Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Someday I would like to finally buy a 4003S but what year would have had the most narrow nut width ? Also the 4003S are neck through and the 4001S are set necks ?

I've got one made in 89. Looks like the nut measures 1 5/8ths. It feels very thin to me. Much thinner than a new one. Very light too.

VRICKY63 wrote:Someday I would like to finally buy a 4003S but what year would have had the most narrow nut width ? Also the 4003S are neck through and the 4001S are set necks ?

my '93 4003s doesnt have the most narrow nut. It has the widest nut of the whole bunch over here. I still plays comfortable tough and I sold several Ricks because of nut width now. This one will go someday too. But not before I have a smaller nutted S. If S'es have the same necks as non S'es than I will probably on the lookout for a mid 80ties one or maybe a 4001s.

This one is on my radar for some time now (being an S in one of my three favorite colours), but I think it is too expensive:

I've never seen a set neck 4003S, might been a couple made that way, but I don't think so.
I don't think anyone would dispute that my 4001S which has a set neck has a very comfy feel.

I have 2 1987 4003S's, a 1992 4003SFL, and a 1994 4003S. The 1994 definitely has the largest neck in girth, but I haven't measured across the nut recently enough to remember.

But one thing that for me contributes greatly to my comfort level when playing is the string spacing at the nut. Maybe it's just where my callouses have formed from playing my original 1980 4001 for over 25 years. My 70's 4001's and earlier 4003S models are about 3.15-3.2cm from center to center E to G string at the nut, although the nut slots were cut by hand (and as such are not very exact).

Any 4001V63, 4001C64/C64S, or 4003 made after 1997 or so came with a machine-slotted nut with string spacing noticeably wider. I measured my 4001C64S last night ('cuz I'm having a new nut made for a different bass) and it was 3.5cm from center to center E to G.

I think that difference of 3-3.5mm from E to G makes a big difference to me. Not sure why. Could it be because the strings are farther in from the edges of the fretboard? Could it be where my callouses are? Could it just be that I'm more used to the narrower spacing? Probably not a big difference to everyone, and I know some people prefer the wider spacing. But for me, I'm just used to and prefer the narrower spacing.

berth wrote:

VRICKY63 wrote:Someday I would like to finally buy a 4003S but what year would have had the most narrow nut width ? Also the 4003S are neck through and the 4001S are set necks ?

my '93 4003s doesnt have the most narrow nut. It has the widest nut of the whole bunch over here. I still plays comfortable tough and I sold several Ricks because of nut width now. This one will go someday too. But not before I have a smaller nutted S. If S'es have the same necks as non S'es than I will probably on the lookout for a mid 80ties one or maybe a 4001s.

This one is on my radar for some time now (being an S in one of my three favorite colours), but I think it is too expensive:

Yeah Bert. I've been looking at that blue one too. If I had the $$ I would make them an offer.

From what I'm reading here a late 80s early 90s would have a narrow nut. Cranky old wrists ya know

A bass around 90-92 will probably be slim all round, although early 90s basses were devoid of glitzy features they did have a fine slim neck....
Eden.

I had an '89 4003S with the slimmest neck imaginable. Somebody here has it. I hope that one day it will return to me. Oh yes, she will be mine.

My '89 S is the best bass on Earth! Depending on who you ask I guess.

Great necks in the late 80s/early 90s.

I may be letting this lovely red and black 4003-s go in the near future ... still struggling with the decision !!

What year is that one ?

thx1955 wrote:I may be letting this lovely red and black 4003-s go in the near future ... still struggling with the decision !!

DO IT! DO IT!! NO, DON'T GET RID OF IT!!!! HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF IT!!!!?! DO IT!!!!

johnallg wrote:

thx1955 wrote:I may be letting this lovely red and black 4003-s go in the near future ... still struggling with the decision !!

DO IT! DO IT!! NO, DON'T GET RID OF IT!!!! HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF IT!!!!?! DO IT!!!!

Maybe I can put things into better perspective:

Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it

jps wrote: Maybe I can put things into better perspective:

Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it Buy it Keep it

Geez, I hope you don't drive Shari nuts like that!!