Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am on the verge of buying a new 4003 and I am wondering if the authorized dealer from which I purchase it matters. I am asking because some large Internet music stores appear to have 4003s in stock, but do not offer any type of setup (e.g., checking neck relief, action, intonation, etc.) before shipment. Some smaller Internet stores include these services in the cost of the bass, but do not have any 4003s in stock and cannot say when they will. Is a final setup really that much of a benefit, or do Ricks get shipped to dealers in good enough shape that they really do not need that much of a final adjustment? I'd like to have something that is good out of the box, without having to bring it to a local tech (who has a backup of a few weeks) and wait to play with the new axe.

Thanks for any info.

Try Mike Parks at www.the-music-connection.com

I have nothing but good things to say about him.

I havent personally dealt with him, but Chris Clayton at www.pickofthericks.com is another good recommendation.

Buy it where you can get the best price.
Ric's usually come setup pretty good right out of the box.

learn how to set it up yourself ... this will come in handy because to keep a ric playing really good you will need to tweak the setup once or twice a year ...

Northcoast Music (a local for me) is another outstanding internet dealer:

www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast

I can personally attest to POTR. My Laredo came to me set up great, and Chris was a pleasure to deal with...

I second the "learn to set it up" suggestion. It is not that hard to do, and that knowledge will serve you well in the future.

Where Should I look to "Learn to Set up" Threads?

Wow 100 Posts!!
It's about time I learned how to Set up My own Bass...lol

I think Joey Vasco has info on that on his website. Another possibilty, if he will teach you, is Roger Sadowsky in Manhattan. There are books available on guitar techie stuff, check out the Stew/Mac website, they should have something.

I seem to recall John Hall walking somebody through a 4003 setup on the RIC corporate website. Do a search for a thread called "4003 setup", I think it was called.
www.rickenbacker.com/forum_index.asp

Hi Garrett, and welcome. If you are a new player and Rick fan, I would lean more toward a local dealer who could help you get started and assist with any learning issues. That is assuming you have access to a helpful local store. If not, the above listed stores are a viable source. I have dealt with Chris Clayton, Pick Of The Ricks, and he is very helpful.

Good luck, Gary

a few basics on setting up a 4003 ...

1 - Remove the TRC and get a 1/4" socket wrench screw driver ... adjust the rods so the neck is pretty much flat ... either flat or almost flat.

2 - The bridge has 2 allen screw adjustments for up and down adjustment ...

3 - The nut should elevate the strings off the fret board about about the distance of a fret or maybe a little more ... the nut being too high will make the whole bass harder to play ... a good way to check the nut height is play a note at the 2nd fret on each string ... it should be easy to play the the string angle should be very shallow ... most new Rics have the nut cut a little high for my taste ... but if you deepen the grooves too much then the open strings will buzz ... sometimes I set up a bass so that when I hit an open string really hard it buzzes slightly ... especially so on the G string ...

4 - Intonation ... the bridge has to be removed from the tailpiece to adjust the saddles ... I purchased some allen screws that fit the Ric bridge so I can adjust the saddle position while it is in place ... but it is still cumbersome ...

5 - Pickup height ... I like to get the pickups as high as possible ... this increases distortion, volume, and bass response ... lower pickup height yeilds smoothness but also makes the bass quieter ... if you get the pickups too high then the strings will hit the pickups ...

6 - I then run into a bass pod for amp modeling, compression and distortion ...

7 - The setup will need to be tweaked as per different string and with seasonal humidity changes ...

First off – Welcome to the forum Garrett!

My advise would be to order a 4003 from The Rickenbacker Page or POTR. You won’t go wrong with either of those two gentlemen.. This may also allow you to get a new 4003 with all the new cool stuff that RIC is doing with the 4003. And yes, learn to nake your own adjustments to your bass – you’ll appreciate it that much more when you do your own work…

Thanks so much for the kind welcome and advice. I'm really excited to take the plunge. I have a Modulus bass, but it never really produced the sound that was "in my head" (ironic, since Modulus' slogan is "the sound in your head is in this bass"). I got that bass, in part, because the composite neck will never need an adjustment here in temperate New England, where I live. The sound of that axe has never seemed that warm, however. I love the sound of McCartney on Revolver and Mike Mills on R.E.M.'s Murmur and Reckoning, and I can't picture any bass other than a Rick making those sounds.

I look forward to chatting with you all in the months ahead. Thanks again.