Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

VRICKY63 wrote:Hmmmmm....... Jeff says 80s necks. I'll have to check that out. There was an early 80s FG on craigslist around here recently for $1500 but I will have to wait. Kira could be on to something about a swap.

I'm sure early 80's 4003 fans will cry foul with me for this, but I'd recommend late 80's 4003's! The reason is...I'm not sure what strings you like to use, but the modern truss rods that adjust at the headstock end seemed to make their way into the 4003 sometime in late 1986.

I'm not sure how strong the early 80's necks are. They might be stronger than the late 70's 4001's but I don't know, 'cuz I've never had one. But I do have 3 late 80's 4003's and all have great, small necks that can handle any string I use and adjust easily with the modern truss rods.

Also, I'm not big on the aesthetics of the split pick guard and I'm not into the idea of removing half of my pick guard to adjust my truss rods on those early 80's 4003's.

Sorry early '80's 4003 fans!

Yeah, I'm not wild about the split guard either. I'm really bugged that I probably got the only wide neck 08 4003 to leave the factory. Bad luck with basses lately.

No, I measured mine (Spring of '08) a couple hours ago and it's also 1.75 inches at the nut. Can you guess I was thinking for a moment (until I measured it) "hmmmm......trade!"

I guess mine all measure 1 & 3/4 or 1 & 7/16 from what I can tell. I like them a lot... but I also like P Basses a lot.

Why has no one asked for pics of the new baby?

That seems odd to me.

So...












.... pics, please.

Pics. I would have to email them to someone. I have never been able to post pics on this forum.

Hmm.. Where does one arrange for trades here? I would like one of those narrower neck ones too. Mine is a newer wider 4003.
G.

N.F.A. wrote:Hmm.. Where does one arrange for trades here? I would like one of those narrower neck ones too. Mine is a newer wider 4003.
G.

I'd try putting an ad in the "For Sale" section here or the "Ricks Wanted" section.

This thread got me thinking about string spacing, nut width, and why I prefer the necks of my older Ricks. So last night I pulled a couple of never-used, spare RIC nuts that I have in my parts bin and compared them with my 1987 4003SMG:

http://rickresource.com/register/user_i ... llsize.jpg

The spare RIC nuts that I have are a Delrin White nut as used on the later V63/CS/ & C64S, and a black Bakelite RIC nut I have which is the same as those used on the new 4003. Except for the color, both nuts are identical in size, shape, and string slot location. Both nuts came from RIC pre-slotted by machine.

What I noticed was that the neck/fretboard was about 1/16" smaller across the nut on my '87 4003S than either nut, and also 1/16" smaller than my C64S neck.

But what's even more noticeable to me, is that the string spacing got wider over the years. The newer nuts and my C64S are 1/8" wider from the center of the E string to the center of the G string than my '87.

Any who...I'm not sure if it's the narrower spacing at the nut that I prefer, or the fact that the strings are farther in from the edges of the fretboard...Or even that 1/16" difference in the width of the neck...But I've always preferred the older, smaller necks.

I also had my 1994 4003S out to compare. It isn't as wide as today's 4003's, but it is wider than my late 80's 4003's.

I hope this helps!

When I was replacing the screwed-up nut on my '69, I tried to use a Rick nut that was about 10 years old and it wasn't even close. It was too wide, the string spacing was too wide, and the radius was off. I think when you add all the little things up, it makes a big difference that I know I can feel.

teeder wrote:When I was replacing the screwed-up nut on my '69, I tried to use a Rick nut that was about 10 years old and it wasn't even close. It was too wide, the string spacing was too wide, and the radius was off. I think when you add all the little things up, it makes a big difference that I know I can feel.

I'll bet if you could have taken the nut off your '92 V63 and tried it on your '69 it would have been a closer fit than the newer nuts.

The nuts that I used in my comparison are identical in size and shape to all RIC bass nuts that I've seen since 1998.

I do not know how to do a link but the bass is at ebay item # 110398458102.

VRICKY63 wrote:I do not know how to do a link but the bass is at ebay item # 110398458102.

You mean this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3D1&_rdc=1

Good luck, Rick!

That's the one. Just trying to break even with that price,shipping,ebay-paypal fees. Thanks Jeff.

You're welcome.

Awfully thoughtful wife you have by the way, Rick!

I have been trying to spend quality time with my '06, and I love everything about it except the strings are spaced too wide apart for my liking. Can I have a new nut made?

Somewhere I have an extra one from a V63, I'd like to compare them.