Old-Timer's Take on 4003 vs C64S

[Starless]

I've never had two Rickenbackers before, but hot on the heels of March's 4003 purchase, I took the plunge for a 4001C64S and have been comparing the two of them for the past week or so. Here are the results (all IMHO) of a lapsed 70's 4001 owner who has only recently got back into the swing of things....

1st Impressions:
4003: Beautiful, shiny, pristine, sparkling, in-your-face...
C64S: Stunning, matt, wooden, subtle, smiley TRC, wierd headstock..

Headstock:
4003: As you would expect
C64S: Disconcerting, wrong, Macca, growing on me...

TRC:
4003: Classic shape, rounded pointy-bit, raised lettering, cross-head screws
C64S: Awkward-looking shape, extremely sharp pointy-bit, clear with lettering printed underneath, slot screw heads.

Fretboard:
4003: Shiny, pristine, sparkling, sharks, thick frets...
C64S: Subtley reflective, minimalist dots, thin frets, zero fret, zero fret, zero fret!!

Pickups:
4003: Neck pickup, pole pieces, 1" gap, bridge pickup, useless plastic cover (removed), gaping big black hole.
C64S: Toaster, toaster, toaster, half inch, Horshoe, horshoe, horshoe!!

Knobs:
4003: 4 knobs (with labels so you don't forget which is which) and a switch.
C64S: Bakelite-esque old-school twiddlers, with a white line to show where they are at any given moment, and a switch

Tailpiece:
4003: Monstrosity
C64S: Monstrosity (with a thinner mute pad)

Pick-guard:
4003: See-thru white, doesn't quite follow the contour of the body down by the jack sockets.
C64S: Slightly less see-thru white, follows the body contour beautifully.

Jackplate:
4003: 2 sockets, printed labels.
C64S: 1 socket (rock 'n' roll!)

Body Shape:
4003: Classic Rickenbacker (with binding)
C64S: Classic Mutilated (on a Scottish farm) Rickenbacker, no binding, all wood, very woody, a very wooden guitar.

Neck:
4003: Beefed-up, roundwound lovin', white binding..
C64S: Beefed-up (but flatter), roundwound capable (but over my dead body), no binding, fretboard meets neck, wood on wood, sheer class.....

Feel:
4003: Top heavy, Head-dipper..
C64S: Slightly less top-heavy head-dipper..

Sound:
4003: (factory roundwounds) Ziggah-Jing-Diggedy-Dang-Grrr-Grunglee-Bzzzz-Grizzlee-Boingzzzz....
4003: (Rotosound flats) Clang-de-bum-clang-clang-boom-bah-clang-clank...
C64S: (Rotosound flats) Boom-de-boom, dum-de-bah-boo-boo-de-bah-biddley-boo-bum-biddle-bee-boo
C64S: (Roundwounds) Never in a million years, ever.
4003: Open string - Ding!!!
C64S: Open string - Boom!!!

So in summary, the 4003 is a quality instrument, made to exacting specifications, finished beautifully to a sparkling shine, with a vast array of tonal possibilities.
The C64S is all of the above (apart from the sparkling shine), but in every respect oozes sheer class. An instrument with built-in pre-formed character, the dots, the satin finish, that damned zero fret (every bass should have one!), the horsehoe (probably not even magnetised these days) is a faithful re-creation of what made Rickenbackers special, the 4003 PU cover is a tacky bit of plastic which covers a big hole. The sound, the sound! It's Sgt Pepper, it's a sound for bass guitarists - yes, BASS guitarists, not buzz-saw sound-alikes who like to 'cut through the mix'. A bass doesn't need to do that, it is the rock that the rest of the mix sits on top of! (Here endeth the sermon)

I was really missing my old 4001, and didn't think the 4003 compensated, but now? The C64S is the one, that is the player, the gigger, don't care how much it might be worth in a few years, no point in having another gig bass to avoid damaging the C64S because then I wouldn't be playing the C64S and it is pure joy to play. An absolute dream....

Stunning instrument which should be the de facto Ric standard bass, with the 4003 manufactured in Mexico or Korea for half the price.

Pssst... anyone wanna buy a 4003 (not made in Mexico)?

[fran4001]

Congrats! That was a blast to read, and possibly the best comparo/review of a bass I've ever read. You sir, have a way with words. I'm sure I'll re-read this several times!

[just_bassics]

I'm speechless... what a post! Who's got a C64S for sale!!! Oops, no funds, rats!

Great post, "Old Timer" and welcome

[jps]

I'm speechless... what a post! Who's got a C64S for sale!!! Oops, no funds, rats!

Gee, I was just going to ask if you wanted to buy my Gretsch!

[fireglo]

How about some pictures?

[johnallg]

I love the comparisons! I finally got to see one at RIO!!! (Jeff Thomas') and they are indeed a fine instrument - wished I'd had time to plug it in! Oh, anyone else think the upper "horn" looks like a male member?

[Starless]

How about some pictures?

You guys do like your pictures... I will try get the camera etc sorted out and get some pics up, but I would have thought that if you've seen one MG4003 and 4001C64S, you've seen 'em all.....

I will have to wait for daylight on these shores, so sometime tomorrow I will get snapping (I wouldn't want to have to use flash and risk fading the finish on the C64S.....).

[ricaddic]

I agree with you 100% I could par with my 4003's and my 4004Cii, but I will always keep my 4001 C64.

[cheyenne]

all wood, very woody, a very wooden guitar.

LOL! I love it!

[jps]

Oh, anyone else think the upper "horn" looks like a male member?

Nah, why do you ask?

[just_bassics]

Gee, I was just going to ask if you wanted to buy my Gretsch!

Oh-Oh Must distract wife... Must find mortgage equity statement... Must be insane...

Jeff, you certainly must be joking! Don't ever sell that beautiful guitar (except to me, after my CS bass is finished!)

[johnallg]

Oh, anyone else think the upper "horn" looks like a male member?

Nah, why do you ask?

Actually I was referring to the C64S horn..... the way Paul sanded his.

[jps]

...the way Paul sanded his what?

[jps]

Gee, I was just going to ask if you wanted to buy my Gretsch!

Oh-Oh Must distract wife... Must find mortgage equity statement... Must be insane...

Jeff, you certainly must be joking! Don't ever sell that beautiful guitar (except to me, after my CS bass is finished!)

No worries, but if I do you got first dibs.

[rickinroma]

the 4001C64S is a really incredible instrument