4001 v 4003

[StevieDee]

Hi Folks

Just wondering if anyone could give me some info on the difference between a 4003 and a 4001. I have the chance of buying a 75 4001. I don't need another bass but I'd quite like this one! Looks in great condition from the pics and the bloke selling it tells me it's a great bass and he is completely trustworthy.

I already have an 83 4003 and after some getting used to I really love it, great tone. I don't need the 4001 but is it comparable to the 4003? I know the truss rods are a nightmare. To be honest I'm probably going to buy it anyway as I can't resist that vintage jetglo but just want some info!

[bassduke49]

Your '83 4003 has the same truss rods as a 4001, only the 4003 has the adjusters at the body end of the neck. They're still the "hairpin" style of rods, but if you know how to adjust the neck properly, you should have no nightmares. RIC went to the "new" style of rods in '85.

[deblase4001]

Get it! My 75 4001 is the best Ric bass I've ever played. Also once you properly adjust the truss rods they tend to be stable for a long time.

[antipodean]

If it's a very early '75 you'll get a plexi TRC and the 1/2" neck pickup spacing, which are always cool features....

If not, it should still be a great bass...

[antonius]

I have a 4001 from May 1975 and it sounds great. Get it! It won't sound totally different to a 4003, but those 70s 4001 basses do have a special character of their own. You'll appreciate that once you've played it for a bit. Don't worry about the old style truss rods. They work very well and are very stable - you just need to know how to adjust them.

[edski]

As a happy 1975 4001 owner, go for it.

[Gilmourisgod]

It probably has the thinner neck profile too, which is a plus if you have smaller hands like mine. The 4003 feels a lot thicker at the nut end to me than my old 79' 4001. You really should play it if you get the chance, each one was unique in those days prior to CNC.

[squirebass]

The Truss rods should not be a nightmare, and you are in the perfect place to find all the info you need to make this a non-issue.

If you decide you don't want it please send it my way!

Pics please?

[antonius]

It probably has the thinner neck profile too, which is a plus if you have smaller hands like mine. The 4003 feels a lot thicker at the nut end to me than my old 79' 4001. You really should play it if you get the chance, each one was unique in those days prior to CNC.

I recently bought a new nut for my 1975 4001 because the slots were a bit too low, but the new nut was too wide for it, both in terms of the absolute width and the string spacing - the strings would have been right on the edge of the fretboard. I ended up just filling the slots a bit and re-filing them. So yes, it would seem that a modern 4003 has a wider neck. I don't have huge hands and my 4001 feels good to play.