The nightmare adventure of the 2023 Black Matte 4003

[Realgone]

I feel like I should write here about the adventure I had with my 2023 Black Matte 4003. After a year it was noticed that I had a S shaped bend neck, Rickenbacker fix the problem by planning the neck, in doing so they changed the angle and I ended up with ultra hign action with saddle lowered down to the maximum. In short the bass is unplayable and now Rickenback washed there hands with the problem saying it was to "spec" when it went out of the factory.

I had to pay 300$ for having the bass shipped and when the store received it to the "spec" of Rickenbacker it meant a fret job was required. So another 160$. In total i have paid around 3000$ for an unplayable hunk of wood.

Thank god i'm a fool so I order a new one today, sadly no more Black Matte as they are customed made. So I went for a Jetglo and the store I bought it from was kind enough to make it at 50% off, and promised there luthier will go through it with me present upon receiving it.

I strongly suggest you go for extended warranty with the store where you'll get yours.

Be safe out there

[rickenbrother]

The neck was absolutely fine when you got that 4003?

[Realgone]

For the neck to bend the way it did, it's a wood grains problem, not just me saying this but both luthier I had looked at it as well. So the problem was there from the start but took some time to be obvious. Planning it afterward fixed it for awhile but again they tightened the truss rod to the max for it to be fine. In the end the truss rod snapped for trying to make the action at a decent height again a few months later.

Been a nightmare, was dreaming about that bass since i'm 16 year old and listened to Geddy's for the first time. Had heard some stories about the company, but now I know for sure with whom I'm dealing with.

My hope are good for the next one I got on order.