' is that it is a Rickenbacker? that would make me happy

ps. The web mainly says the production swap-over period for 4001's to 4003's was '81, not' 87 - but I feel like I'm asking the most-asked question on any rickenbacker BBS [sorry!]

cheers again - keep it up!

[henny]

Nice 4003.

[rickfan60]

Yes, Gary is right. Jetglo can look like a very dark green when the clearcoat yellows. I owned many JG 4001's over the years and this does indeed happen.

[rickaddict]

She is a Rick. She is a 4003. And she is a nice vintage. I have a July 1987 that is probably my favorite. It has the newer truss rod system that is easier to adjust, it has the chunky newer frets, the tuners are smoother than on my old 4001s, and the tone is deeper. The neck is sturdier than the old 4001s, but it really doesn't feel very different from them. Also, yours has the 7-screw tailpiece. The 4001s had a 5-screw tailpiece that sometimes could lift up in the back when over-stressed with heavy gage strings or when played by the Samsonite Gorilla.

Good score! Now go make some music!