Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jps wrote:

Becky wrote:I used a narrow strip of paper to make the measurement; my fabric tape measure consistently gave a result about 1mm longer.

+1 I have found this to be the most reliable method of measuring the neck.

I'll redo both of mine (2007 and 2009) the way you guys have. I just want to make sure. Whatever my results are, you can be sure my 2008 FL is about .1'' thinner or more on each measurement. I don't know if I'll measure it or not.

Becky wrote:1995 4003 Jetglo (born in May)
1st fret: 11.18 cm
3rd fret: 11.65 cm
12th fret: 13.06 cm

Ok, now that I'm armed with my vernier calipers, here are some other measurements.

Width at nut: 4.34 cm
Width at 7th fret: 5.02 cm
Width at 12th fret: 5.39 cm
Width at 16th fret: 5.58 cm

Thickness behind 1st fret: 2.19 cm
Thickness behind 7th fret: 2.23 cm
Thickness behind 12th fret: 2.27 cm
Thickness behind 16th fret: 2.20 cm

Yes, that's right. My 4003's neck is in fact fractionally thinner above the 12th fret. Either that or there's a thicker layer of gunge on the fingerboard in the money register.

Becky, that be one slim neck!

4003 MG / 2009
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

I won't post this in my thread about this bass but hopefully people are all caught up and won't be fooled by my original (way too small) measurement. To be honest I find this bass just as easy to play as my 2008, but if I look at them together I can tell a difference.

Here is my re-measure (using the 'standard' slip of paper method) of my 2007:

4003 AFG / 2007
1 @ 11.4
3 @ 11.8
12 @ 13.6

Thanks Josh.

Here's three for the project:

'71(Nov) 4001
1 - 11.3
3 - 11.5
12 - 13.0

'73(May) 4001
1 - 11.4
3 - 11.7
12 - 13.3

'09(Jan) 4003
1 - 11.6
3 - 12.1
12 - 13.5

Thanks Mike - that '09 measures about like my '04. Stable but larger. Thanks for the month inclusion also.

johnallg wrote:Thanks Mike - that '09 measures about like my '04. Stable but larger. Thanks for the month inclusion also.

You're welcome John, and thanks to you and Jeff and whoever is compiling this...I have two more to add if you think it'd help the cause, the '72 4001 (still with Dale, due back soon) and the '07 4003.
It was a fairly tedious thing to get, right, converting from 32'nds of an inch to centimeter...reading glasses (!) on/off - to see the tiny little machinist's rule, and online conversion chart. I used a thin paper strip, and measured everything at least twice...

Funny that the differences are not HUGE as I expected. We're only talking 1/10" to 2/10" (I can't think in metric - yet) from the '71 to the '09. They do feel different, though not in a bad way for me. The '09 feels rounder; '71 flatter, '73 somewhere between.

thb_bassman wrote:The '09 feels rounder.

I agree, "rounder" is the word, or perhaps "fuller". It fills out my hand when I play. Personally I like this!

Sure, Mike, all measurements are welcome. You did it the way I do. There is some interpolation necessary, and using an online conversion site was a help. I too am surprised at the little differences in a lot of different era necks, though they feel different in hand. Like you and Josh said, flatter/squarer profiles almost equal the more D/rounder profiles in overall girth. My bigger hands are not bothered by any I've picked up and thumped on yet. Some are more "comfortable", or I bond with them better, but all are highly playable.

Oh, and thanks. I am wondering just how useful all these measurements are, but since we have so many it is easy to continue if people post measurements.

I'm liking this measurement thing. Of course, being a nerdy engineer type, I LOVE data. I've got to say, I do find it interesting how small the differences really are compared to how they feel. I've got pretty big hands (I'm 6'5"), but the thicker necks bother me. It's not that I can't play them, they just don't "feel right".

Although, my new 4004Cii does have a bigger girth, it still feels good. The fatter 4003's don't feel right to me. I'm sure, with time, I'd get used to them though. I still need to do some serious playing on my new 4004Cii, but it's all torn apart for a V/T V/T mod (and a few other mods while I'm at it).

johnallg wrote: Oh, and thanks. I am wondering just how useful all these measurements are, but since we have so many it is easy to continue if people post measurements.

John, I think it's interesting data for several reasons. One is - the real world difference between a baseball bat and a super skinny neck is really not all that much...and the way they are perceived is more in the shape than the girth.

thb_bassman wrote:

johnallg wrote: Oh, and thanks. I am wondering just how useful all these measurements are, but since we have so many it is easy to continue if people post measurements.

John, I think it's interesting data for several reasons. One is - the real world difference between a baseball bat and a super skinny neck is really not all that much...and the way they are perceived is more in the shape than the girth.

Which points us back to our original measurements of the thickness of the neck fretboard to back of neck. We stopped that for the girth.

Yeah, but some of us are nerdy enough to have seen the page for those measurements and did 'em anyway...