New bass/new neck

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:07 pm

I know that we touched on this a couple of moths ago with the heads up from John Hall, but I was wondering how many of us forumites now own a 4003 with the slimmer neck?

If any of us own one is it possible to compare the whole bass to a vintage 4001? Not just the neck, but the whole tone and vibe of old 4001?

Anyone out there lucky enough to own one yet? I placed an order on 30th June for an AFG with toaster, and just wanted to make sure I had done the right thing.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:45 am

I think Jeffrey Hoyt got one of the new ones...

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:33 pm

Yup ! Got one a couple weeks ago . Got another one on the way as well. It feels and sounds like both a 4001 and 3 . It has a round profile at the F position and gets thin and flat as you work your way up the scale . The tone is killer and for some reason the pickups seem to have alot less output than my last 4003 wich was an 01 . The push pull knob hits the capped 4001 right on the cash . I have been using it 4003 style as i like the more even output of the pickups in that position . I love it ! Its a fantastic bass and John Hall has answered my prayers .And you can buy one of these basses for 1,199.00 through Mike Parks at the rickenbacker page .

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:15 pm

I hope the 75th Anniv basses will have this neck. JH says that is not certain, as they still have some of the thicker necks in stock and indicated that they will be mixed with the thinner ones until they are gone. Hope he changes his mind. We'll find out soon enough I guess!

blue_meanie · Post by **blue_meanie** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:36 pm

What approximately is the new width of the neck at the nut?

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:40 pm

That did not change . It got thinner from front to back .

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:29 am

Greg, I really hope the 75th bass will have the thinner neck profile...! I placed my order on that assumption. As the new neck profile was announced on 29th June (the same day that I was married this year!), and the 75th bass a couple of months later, I would have thought that they would get the new necks.

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:36 am

Me too Bob. Ben Hall did say on 7/7/06 in the Ric Forum that all newly ordered 4003s would have the thinner neck. I brought that up in the Ric Forum after JH wondered why somebody would assume the anniversary editions would have the thinner necks. JH responded that that's true for normal 4003s that would not be delivered until next year, but not guaranteed for the anniversary editions that will ship by Christmas.

I had assumed that Ben's "ordered" comment meant "ordered" and not "delivered after XXXX date".

I hope that they don't use the thicker necks for the anniversary editions just because they don't think folks will play them anyways. I intend to play mine.