Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure those are Ken's pics, so right off the bat the seller is giving you a story. I think he's just trying to flip the bass to make a buck. Still, there are a lot of strange features on that bass.

This bass has the early magnetized shoes, too.

Hey Paul!

'the "modern" truss system defines the 4003'

I don't think that that statement is entirely accurate. The 4003 began production in 1980 and was "designed to handle the tension of roundwound strings," but the modern truss rod system was not used until Sept of 1984. So my understanding is that the early 4003s were designed to handle the higher tension strings but did not have the modern truss rods. They did however have a split pickguard and adjust at the body end of the neck.

So I guess the split pickguard did continue into '86 as Sergio's 4003 and this JG 4003S confirm.

I have a couple 4003S's, July and Aug 1987. Both came with a one-piece guard and adjust at the TRC.

Well, I thought all the 4003s had the "modern" system, which is a completely different truss rod than that in the 4001. The 4001 truss rods are square-stock rod, folded at the body end. These must be tightened only while applying manual relief (!) to the neck. The 4003 rods (whether adjusted at the headstock or body ends) was round rods with acorn nuts at the "back" end and can be adjusted without manually relieving pressure on the neck. Ted would know, but he's walking the streets of Vienna and Budapest this week. Anybody else know for sure?

"I bought Chris Pappas' '88 V63MG instead..."

Is there anybody here that does not have a V63 that formerly belonged to Chris?

Like Marc said, if Chris kicked himself for every bass he sold, he'd have no legs left.

Ted? Are you out there?

Paul and I were wondering about this!

I have two 4003s with body-end adjustable rods of the modern type. They certainly did make them. The 4003 predates the modern rods and early examples (prior to 9-84) did indeed have the old style rods. The earliest 4003 I am aware of is from 1980, a little over 3 1/2 years before the advent of the modern rod system. I have heard that some old rod models had body-end adjusters but I have never seen one myself. The question is, did all body-end adjusters have the split guard? Are there some basses with one piece guards and old style rods that have body-end adjusters?