Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

These are probably stupid questions BUT........

Does anyone know if the 4003FL is designed any differently than a fretted 4003?

What I'm wondering is during production, does RIC just take a standard 4003 and install a fretless fingerboard or are there any structural differences in the manufacturing process to compensate for the lack of frets? Do frets actually help with neck stability?

Does a 4003FL need a different type of neck (fatter for example) to compensate for the tension of the strings?

What I'm trying to get at is... are 4003FL's are made when the fretted 4003's are being made, or are they made separately like a different model?

Tony, that is a damned good question - I'm glad you asked, and I wish I had !!

Tony, same neck and fretboard...just no slots cut for frets. The structure and strength for the neck is in the wood, not in the frets. The truss rods reinforce the wood and offset the pull of the strings on the neck.

What about fret markers/marker dots ?

The fret markers and dots are in the same location they would be on a fretted 4003. It is a bit frustrating as I switch between three different fretless basses! My Zon has only side dots in the "correct" location one would usually expect for a fretless bass, my Rick Turner has fret lines (not my first choice, I prefer no lines but this is how they are made), so the 4003FL is a bit of a mental adjustment that is still not easy for me, and I have been playing fretless basses since the mid '70s. Everything else I absolutely love as to the tone and feel of the FL, especially with the two toasters.

Fretboard markers, compared with fretted bass markers:



Side markers on the 4003FL TUR:

Bob & Charles:

Thank you, Bob for not letting me feel like a total idiot and Charles for clearing that up! Another forum mate was kind enough to e-mail me personally and I wish to say a big THANK YOU for that too!

Jeff, lets see that bass again, I love that bass!

Gary, neat illustration! I've never seen one side by side with the fretted 4003!

My 4003FL does not have all those dots at every fret position, only the ones at the 3rd, 5th, etc.

You mean this one Tony?



You can clearly see in this shot that the saddles are all the way back on the bridge. Even like that the intonation was sharp on all the strings, hence the Hipshot bridge.

Hey Jeff:

That's the one! Oh man.... I JUST LOVE THAT BASS!

Thanks, I needed that!

What year did they change the position of the side dot markers? It must have been fairly recently, sounds like a bad move to me. I've had several and all had markers right where the frets would have been. This concerns me as I have one on order. I too have been playing fretless since the middle 70's and actually prefer the old Fender P fretless style: no lines and dots on the frets at 3rd, 5th etc. was a very good and simple guide. I may have some custom work doen to mine when I get it. My 72 has dots on the side of where the frets would be and my only complaint is that when you are up on the neck it is easy to go one up or one down from where you are supposed to be. With the 3rd, 5th etc. you always land where you want to be.

Bingo!

... was his name-o ...

There's a nice 02 Burgandy FL on ebay right now but it too has dots like a fretted bass, I wouldn't buy it for that reason. I think that was a bad move by Rickenbacker, seems to me to be for the purpose of saveing a few bucks by using the same plastic side oiece as their fretted basses. I know they don't exactly sell a million of them but still they should cater to their fringe players also. I really hate lined fretlesses.