Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

johnallg wrote:

thx1955 wrote:

Jan-April 2009: Thick necks.
May-present 2009: Thin two-piece necks.

???

Jim, the newest 4003 necks have two pieces of maple glued together (grains at 90 degrees) for stiffness and the necks are thinner front to back. Great to see you back, too!

I was wondering how they did that, John. I've asked at least one 2009 4003 player about deadspots and he didn't relate any. I imagine that the improved stiffness would help to lessen them, which is a good thing. Smart move on Ric's part.

No dead spots on my 2009, though it's a thicker one-piece neck. I love that bass--not a single flaw or issue, just a magnificent beast of an instrument.

I think that the "no deadspots" 2009 model year feedback was actually from you Joshua.

I wonder if there is anyone out there with the two piece neck who could relate that info?

Again, what I would do is also lightly touch another finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) to pick up any sympathetic vibration from the E string where there appears to be a deadspot on another string, as this would indicate a resonance from the neck pulling energy away from the note being played.

My friend Dan owned a summer-made 2009 in Fireglo. He said he really loved it (he had to sell it for financial reasons sadly). He did report that the "classic dead spots" were there, which really surprised me, but apparently they didn't bother him very much.

Not a great picture.....but here's the proof - 2009 JG!