Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well the nut could stand to be a bit lower. I remember when I got the frets leveled on my Tele bass the nut was tweaked as well and it played like butter when I got it back. The neck on the 4003 is flat and I lowered the bridge a tad but I get a lot of fret buzz and it's no where as low as the F*nder which does not buzz. I'm afraid of adjusting the truss rods though. She currently has Rick strings on her.

Thanks Steve...I totally agree!

I have played one 4001c64 ... it was in the 2002 2005 range ... the neck was noticeably slimmer ... still fatter than a 4003 for the same era ... the one 4001cs that I played had a slimmer neck ... I also played a 4003s from about 90-93 range it had a sweet neck ... on the whole the 73-84 4001 basses seem to have a slightly slimmer neck than many 4003 basses ...

Thanks for the kind words Jack. I am sure there is a factory standard for setups but there will always be some variation. After the fact, temperature, humidity, and the tendencies of the wood will usually make further adjustments necessary.

I can hopefully compensate for normal neck variations now. Before, it was a losing battle I didn't know how to correct for. I'm guessing the nut and saddle adjustments finally brought the E string back to it's correct height and arc with the neck, as well as going to a lighter gauge and great sounding string. I also have no idea if the bridge pickup was at the correct height.

Before I broke both wrists I was playing these 5 strings.... Dingwall , Spector , Reverend and a 64 P Bass . Large necks on all of them.....My 77 AG 4001 feels pencil thin by comparison , even thinner than my Fender Jazz !

A 2004 C64 was the 'slimist' neck I have ever not played.

Then the V63, CS.

this one felt the thickest...

I said ...

"I have played one 4001c64 ... it was in the 2002 2005 range ... the neck was noticeably slimmer ... still fatter than a 4003 for the same era"

I meant to say slimmer than a 4003 from the same era ...

I wondered about that, Jeff, when I read it. Thanks for clarifying. Never having held a c64, I wasn't sure but it went against what I have read. The world is still round.

That's what I thought you meant to say.

...and Jared said "A 2004 C64 was the 'slimist' neck I have ever not played."

NOT played?

My basses in order of descending "fatness"...

1997 4001CS
1993 4003
2005 4004LK
1986 4003
1967 4001

My CS definitely has the chunkiest neck. I have not had the opportunity to play the 1967 4001 yet, but I was shocked how thin the neck felt before I shipped it off to Paul W. for him to work his magic. These opinions are based on the scientific term "feel" and have not been verified with measurements!

"not played"

I guy named Jaymi used to give me (goodhearted) cr_p for not regularly playing out my basses. Therefore my playing along with CDs doesn't qualify as "actual" playing.

I think part of the sensation of that C64 neck was the satin finish along the back. Since I used to be a J_zz bass guy, my 4003 neck kinda felt like a Louisville Slugger...

IMHO

Mine's an '03 4003, but the neck of my P bass feels much more clunkier - I actually love neck of my 4003

I hope they don't get too thin - I almost never have to adjust the truss rods on my 4003, and I live in Florida..

Yeah....that's another thing....the skinny neck on my 77 is Rock Solid . Truss rods took one adjustment when I bought it and she has'nt changed through 3 different sets of strings ! Too bad it has that horrible binding that caused the purchase of a 4004 Cii . Soon as I finish the the toaster conversion on the Cii I will send the 77 to the bay .