4003 different body dimensions

[Steamtronic]

Hi all, I’ve noticed some significant differences between two 4003’s I own, and am curious as to whether this is normal or if one (or both!) might be fake.

The 2011 Jetglo is noticeably smaller than the 1991 Ferrari Red. The neck inlays are different, as are the pickup poles and shape of the headstocks. I was going to get some replacement pickguards made and further noticed the spacing for the pots and pup selector switches are differently spaced.

Both have valid serial numbers, rick-o-sound outputs, twin trussrods and legit hardware. Binding stops near the tailpieces on both as it should. I replaced the bridges myself due to tail lift. Pup poles on the 2011 have hex heads, the 1991s do not.

So…Rickenbacker being Rickenbacker or is there a fox in the henhouse?

[jps]

Perfectly normal. There have been quite a few changes in lots of details over the decades, and yours fit the "profile".

[bassduke49]

Jeff's right. A lot of minor changes in shapes occurred by design, and then add in that these instruments are assembled and finished by hand, and you'll find that very few are exactly alike. You can learn a lot more about these changes and more in an easy-to-find reference. Yes, I'm talking about this forum - oh, and there is a book, too!

[radapaw]

between the fat-horns and the current 4003s it's pretty drastic

[iiipopes]

The important thing is with the variances over the years, is the player happy with the player's particular bass? I know I am. That's all that matters in the end.

[basmansam]

My 4003S 5 is 1/4" wider than my 4 string rics

[thx1955]

Here's a project I've been working on over the past weeks, it's two very nice Furniture grade Teak boards mounted to the wall using a 6 foot continuous Aluminium French Cleats, final finishing of the boards will happen once all the mounts are installed.

As part of this exercise the boards and the Hercules Hangers were mounted and aligned with two separate Laser leveling systems so the vertical spacing is within 1-2mm and horizontal accuracy is to all extents level (I'm awaiting another 3 Hercules mounts to finish the project.

The interesting thing as I have been working through this is, when you use laser leveling to line things up it shows up some interesting variations in the location of various elements of the body and necks.

For instance (I'll show this later) if I line up a horizontal laser on the far right neck at the 12th fret, there is variation across the others, this in part is due to the dimensions of the Headstocks being slightly different, the three on the left were all made within a year of each other, and the second and third left within a month. If I line up on the Nut, again there are slight differences, again as a result of Headstock variations, the location of the upper strap button varies slightly across them all

I'll post more pics once I have the other three Rics mounted, however, in this picture you can see the variation in "Fireglo" from July 1972 through to April 2015, accepting as John Hall as said on several occasions, "Fireglo is the hardest of the Ric colours to capture accurately". What it does show is the results of individual Hand finishing, the colours and clear coat are still (as far as I know) applied by hand and by a small team of very skilled folks.

[jps]

Very nice, Jim! Looks like you have room for some guitars, even up higher (mandolins and violins, anyway).

It hasn't been out yet for our current project (probably, when they start installing the window casing, but here is the laser level (sitting on the fence of the table saw) that's been used on other projects to help level ceilings and whatnot.

[thx1955]

My laser levels have been tremendously useful over the years, I've used them for laying out Pictures, garage door openers, building interior walls, French Cleats for Mirrors, anything that requires an accurate vertical or horizontal reference.

There's room for three more 4000 series bodies on the wall, they'll go up once I have the Hercules mounts, then I'll use my floor stands.

Mandolins ... hmm, never thought about those, something smaller could theoretically be shoehorned into the top row.

[henry5]

Can I suggest that for anyone new to the many variations Rics have had over the years, Paul Boyer’s book is an excellent starting place.