Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well, the lack of interest in this thread probably meant that I should have just let it die.

But...I pulled out a few more Rick basses tonight(my '73 4001, '88 4003, '94 4003S and '92 4003SFL), again noticed the difference in their neck feel, and then measured them as well. (Persistent little guy, aren't I! )

I'm going to re-post my previous findings as well as those of others for comparison. So here they are from oldest to newest:


(All measurements are in cm)

Measuring all the way around from just in front of the first fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 11.1
BA's 1972 4001: 11.1
JT's 1973 4001: 11.45
JT's 1977 4001: 11.3
JT's 1987 4003S: 11.3
JT's 1988 4003: 11.2
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 11.3
JT's 1994 4003S: 11.6
JT's 1998 4001V63: 11.7
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 11.7
JT's 2006 4003: 11.8

Here's what we have so far at the third fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 11.4
BA's 1972 4001: 11.5
JT's 1973 4001: 11.7
JT's 1977 4001: 11.65
JT's 1987 4003S: 11.65
JT's 1988 4003: 11.6
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 11.7
JT's 1994 4003S: 12.0
JT's 1998 4001V63: 12
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 12.1
JT's 2006 4003: 12.2

And at the 12th fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 12.8
BA's 1972 4001: 12.8
JT's 1973 4001: 13.2
JT's 1977 4001: 13.0
JT's 1987 4003S: 13.25
JT's 1988 4003: 13.2
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 13.0
JT's 1994 4003S: 13.4
JT's 1998 4001V63: 13.5
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 13.4
JT's 2006 4003: 13.7

The 80's 4003 necks seem to be very close in girth to the 70's 4001 necks. There is a jump up in size between my '92 and my '94. And again between '94 and 2006.

Jeff,

I just noticed this thread, and I'm very interested. I'll try to get my V63 and '72 measured.

Thanks Kevin. I am very interested in your '92 V63 measurements and was thinking of asking you for them.

Jeff:

I wish I had more to measure for you. I'll dig out my CS & my V63 tonight and get some numbers your way if you think it's of any help.

Couldn't hurt, Tony!

I think its interesting to compare, and I think the girth measurement is doing an excellent job of showing why it is that one neck feels larger than another.

Ok Jeff,

Here we go!

1995 4001 Chris Squire

Just behind the 1st FRET:
11.5 cm

Just behind the 3rd FRET:
12.0 cm

Just behind the 12th Fret
13.5 cm

1988 4001 V63

Just behind the 1st Fret
11.3 CM

Just behind the 2nd Fret
11.5 CM

and lastly, just behind the 12th Fret
12.7 CM.

I have to say that I'm amazed that my V63 neck is slightly THINNER than my CS, I'd have sworn it was the other way around!

It's been a while since I played the CS, I'll have to break her out a little more often!

If I compare my 02/1978 White4001, 09/1997 FG4003 and 11/2004 TR4004Cii I see that even behind the first fret the heel of the head of the 4001 still extends here.

So I measured at the above the 1st fret
(4001 11.6, 4003 11.45, 4004 11.9) but just above the 2nd fret it looks a bit different as now the 4001 has the thinnest neck:
(4001 11.55, 4003 11.65, 4004 12.15).

Although the 4004 has the strongest neck, it still plays comfortable but not like the 4001 (my former FG4004L had an even stronger neck and I did not get along with it so well).

Thanks for the info, guys.

Tony, your measurements seem pretty much in-line for what I found for their respective years. Your V63 has the smallest neck girth at the 12th fret of all of the measured instruments, including the '64 4001S!

But just to be sure we're using a standardized method here...you wrote that your measurements were taken "just behind the fret"...all of the other instruments were measured just before the fret. So, what I mean for example is...when I measured at the third fret, I measured where I would fret a note at the third fret; between the second and third fret, but right up close to the third fret.

Is that how you measured?

Peter-

I know what you mean about the headstock "heel" being slightly different from Rick to Rick and messing with your ability to measure your necks. What is clear from your measurements, however is how much larger your '04 4004 neck is than either your '78 4001 or your '97 4003.

Hey Jeff,

To clarify:
"I measured where I would fret a note at the third fret; between the second and third fret, but right up close to the third fret". Sorry about that!

It really does have a super THIN neck, I just didn't realize just HOW thin, that's cool!!

I guess that would explain why my luthier suggested I only use LIGHT GAUGE strings on it, and I do. I just ASSUMED it was that old 4001 neck issue with the Rotosound string problem he was referring to.

So here's the latest, now including Tony's '95 CS and his '88 V63:

(All measurements are in cm)

Measuring all the way around from just in front of the first fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 11.1
BA's 1972 4001: 11.1
JT's 1973 4001: 11.45
JT's 1977 4001: 11.3
JT's 1987 4003S: 11.3
JT's 1988 4003: 11.2
TC's 1988 4001V63: 11.3
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 11.3
JT's 1994 4003S: 11.6
TC's 1995 4001CS: 11.5
JT's 1998 4001V63: 11.7
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 11.7
JT's 2006 4003: 11.8

Here's what we have so far at the third fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 11.4
BA's 1972 4001: 11.5
JT's 1973 4001: 11.7
JT's 1977 4001: 11.65
JT's 1987 4003S: 11.65
JT's 1988 4003: 11.6
TC's 1988 4001V63: 11.5
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 11.7
JT's 1994 4003S: 12.0
TC's 1995 4001CS: 12.0
JT's 1998 4001V63: 12.0
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 12.1
JT's 2006 4003: 12.2

And at the 12th fret:

AY's 1964 4001S: 12.8
BA's 1972 4001: 12.8
JT's 1973 4001: 13.2
JT's 1977 4001: 13.0
JT's 1987 4003S: 13.25
JT's 1988 4003: 13.2
TC's 1988 4001V63: 12.7
JT's 1992 4003SFL: 13.0
JT's 1994 4003S: 13.4
TC's 1995 4001CS: 13.5
JT's 1998 4001V63: 13.5
JT's 2003 4001C64S: 13.4
JT's 2006 4003: 13.7

The 80's 4003 necks seem to be very close in girth to the 70's 4001 necks. There is a jump up in size between my '92 and my '94. And more size increase between '94 and 2006.

Peter- I hope it doesn't bother you, but I didn't include your measurements as your method was not the same.

This is a very interesting tread for me. I have only one RIC, a 2006 4003, that has a ``big`` neck. I will add a few as time goes by....The information presented here tells me which years to go to for a thin neck...Thanks to everyone for the much appreciated info...

You're welcome, Marc. I agree that it is worthwhile information. It is a small sample size, but I think it definitely documents a trend.

I measured my Nov. 2004 4003 but did the 5th fret, not the 3rd - didn't remember which frets when I was measuring. I used a string, marked it, then measured with a steel rule.

1st fret = 11.9
5th fret = 13.1
12th fret = 13.9

Largest so far. Do I win?!

Hi John,this is interesting stuff for me as I get ready to have the neck on my 99 V63 slimmed down. I promised the guy thats doing it next year that I would get some measurements from a few other Ricks.
Mine are as follows;

99 V63,
1st 11.9
3rd 12.4
12th 13.9

1990 CS
1st 11.3
3rd 11.8
12th 13.2

My V63 must be as chunky as your 4003.
Has anyone had any variation in neck stability?
Fingers crossed my CS is as straight as the day I bought it.I hope the V63 is as well behaved when I slim her down.
When I owned Wints RM99 I used to bend the neck on some songs and yet there was never any lasting damage. I wouldnt dream of doing that now! Happy days.