The 4003S is back!!!

[Baker69]

How about this guys???..........This is a photo of my heavily modified Rockinbetter Ric copy with genuine Ric components (everything except the bridge basically)! Looks very much like the 4003S but with Vintage knobs (I think it looks better with these). Even has the vintage push/pull switch!

Am thinking of selling this bass, I bought it and modded it some time ago at the time when Rickenbacker weren't making lefties and even used one's were not about. Not sure whether to sell it as it is though or return the Rockinbetter to it's original condition and sell all the Ric components individually?

[Ashgray]

Steve

Oh dear. Either your senses have left you or you're trolling! What on earth are you doing posting this here? This is a pro-Rickenbacker site, yet you're extolling the virtues of a Rick copy and trying to sell it - presumably to members as you posted here?

You ask "How about it"? IMHO, it's a pile of firewood. Do yourself a favour and use the real Ricks that you apparently own, so you can see, hear, feel and appreciate the difference. There is NO substitute .

Ash

[jps]

Steve

Oh dear. Either your senses have left you or you're trolling! What on earth are you doing posting this here? This is a pro-Rickenbacker site, yet you're extolling the virtues of a Rick copy and trying to sell it - presumably to members as you posted here?

You ask "How about it"? IMHO, it's a pile of firewood. Do yourself a favour and use the real Ricks that you apparently own, so you can see, hear, feel and appreciate the difference. There is NO substitute .

Ash

Well said!

Steve, you just open a can of worms. Hungry?

BTW, this should have it's own thread, not in the current one it is in.

[Ashgray]

Ravenous!

[Baker69]

As I said in my posting I bought this at a time when I desperately wanted to buy a lefty Ric but couldn't find one anywhere for love nor money, Ric stopped making lefties for about 2 years and no-one was selling used ones anywhere in the UK.

No, I intend to sell it privately, or if I remove all the Ric components I may sell these on here or possibly on EBay.

I agree, it's nowhere as good to play, doesn't sound as good or have the same build quality as a Ric, but it served its purpose at the time, and although I am a big Ric fan I do have to admit it does sound and play fairly good!

[squirebass]

Steve

Oh dear. Either your senses have left you or you're trolling! What on earth are you doing posting this here? This is a pro-Rickenbacker site, yet you're extolling the virtues of a Rick copy and trying to sell it - presumably to members as you posted here?

You ask "How about it"? IMHO, it's a pile of firewood. Do yourself a favour and use the real Ricks that you apparently own, so you can see, hear, feel and appreciate the difference. There is NO substitute .

Ash

Well said!

Steve, you just open a can of worms. Hungry?

BTW, this should have it's own thread, not in the current one it is in.

+1
Really, really happy to see the 4003S has returned! Did I mention that before?

[aceonbass]

Well.....I wouldn't call Steve's Rickenfaker fire wood. It looks like it has better maple in it than my 2010 4003 has for sure, and about as good as a lot of 4004Cii's. That said...it doesn't belong here though. The for sale section on TalkBass might be better since it violates RIC's trademarks.

[iamthebassman]

Still trying to find out if the new 4003S will be available left-handed. I don't need another Ric but I prefer "S" models.

If I get a new 4003S in FG I'd probably sell my '80 4003FG.

[squirebass]

Hey Ronn,
I believe the 4003S is a regular production instrument, so I would think the same rules apply to it as apply to the 4003, and I believe the 4003 is available LH still, right?
I'm also a southpaw who plays the "wrong" way, so I understand your concerns.
Maybe John Hall or Ben will jump on here and verify...

[Baker69]

Well.....I wouldn't call Steve's Rickenfaker fire wood. It looks like it has better maple in it than my 2010 4003 has for sure, and about as good as a lot of 4004Cii's. That said...it doesn't belong here though. The for sale section on TalkBass might be better since it violates RIC's trademarks.

Hi Dane,

Yes, the particular bass has received a lot of good comments from people at gigs, and on other bass Forums. Most Ric copies you see are of the 4001 so I was surprised to see the photos of the re-released 4003S on here as it looks very similar. I thought as the topic was for the 4003S the guys might be interested in seeing this, but apparently it has ruffled a few feathers!

As I said, I'm not 100% sure as whether to sell this bass or not or whether to sell the individual Ric components, I most certainly hadn't considered selling the bass on here!

[Captain Bob]

Well, this is bizarre.

The Rickenbacker 4001/4003 series is, in my opinion, svelte of design. To say nothing of it's unique tone in the sea of low end.

The horns and body curvature carving of this instrument is such, that it leaves a stain on the elegance of the intended design.
I'm not impressed.
This is not a modified or altered Rickenbacker which may still retain merit. This is a deformation of the fundamental design.

One man's observation, but I would bet Rickenbacker parishioners are not interested. The parts may hold the interest of some.

[bassduke49]

I actually like it! I think the wood and the finish look great from the photos. I didn't know that there are Chinese copies of the unbound, dot-neck Ricks. And seeing how difficult it is to find a lefty of what he wanted, I think he's done a fine job of fixing it up.

[aceonbass]

I've got a pretty good eye for this sort of thing, and it's my opinion that if there were a Rickenbacker tailpiece on this bass, no one would know it weren't a real Rick. Has anyone even noticed that it has 22 frets? The shape is correct, it has real 4003 pickups, and it even has that ugly double hump pickguard RIC's been making for the last 18 years. My how time flies!

[bassduke49]

I didn't count the frets but it looks like 20. Since I can't see the entire neck in the photo, I couldn't find the octave and count from there. But it seems to me the other Chinese copies have 22 as well.

[woodyng]

Yes,that copy is also interesting in that it's the first modern Chinese made one that I've seen that was not a set neck....
As far as telling it from a real Rick,i can't recall ever seeing (m)any 4001/3 models with quilted maple....(!)
And the naked rosewood fretboard is a dead giveaway...