Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Went to get some work done on my '05 4003 today. My dealer had 3 4003s on the wall. Of course, I couldn't resist and picked up the one Mapleglo. Then I saw the headstock and realized this was one of the new and improved 4003s. The walnut on the headstock is a design that should never have ben abandoned. It looked marvelous. The push/pull knob makes it a very versatile instrument. However I put my 4003 next to the new one and the neck seems exactly the same. I thought they were supposed to be slim like my C64S.

That didn't start until about mid-year.

And apparently not all will be made with the slim neck profile anyway. RIC is still testing the waters before they decide to go one way or the other.

I played my pal's new 4003 last night, I'd say it was the new profile, and afficianados of either profile will be pleased.

Still enough neck to hold onto, just not MLB

I wonder what neck shape the 75th anniversary models have.

I just worked on a 2006 4003 and it had the walnut headwings, the tone circuit but the fatter neck ...

I remember reading that there were 2 CNC machines that cut necks. 1 had been programmed with the new profile, the other had not.

Maybe I was dreaming...

Makes sense.
It must be quite a sight to see three 4003's on the wall waiting for homes.

I've heard people complain about a neck that was too thick, but never too thin. This sounds like the same bunch that complained about the two extra screws at the rear of the 4003 tailpiece. While someone who likes a thick neck on their 4003 might not buy another one(on top of the six or seven they already have) I can't imagine that a potentially new customer in a music store would have a problem with a neck being too thin. That's like saying "my Ferrari's too fast". A feature like that can only expand your customer base. I just hope it's available some day when I actually anti up for a new 4003.

There are some people who play P-basses because the J-bass neck is too thin for them. I don't think a Rickenbacker player would ever say that since the thin neck is probably what attracted them in the first place.

I don't hate the thinner necks. I just feel more comfortable with some more real estate between my thumb/palm and my fingertips. If I had to choose now, I think i'd get one with the chunkier neck.

i have a mid june 2006 4003. is there a way to tell if it has the slimmer neck?

I'm pretty sure one made in June wouldn't have it.

"That's like saying "my Ferrari's too fast"."

I dunno......

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-022106ferrari_apvid,0,5271700.wmvfile?coll=la-home-headlines

I like the chunkier necks too. My favorite neck shape, actually, is the old Telecaster style Fender Bass necks- play your gig on it by night, and hit balls out of the park with it by day!