Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I searched but couldn't find info regarding the headstock changes for the 4003. I know that for many years, since its inception, the headstock was shaped like the '70s 4001 basses. The short design with the long skinny cresting wave, and the A & D tuners placed nearly next to one another.
What year did Ric change to the current headstock shape?
I'm thinking around '96 or so...
Thanks!
Sean

Initially the 4003 head was identical to the 4001 head except for the shedua stripe. They both have narrow ears. I think the modern rod system and the first headstock change happened at the same time (mid '84). RIC changed the way the neck slabs were shaped. A 4001 has a rectangular neck slab. That is the slab is the same width at the end button as it is at the tip of the headstock. 4003's after '84 have neck slabs that taper. The head end is slightly narrower than the end button end. The taper allowed for wider ears that more closely resemble the 60's heads. At that time the size of the head increased slightly. In the early 90's the head ears became more sculptured in appearance. These are my favorite headstocks. The points on the lower ear became longer and the curve was made more broad. Later in the 90's the cresting wave at the tip became shallower giving the headstock a more bulbous shape that some people don't like. 96' is a good gues as to when it happened. The bulbous shape continues to today but RIC has added a second CNC program with a thinner neck profile that has a head with a more early 90's shape. RICK is producing both necks for now and may settle on one at some point.

Here is a 70's headstock.



The very slightly larger 80's headstock



The elegant early 90's headstock



I don't have the more bubous one here to show though.

1977 4001:


2006 4003 (with bulbous crest):



Ted, is that black headstock from a pre-1997 V63?

Yep, a '94 to be exact. It was once part of the Seligman collection.

Love how Ted has to show the headstocks of a 4002,red neck and v63 to prove his point...heavy drool from the entire board might blow out the servers Ted, be careful

apologies...80's headstock is not redneck....but Ted has it somewhere...

Yes, the Redneck is put away right now. I just used what ever basses were out. The AG 4001 would have been a better choice for the 70's heastock but it is buried right now.

The 4002 is out because it is awaiting its trip to the Thomas residence. The V63 is right next to it. Also up are my MG 4003S/5 and the Shadow.

the 4001/4003 has gone through some changes ... before they started making them with the cnc machine they varied a little year by year ...

the main changes were ... in the 60s the headstock was the big elegant headstock with walnut headwings ... in the 70s the neck got fatter, the body wings got fatter and the headstock got smaller ... with the 4003 the headstock gat a slight tilt back ... in 1997 Rickenbacker went back to the elegant 60s headstock shape ... and about 2005 or 2006 they brought back the walnut headwings ... the 4004, 4001v63, 4001c64, and 4001cs all adopted the 60s headstock shape before 1997 and the walnut headwings seem to come and go on the 4004 bass ...

'76 4001 ATG headstock (which I prefer):


And wicked huge '82 FG 4008 (sorry, I couldn't resist!):

'91V63

a 1989 4003s5 headstock ...


a 1990s 4004ci headstock ...


a 60s 4005/6 headstock ...


a 1968 4001 headstock ... this is the shape that always looked right for me ...


a 1973 4001 headstock ... for me the shortened headstocks always looked wrong ...


a 2005 4004ci headstock ...


a 1993 2020 4-2-5 headstock ...

My 2cts:
a 2004 4004CiiTR (changed to chrome hard ware)

and my recently restored 1974 4001FG (with red side dots!)

the headstocks where the A and D tuners lined up always looks wrong to me ...

Ken,

Show more of that '91 V63!