Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey gang. I just snagged an '88 4001S JG. Or is it a 4003S? I'm not too familiar with these S's. Thanks - J

If it's that late, it should be a 4003 w/o a doubt.

Good snag. S's are great to play. My favorite gigging bass is my '73 4000, an S with only one pickup.The PUP is one of Sergios specials and it blows away my '72 4001 for punch and power. Enjoy

you're good either way!! my rick faves are all non-bound dot-necks,like my '74 4000 set-neck and a '04 4004cii. and i wouldn't mind CS,but i am a cheep guy.

By that late it should be a 4003S, but looking at the rods would tell all. Congrats. Jason, and welcome to the "S" Club!

"S" basses are cool...and comfortable too...

I kept wanting an S and ended up with a V63 . I really like the smooth body contour of the S style .

Congrats Jason. Sounds like a keeper. If its an '88, its a 4003S.

Neck through = 4003S; set neck = 4001S.

I have a few 4003's from this period. 2 '87 4003S's and an '88 4003. Great basses. I don't know what it is, but they all sound wicked. They all have necks like a 70's 4001, but have the modern truss rods that work.

Thanks everybody! I can't wait to get it home and plug it in!

Here's both of my 4003S's. They are fantastic basses:

Here they are. Just got done playing them a little. They are COOL.

Nice snag Jdog!

Welcome to the "S" club.

They are my favorites, without a doubt!

How do you find the neck? If it is a mid 80's, that neck should be a nice thin one.

Oh, yes, and the story. I went to a local German restaurant (Schnitzelhaus - it's awesome and very authentic) but they are closed for 3 weeks while they are out of the country for Christmas break. SO I was bummed and went to the local geetar shop (Legends - also awesome) and he had just gotten these two. I'm "the Rick guy" to them, so he gave me a nice deal, and now I'm pretty darn glad the restaurant was closed! Not a bad way to spend a lunch break.

Thanks Toneman. I didn't think to peruse the neck for thickness/thinness, but I played them each for about ten minutes and they rock. I'm not too picky with neck thickness when it comes down to it, really.

btw that's a '88 4003S JG and a '04 4003 JG.

S basses. From the left Ruby '87 4003s, '87 Blackstar, '81 4001s. Just got the 4001s recently. Added a black pickguard from Pickguardian and Schaller M4's so I could have a Hipshot D-Tuner.

Great score Jdog! S's rock.