New 4003 MID is here!

[RobRick]

Could have been worse... You might have opened up the box to find this!!

DSC09257.JPG

DSC09266.JPG

I would sue the delivery company for trauma if I ever experienced this!!

[marc61]

I recall, from last summer, some folks on another forum that talks about basses that mentioned this as something for which WE were responsible (the smashed 4003 MID). In fact, I notice there are people out there that still hold that "opinion."

Well, Rickenbacker was the manufacturer, and if they never made that bass it couldn't have gotten damaged in shipping.

Ship enough instruments, something's bound to happen to one. That said, I cannot imagine the stomping that the bass took. Where's the guy taking video with his cell phone,then uploading to youtube when you need it?

[DriftSpace]

What happens to the body of a bass like the broken 4003 depicted above? The description says the neck can be reattached, but will it still hold-up under string tension and playing? Has anyone owned or played a Ric that has recovered from damage like this?

[aceonbass]

I have owned a 620 who's neck was broken off like that. It's doing just fine, and the repair is undetectable under the pearly tangerine finish.

[thisismusicinc]

My '78 4001 had the neck broken off at one point (and one body wing. Looks like someone tried the Paul Simonon routine). It was repaired when I got it, glue and 2 solid screws. It's been completely stable since I got it three years back or so. Been played a lot too, since it's the only bass I dare drag with me in a gig bag

http://www.thisismusicinc.com/diversen/rick/4.JPG
http://www.thisismusicinc.com/diversen/rick/5.JPG

This is how it looked when I got it.

[DriftSpace]

Photos?

[Ivan3000]

My '78 4001 had the neck broken off at one point (and one body wing. Looks like someone tried the Paul Simonon routine). It was repaired when I got it, glue and 2 solid screws. It's been completely stable since I got it three years back or so. Been played a lot too, since it's the only bass I dare drag with me in a gig bag

http://www.thisismusicinc.com/diversen/rick/4.JPG
http://www.thisismusicinc.com/diversen/rick/5.JPG

This is how it looked when I got it.

Thats pretty clever to countersink the screws in there it will keep it smooth.

[thisismusicinc]

The photos are from when I bought it, haven't seen how it looked when it was broken.

[turlu]

Hey guys,

I have an opportunity to buy a Midnight Blue 4003 which was purchased during the insane MF sale a few years back. I cannot play the bass in person, just seeing the pictures. Is it risky to get a Ric bass with flaws ???

[johnallg]

Hey guys,

I have an opportunity to buy a Midnight Blue 4003 which was purchased during the insane MF sale a few years back. I cannot play the bass in person, just seeing the pictures. Is it risky to get a Ric bass with flaws ???

Do you see the flaws in the pics? Most of the ones on sale at that time had no issues at all. A few did and a few were just nitpickers who didn't like Ricks to begin with. My opinion. There was a very long thread on Talkbass when the sale was on that you can form your own opinion of if you care to look it up and read it. It was LONG.....

I believe there was one here too, but can't remember if it was deleted.

[turlu]

Thanks John,

I am going for the beauty !l

I will post pictures once received.

[rickyfricky]

I bought one of the "MF Computer Glitch" special-priced 4003 MID, and it arrived with no issues.

My only minor complaint was it was a 2010, which means it spent a year in their warehouse.

[turlu]

I really love midnight blue as a colour on a Ric.

I have been playing more and more of my Ric 4001V63 lately..... Wonder why ??? I admit that I neglected her for the past few years playing most exclusively my Lakland DJ4 ( blue as well ! ), however I find that I am coming back to the Ric more often these days ! Playing in a 60's cover band also help as well !

I can't wait to put my hands on the Midnight blue ! She sure looks awesome !

[aceonbass]

I got one of the MF sale 4003MIDs as well, and also bought a 2009 4004MID new. While the color is awesome, the finish on my 4004 was not very durable. When I laid out the areas to be routed for the 4003 bridge pickup hardware and tailpiece assembly, I did it on top of blue 3M painter's tape. Then I scored the tape with an X-acto knife before I peeled it away to route. The finish came off with it! Not only that, but it flaked up around all the edges where I routed. The finish continued lifting so bad I had to have it refinished. Now I realize that my mods voided my warranty, but the finish still shouldn't have done that. It's doing the same thing on my 2010 4003MID too, and I expect I will have to have it refinished eventually also.