Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just went through the registry and found no 4003SB basses registered. Anyone out there who might have one? I'm not looking to buy one, just need to get photos of one.

The 4003SB was the first attempt at a "vintage" model, and was made between 1982 and '83. It was accompanied by a "320B" and "360/12BWB" models, obviously aiming at Beatle fans. Who knows, the "B" may have meant "Beatles," but a vintage ad never mentions the fab four. Apparently, the 4003SB was basically a standard 4003S with a Toaster and possibly a plexi TRC. It's possible that it was available only in Mapleglo. In the ad photo (below), the "4003SB" is actually a leftie set-neck 4001S with a Toaster. The story is that John Hall returned to the company and wasn't satisfied with the B series, so replaced it with the more accurate (and better selling) V series, including the 4001V63 bass.

So does anyone know of an accessible 4003SB?

Paul: Possibly this?

Also possible some may be listed just as regular S models because they were so similar?

sloop_john_b wrote:Paul: Possibly this?

Are you referring to the bass far left? I don't think that is a B as I do not see the shedua strip on the headstock.

jps wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:Paul: Possibly this?

Are you referring to the bass far left? I don't think that is a B as I do not see the shedua strip on the headstock.

Yep, in the photograph it's labeled as "82 4003SB MG (v63 prototype)". But who knows!

But the bass in the RIC advertisement is supposedly not correct for being a "4003SB." The 4003SB should be a standard 4003S (no shedua stripe) with a Toaster and maybe plexi TRC. Ed's looks like it might be what I'm after. I PMed Ed, but no response. Has he been around much lately? I'm a little worried about his handle: "eddied."

See if Bjorn has his email address perhaps?

Mine is registered here... http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... =index.php

However, I only see the Special designation of "S BH." Is that the same thing?

::

Just saw this. Yes I have one. It has been slightly modified, but is in unbelievable great shape. i still use it on gigs and alternate 5 Ricks as much as I can. I bought one of the first ones in production from Manny's in NYC in 1983'

It is essentially an S model with only a toaster PU and plexi nameplate made in 1983 to assimilate Paul's 4001s. No horseshoe and it is wired in stereo with two inputs. It is a mixture of old and new for that period. Horn are way too wide and thick, and truss rods adjustments are at the other end of the neck by the horseshoe PU. Real pain in the butt to adjust. The whole pickguard has to come off the make proper adjustments. John Hall was not involved in this project as he has stated many times. I call it the prototype to the V63 which is dead on. I have a first year V63 also in fireglo. Another awesome bass.

jps wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:Paul: Possibly this?

Are you referring to the bass far left? I don't think that is a B as I do not see the shedua strip on the headstock.

Actualy yes that is my 4003SB that I just posted about. I'm now 62 though. That's my collection at the time.

first year V63 also in fireglo

Would love to see that!

It's interesting that they used a maple strip instead of the usual shedua.

teeder wrote:

first year V63 also in fireglo

Would love to see that!

It's interesting that they used a maple strip instead of the usual shedua.

There also are NO walnut strips on the headstock.... all one piece. It is a sad attempt at the V63.

To everyone reading this resurrected thread, please read the 4001/4003SB chapter of my book. You'll discover there was a lot of variation in the standard fit of this model. So much so, that it becomes difficult to determine whether any bass is really a "B model."

I can ry to take lots of pix with y Iphone, but I never seem to load them to view correctly. My two modifications are that I switched the treble pickup cover to a V63 (larger) and also had the stereo input wired to mono so that both inputs are mono. Other than that, its still an 83 4003SB with original case, no treble pickup cover strrung with Pyramid flats. Its heavy and very fat sounding. Oh yeah, it came with the modern type black knobs with the chroe tops and letteing, which I changed to the solid black retro knobs