Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey guys!

If I was to order a New 4003 fresh out of the factory, how long does it usually take to get? I have heard it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Does anyone from experience know? Thanks!!!!!!

Well, it depends on what you want, exact model, color, etc. If it's a 4003, you can get one almost immediately as there are numerous places that actually have them in stock. I just checked Musicians Friend, they show Fireglo & Midnight Blue as "In Stock". I'm sure there are numerous other places, that's just the first one I checked...

I'm thinkin of getting a 4003, How are the 2009 models this year? I heard the 2008 models have a nice thin neck like the 70's did, I saw a picture of the 2009 model and the fireglo looks alot better, alot more sunburst with lesss jsut wood color in the middle. The neck looked a little thick tho. Any word on em?

Yeah, the 2009 necks seem to be a bit thicker. I got one a while back, but I didn't like it so I sent it back. I guess I'm just too used to the thin neck on my '76 4001. My '84 4003 is a bit thicker than the 4001, but not a thick as the 2009 4003. I ended up getting 4004Cii instead and, while it has a thicker neck, I actually like it. It's different than the thick neck 4003 in some way that I can't quite explain.

nextcliffburton wrote:Hey guys!

If I was to order a New 4003 fresh out of the factory, how long does it usually take to get? I have heard it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Does anyone from experience know? Thanks!!!!!!

Hard to say; it's rather like asking "how long is a baseball game"? It should take less time than before with the new finish process, et cetera, that's been implemented to whack away at the backlog, along with the current poor economic climate.

Try and find an unspoken for 4003 from 2006 to 2008 if one of your main parameters is the desire for a thinner neck profile.

There is a lot of thin neck talk about the 08 models. My 08 is wide 1 3/4" ! I owned two 1977 4001 basses. The new 4003 necks are not even close to the old 70s basses. The 77s were very narrow and thin. Better to play a new 4003 to see what the neck is really like. I bought my 08 4003 based on the talk of thin necks on this forum and had an unexpected surprise when it was delivered.