The 4003S is back!!!

[cheyenne]

I'm getting ready to drop a deposit on a new 4003S or 4003SW. Does anyone have a clue on the delivery time?

[lordblackmore]

A dealer posted a foto of one Walnut, so either some have been made and shipped or it's the one from the NAMM show for sale. I've said from the beginning, either the Walnuts will be first or the last to be made. The fact that RIC needs to cut walnut body wing instead of maple puts them in a separate category. Also, not knowing where Chris sits in the order sequence. It seems he pre ordered several of each and I was the first to jump on a Walnut.

Rickenbacker shipped the two NAMM basses to dealers. I don't know about the Walnut bass, but the Fireglo arrived at PotR two days ago and as been confirmed as the NAMM bass. I was, apparently, at the top of the list for FG preorders, so this bass is the one I'll be getting. Hopefully some lucky Rick fan will get the Walnut NAMM bass as well.

Which leads me to a question. I'm pretty excited that I'm getting one of the first two reissues, but how big a deal is it that it's the NAMM bass?

FWIW, the build date is the 51st week of 2014.

[aceonbass]

Unless RIC selected some really nice figured maple for this bass, I dont think it's that big of a deal having a bass that you know has already been handled by hundreds of people.

[Kopfjaeger]

I would think the Namm example would have been gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure it was perfect, since so many would be critiquing it. I'm guessing the walnut went to the dealer in Oregon or Washington since they had it posted on their site. Damn, looks like I'm getting mine as soon as I wanted it!!

On a better note, my black "non double hump" pickguard and 60's spec harness with Ajax .047 caps arrived today from Dane! Looks wonderful!! Cloth wiring like vintage harness' is a very nice touch! My toaster cover from PotR went out to Classic Amplification this AM to be used in the 60's spec neck and treble project they are doing for me. Yes, all these goodies are going into the the Walnut 4003 "S" I ordered. The only remaining question is black hardware or leave it chrome. If I go black, I'm going to be going slotted tail piece for top loading the strings.

Sepp

[aceonbass]

You know what they say Sepp.....once you go black, you never go back

[Kopfjaeger]

Hmm, especially if a have a few slots cut in it and powder coat it. Yes, I'm staying on the high road here, sorta.

Sepp

[aceonbass]

I dont think I would powder coat any RIC tailpiece. As JH has said, and time has proven, this process weakens the metal. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm thinking after scuffing up the surface....shoot the tailpiece with flat black paint, then shoot over that with clear. The clear will make the flat black pop. I never cared for the dull finish RIC used on BT instruments.

[Kopfjaeger]

Dane,

Yes, power coating does require a heating process to set the particles. I purchased a new style tail piece and sent it off to the powder coater for use on a Blackstar I use to own. While I had that bass for two or three years, the tail piece did not budge, I also shimmed the well depth to match the foot print of the tail piece well. I bet that helped a bit too.

You know the paint will chip & wear off the string slots faster with paint than with powdercoat. I'm guessing the 7 screw option is off the table with the slotted string tail piece?

Sepp

[aceonbass]

There is ample room to add two screws to the rear of the first slotted tailpiece I've got on my 4003. Because it's a 70's tailpiece, I know it will need them, but I wanted to see what kind of effect the Kalium balanced tension strings have on it. It's lifted just a hair over 1mm.

[cheyenne]

Just ordered a 4003S in Fireglo from Chris Clayton. It'll be nice to get back to the Rickenbacker fold.

[lordblackmore]

Just ordered a 4003S in Fireglo from Chris Clayton. It'll be nice to get back to the Rickenbacker fold.

I approve of your choice, grasshopper.

[bassman4001]

Maybe I missed the answer but, does anyone know when we might see the first shipments of the 4003s are to possibly ship out?

[squirebass]

Maybe I missed the answer but, does anyone know when we might see the first shipments of the 4003s are to possibly ship out?

I'd like to know the answer to that one myself, but I'm guessing it is a Rickenbacker corporate secret at this point....

[cheyenne]

When I placed my order with Pick of the Ricks, Chris told me the delivery date was 8-12 months., and that I got in at the end of his second order, so I'm figuring 12 months +.

[aceonbass]

I think I read over at the RIC corporate forum that production on the new S will start in April.