Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This one was originally described as a 4003S Midnight Blue, but it's actually a set-neck 4001S in Azureglo. Odd replacement Grover tuners, but not in bad shape otherwise. It's not getting much action, probably because of the inaccurate description, and ends soon:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Rickenbacker-4003S-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ140025121967QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mmmmmm. S!

Saw that earlier this morning.
Very nice!

SO for the fun of it, nobody be a smarty pants and correct him. This is how the deals can be had. He's not being dishonest, just not as well informed. It'd be nice for this to go under a grand, which is more what these things are worth.

i'd like to have a 's' series but i'm just not a fan of blueish colors.

good luck guys!

I already have blown it, it's an 82 4001S. I've e-mailed him back and forth several times, he believed me but wanted proof so I sent him links to Ric Int. It's actually less than an hour away, wish I had some cash right now.

Well...I've wanted an S ever since I learned they have no binding....but I did'nt bid cause I thought it was a 4003.....Then I read here it is a 4001......it will probably shoot right off the price chart....I am happy with the RICs I already have.....I am happy with the RICs I already have......I am h......................

I agree we should police dishonest/illegal auctions. However, honest and poorly listed auctions can lead to good deals. There was no point in correcting this one just to run the price up. I have no obligation to maximize the profit for a seller. Our knowledge gained here is our advantage. However, it's we collectors that are killing the prices for all.

I didn't do it to drive up the price, I did it because I felt bad for the guy who obviously had no idea what it was. Besides he's a fellow Massachusite. (I made that up but feel free to use it anytime). I also didn't realize that it was being discussed on this site until after I had contacted him several times. I regularly help people on ebay with basses and also antique radios unless of course I'm bidding, haha!
I also do the opposite and try to correct misrepresentations (attempted rip offs) which happen much more frequently than innocent mistakes like this. I think to myself, would I like someone to help me if I were selling something and had the item wrong and would stand to maybe lose a lot of money through my own ignorance? Yes, I would love the help.

I personally don't see how the mis-labelling the auction should lead to much of a price difference in the first place. I've tracked the values of 4003S and 4001S models, and haven't seen much difference.

I could see if it were a V63 mis-labeled as a 4003 or 4003S.

Yes, the set neck 4001S's are a few years older, but the 4003S's have the neck-through construction, better tuners, better truss rods and many have the 7-screw tailpiece that won't lift.

I was more interested when I thought it might really be a 4003.

OK ....so how diferent does a 4003S sound from a 4001S ?

Let's make a promise. The next V63 that is listed as a 4003 or 'Rickenbacher Bass', I say let the fool alone so we may all benefit!

Well Barry...The 4003S was made from 1980 until 1996 or so, and it's sound changed some over the years. The first ones had the cap in the circuit. At some point in the mid '80's the cap was dropped.

I don't have a 4001S from the 70's to compare to my 4003S's, but I do have deluxe 4001's from the 70's to compare. I'd say that the mid-80's 4003S sounds very similar to an un-capped 70's 4001.

Starting in around 1990 or so, the pickups changed to the modern ones. I think these newer 4003's sound a little more growly; a little more dark.

It's official, it went to a forumite!