Ric 4003 string spacing

[humbucker75]

HI

I love the look and sound of a Ric 4003.. what I have issue with is the 1.75" nut string spacing.. The older models had a slightly thinner nut width.. first position has always felt strange for me..
I can't figure out why a Ric can't have a Jazz bass nut width.. is there a particular reason??

Cheers
Humbucker75

[rickaddict]

That's a question for RIC, but I doubt you'd get an answer.

You could put a new nut on an older Rick and file the slots similar to Jazz spacing, but then you'd have some real estate left over on either side of the strings.

Personally, I LOVE the string spacing at the nut and bridge on my Rick basses, and I wished my Jazz bass (that I sold) had the same spacing!

Different strokes for different folks!

Welcome to the forum BTW, Jeffrey!

[rickenbrother]

I can't figure out why a Ric can't have a Jazz bass nut width.. is there a particular reason??

Welcome to the forum Jeffrey.

I'm glad I don't have to ask why Ricks DO have the same nut width as a Jazz bass. I hate that thin width at the nut and tapered neck of Jazz Basses! If Rick necks were like J-Bass necks, I guess I'd be playing modified Precision basses most of the time.

[ram]

Love the sound of the Jazz - don't care much for the nut..... just my 'pinion Welcome to the forum!

[cassius987]

All I can add is that, having owned an MIA Jazz for five or so years before Ricky #1, I found that putting time in to "learning" the Ric and getting comfortable with the spacing was worth it. I think it allows for more "precision" personally (pun intended) and found that while yes, I could do the utterly flashiest runs on the Jazz Bass, the Ric had the thump and the strength to keep me playing more in line with the groove. Eventually I got to where I couldn't stand the Jazz Bass neck because it started feeling to thin.

All that just to say that if you take a couple of weeks and practice with your Ric every night, your muscles might change their preferences--within reason. Give it a try before any mods.

I'm glad I don't have to ask why Ricks DO have the same nut width as a Jazz bass. I hate that thin width at the nut and tapered neck of Jazz Basses! If Rick necks were like J-Bass necks, I guess I'd be playing modified Precision basses most of the time.

Me too Joey! I've come to much prefer the P Bass to the Jazz. In addition, a lot of newer builders have aimed for paper-thin necks on some of their stuff and that drives me insane. I tried an Ibanez 5er the other day that was actually a great bass for the price, but it had a huge drawback for me--the neck was probably no thicker than 1.5'' at any point! Oof. That definitely doesn't feel any easier to me, it just feels awkward.

[rictified]

Old subject but I had a 68 P bass with a 66 J neck, was my main bass for about twenty years and loved the width at the nut, I still do. When I first started playing Ricks I thought the bridge area was too narrow for finger picking, so I was playing a bass with a too wide nut with a too narrow bridge but I got used to them.