Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a 1986 5 string 4003 with a maple fingerboard and dot markers. I've been unable to find any information on this.

Another thing, it has 3/8" nuts with lock nuts on the truss rods that are so close together I can't get any tool I have on. I'm about to take a socket and turn down the OD on the lathe just so I can adjust them.

Can anyone help with info on what this is?
Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum. I've never seen a 4003S/5 nor any other 4001 or 4003 that came from the RIC factory with a maple fingerboard. Please post some pictures of your bass. The 4003S/5 would have dot fingerboard markers.

A slight correction, Joey, if you don't mind. The 4003 SPC models have maple fretboards, but normally covered in paint; Tuxedo, Blackstar, and Redneck. It brings to mind Gary Clauson's 5-string "Blackstar" which would also have the maple fretboard (painted black), but oddities are certainly possible. Photos would really help here.

Right Paul, I was thinking in terms of standard production 4001 and 4003 models. Besides the special models, there could be exceptions.

rickenbrother wrote:Hi Scott, welcome to the forum. I've never seen a 4003S/5 nor any other 4001 or 4003 that came from the RIC factory with a maple fingerboard. Please post some pictures of your bass. The 4003S/5 would have dot fingerboard markers.

I'm trying to figure out how to post pictures, so far no luck.

The only "real" info they've been able to give was the 01/1986 manufacturing date.

from Rickenbacker:
"Your bass is a 4003/5 with a Maple neck that must have been put on sometime after it left the factory. You do not see many of the 4003/5’s. You see way more of the 4003S/5’s."

What is a "4003S"? what does the S mean? According to my attempts at help from Ricky its a "4003/5" not a "4003S/5" but I can detect no evidence that it's had the fingerboard replaced. I've looked it over with a fine tooth comb as it were for modifications or rework. I find no breaks in the paint, steps, mismatches, other paint irregularities, etc.

It does have dot fingerboard markers and the fingerboard is painted the same as my 4001 but the MOP dots are white and almost invisible although they do send interesting reflections on occasion from stage lights.

Feel free to email me the pics and I'll post them for you. [email protected]

Scott, if you can't figure out how to post the pics and would like to, send then to me and I'll post them for you.

All Rickenbacker basses have maple necks, however if the fingerboard is maple, it must have been replaced sometime after it left the factory. The maple fingerboards on special model 4003 basses that Paul refers to are painted with a solid color on them and you can't see the wood.

The S basses have a mono output only, dot position fingerboard markers and a contoured body without binding. If you have a 4003/5, you have a very rare bass!!

Edit: Ah, you beat me to the pic posting offer, JB!!

kssound wrote:
What is a "4003S"? what does the S mean?

The 4001S/4003S do not have binding or triangle inlays. They have more rounded edges on the front surface, where the binding would be on a regular 4001 or 4003. They also have only one output jack (usually) meaning they do not have Ric-O-Sound (stereo) capability (though apparently, some do).

Edit: Joey, you beat me to the description of the 'S' version! I guess you were posting while I was typing!

Scott's bass:

I'm not sure if I've ever seen one like that before, even without the maple fingerboard mod.

cjj wrote:Edit: Joey, you beat me to the description of the 'S' version! I guess you were posting while I was typing!

I beat you as JB beat me!

Well, that definitely looks like a 4003, not a 4003S since it has binding. It also looks like it was a factory 5 string since the headstock is made for the 3 tuners on the bass side. Without better pictures, it's hard to guess about the maple fingerboard. It wouldn't surprise me if it was factory though.

I've never seen a 5 string non-S either. It's what I've always wanted though, I really like the look of the binding, never really liked the plainer look of the S models.

"The beatings will continue until morale improves..."
Interesting bass! Was RIC implying that the 4003/5 was a legit model? Has anyone seen such a beast?

86kubicki wrote:"The beatings will continue until morale improves..."
Interesting bass! Was RIC implying that the 4003/5 was a legit model? Has anyone seen such a beast?

I'd say that unless someone did some serious (and seriously good) headstock mods, that one was made as a 5 string. I also don't think adding binding to a 4003S would be particularly trivial...

This is fun...............most interesting..........looks like we need factory help on this one.

You never know what may have come out of the factory. Remember that ebony board 350 (I think) that showed up on E-bay? As I recall it was an unauthorized employee custom job, and John Hall did not seemed pleased!