Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yep, that's me! I'd always wanted a mapleglo 4003, but something about the combination of amber fireglo, walnut wings, vintage tone selector, and the slender neck just said 'DO IT.' I can't wait!

These are the first photos I've seen of a 4003 AFG.

http://www.williesguitars.com/index.cfm?sector=user&page=detail&prodID=1619

Hmmmm, I have an AFG on order and I hope that the one on the previous link does not photograph as well as it looks. To my eyes the application of the burst is too obvious and has a slight ‘targetburst’ look to it, also the ambering of the inlays and binding looks a bit overdone to me. The TRC suddenly looks almost too white against the neck.
The reason that I ordered an AFG is that the first 4005 that I ever saw was a guy from school who bought a new one in 1971. The bass was just stunning and it had the most delicious ambered Fireglo that one could ever wish to see, really subtle, seamless graduations with a hint of flame in the wood.
The main reason I wanted a new bass was the playability factors of the slimmer neck and the new tone circuitry. I may yet see if I can switch my order to a Jetglo.
Maybe people who have actually seen an AFG in the flesh, or is that the wood, could reassure me that the photographs on this recent link are not representative.
Also one other small point but have the tuners changed recently, they look smaller than the ones from a few years ago?

Tuners haven't changed.

Amber Fireglo wasn't available in 1971.

Photos on link were done with flash or cheap digital camera. They don't look like that.

Thanks John, that did the trick! I will stick with the AFG.

The 4005 from 1971 was a rich ambery Fireglo, not the Fireglo that ends up light pink in the middle. As the bass was no more than a year old I guess it must have left your workshops in this beautiful colour.

As you rightly say AFG was not available back then, but I assumed the reason for this COY was to recapture the vibe of some of the older Fireglos?

If I remember correctly I think the 4005 shown in your 1975 catalogue has a nice amber to the Fireglo, I remember drooling over that when I saw it. Of course that was over 30 years ago and I could have got that wrong...

The Amber Fireglo on my 1996 is absolutely stunning, and I haven't been able to capture it well with my cheap digital camera. Which is fine, because I'd rather play it than look at pictures of it. Since the 4003 has a larger burstable area, I figure the burst will probably be more pronounced and subject to CDC Syndrome (cheap digital camera).

This is not only endemic to cheap digital cameras...my Sony was an $1100 MSRP camera (now worth about $200.00!) and has a tough time with most bursts...

There's a very nice pic of an AFG 4003 in the RIC corporate website (click the Amber Fireglo), but I think it was Photoshopped because the bass pictured has the old 90's pickguard (no hump and the 4 knobs not on a parallelogram) and the old headstock.

Just got my 4003 AFG this afternoon - here she is...

Great view of the ambered binding! That's a great looking bass. Thanks for the photo!

The AFG looks similar (to my eyes anyway!) to the original 67 FG version, the back especially.

The 71 is much darker in all respects. Here's what that 71 what look like today Bob...

Wints, that bass is just to die for. That's about as good as they get IMO.

It's a beauty Bob. It actually has a new owner and resides in a far away place with strange sounding names.

I agree with you Bob, that is about as good as they get.

Also - 1975 4005FG:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/catalog_poster_piece.asp?poster_piece=cf75-11.jpg

Robert,
What a beautiful bass. Could you please please please post more pics? Headstock (front & back). Body back. Binding detail. And anything else you can think of.
Thanks in advance.