Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Actually what's it all matter?? Pick up the bass, play it, if it does it for you, buy it. If not, keep looking.

My wife was bugging me to buy one of those last time we were at Lowes so we could replicate some spindles. Now I have another fun reason!

But I agree with John, just play the things My 2009 is such a joy, I sincerely hope they continue with their new neck construction methods.

johnallg wrote:Actually what's it all matter?? Pick up the bass, play it, if it does it for you, buy it. If not, keep looking.

+1

Other than for academic endeavors trying to figure out why RIC does things the way they do...

cjj wrote:

johnallg wrote:Actually what's it all matter?? Pick up the bass, play it, if it does it for you, buy it. If not, keep looking.

+1

Other than for academic endeavors trying to figure out why RIC does things the way they do...

My few years of experience here has shown that to be a non-rewarding endeavor!

I just purchased a 2008 Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo and I can say the neck feels absolutely fantastic. It's much thinner than my friends year 2003 Ric 4003 and it plays much faster. I am starting to believe for those of us that prefer the thinner neck profile that the 2008 Rics are the greatest basses ever made from the 4001/03 series.

I don't know, I think it would great to add to the database with some actual measured neck profiles as well as the info we currently have! (Especially - dare I say it? - '60s necks!) We are nothing if not an obsessive, detail-orientated group, are we not? I say we can have it both ways - obsess over every minute detail AND play the heck out 'em.

I'm considering picking up one of those Pr-O-Filers myself. I'll gladly make a pdf or some suchwhat of my results - and hopefully there will be a "before" and "after" picture by that time....

For those of you with the 2009 4003's, have you noticed any deadspot issues, especially with the more deadspot prone locations?

I'm mainly thinking of ~ 9th fret on the D string. Tune the bass, and finger the note with your ring finger, then use your index finger to feel for sympathetic vibration on the E string. The sustain should also be much less then on the surrounding frets. You shouldn't feel much sympathetic vibration from the E string at all - except for the deadspot note.

I recently tried a 4004cii and I couldn't detect any deadspots.

I'm just wondering if the slightly thicker necks on the latest models are helping with the deadspot(s). I'm guessing that it would make the neck more stable and less likely to resonate.

Paul, I would say your description of us didn't go far enough - anal comes to mind!

I was trying to avoid the "a" word!

It's nice to be able to come here and know that I'm not the only freakazoid obsessively staring at my bass' headstock/pickguard/surround/inlays/pickups/fingerboard/TRC/finish/whatever all night long trying to figure out why it looks "wrong". Oops - did I overshare?

It's also nice to be able to go out a couple times a week or so and bash the bejeezus out of the thing through a decently loud amplifier in front of a few people who don't seem to mind it too much, and just be in the moment and stop worrying about all those niggling little details!

And, to try to un-drift the thread, I'd love a chance to check out the current neck profile(s) and feel how they compare. Oddly, not many stores in the Bay Area are able to keep new Rickys in stock for very long....

rickboy88 wrote:For those of you with the 2009 4003's, have you noticed any deadspot issues, especially with the more deadspot prone locations?

I'm mainly thinking of ~ 9th fret on the D string. Tune the bass, and finger the note with your ring finger, then use your index finger to feel for sympathetic vibration on the E string. The sustain should also be much less then on the surrounding frets. You shouldn't feel much sympathetic vibration from the E string at all - except for the deadspot note.

I recently tried a 4004cii and I couldn't detect any deadspots.

I'm just wondering if the slightly thicker necks on the latest models are helping with the deadspot(s). I'm guessing that it would make the neck more stable and less likely to resonate.

My 2009 4003 MG has zero dead spots. Count 'em--zero. "Piano-like sustain", to be cliche.

That is great news! There have been some forum posts (both here and corporate) in recent years on the topic. The 4004Cii that I tried out also had lots of sustain.

My 1998 4003S has the worst "deadspot" issue of my 4 Rics, but I don't plan on parting with it anytime soon.

I don't think it does, but I'll make a special effort to see if my '09 has deadspots.

(Special effort because I don't normally play above the 5th fret... Heck, I'll turn it into a learning experience...all those unknown notes up there... )

I love the neck on this 'un. It's strong. Did I mention that the bass side truss rod is loose and the neck is still straight?

That's good because the truss rod is not in as good of a position there to interact with the neck wood as much (so less interference can happen). Of course I haven't noticed that to be a problem with my 2009 anyways. If RIC makes 4003s like the 2009 series from now on, I don't see how anyone could ever register a single complaint. I have been totally wowed by mine.

Oops, I goofed on the model #. My 1998 Ric bass is a 4003, not 4003S. I also have a 4003S from 1982. Too many model numbers floating around in my brain. All of my Ric basses are dot inlay, except for the 1998 4003.

jdogric12aolcom wrote:Buddy at work just got a 4003 FG with an early 09 serial. It has a pretty thin neck. It's not 1973 thin or anything, but a far cry from the baseball bats we've seen early this decade. I'll try to get measurements and post 'em.

Oh, the fireglo is real nice too. Looks like mapleglo in the center, not pink. The back is a little clownglo-ish, but not too bad.

A month or 2 ago I played a 73 in London that had the biggest Ric neck I've ever played; it was like a 70s P Bass neck. I was quite shocked! All the other 73s I've played have been fairly thin.