Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi folks, excuse my ignorance but, what's the differences between the 4001 and 4003 basses? What's been upgraded etc.? Can you you still get the same Lee/Squire sound with the 4003? Cheers guys! Regards Kev

owlman wrote:Hi folks, excuse my ignorance but, what's the differences between the 4001 and 4003 basses? What's been upgraded etc.? Can you you still get the same Lee/Squire sound with the 4003? Cheers guys! Regards Kev

deja vu!!!

Welcome Kevin!
Please use the forum search function, there are plenty of threads with this topic!

It's like comparing Racquel Welch and Sophia Loren. Whilst there are some differences, you'd probably be happy with either.

henry5 wrote:It's like comparing Racquel Welch and Sophia Loren. Whilst there are some differences, you'd probably be happy with either.

I like Sophia'a voice more so what does that say?

Eden.

weemac wrote:

henry5 wrote:It's like comparing Racquel Welch and Sophia Loren. Whilst there are some differences, you'd probably be happy with either.

I like Sophia'a voice more so what does that say?

Eden.

It says you've currently got your eyes closed.

Another one from the peanut gallery!

Eden.

owlman wrote:Hi folks, excuse my ignorance but, what's the differences between the 4001 and 4003 basses? What's been upgraded etc.? Can you you still get the same Lee/Squire sound with the 4003? Cheers guys! Regards Kev

If I can help; A genuine 4001, made from 1962 to around 1984, would not be "new" so you would be purchasing a used instrument and any problems from said use that may exist. Early ones up through early 1973 go for more money on the collectors market, so be prepared for that. Later ones have "improved" high-gain pickups and other hardware.

The 4003 started to appear in 1980, and was a structural improvement over the concurrent 4001. The 4003 had a stronger neck designed to withstand the high-tension strings of the period. At first, the 4003 had its truss rods reverse loaded from the body end of the neck and they provided a split pickguard so you could access the nuts at the end of the rods more easily. About 1984, they changed the truss system to a more modern style and brought the adjustment nuts back to the headstock end of the neck. The 4003 is the current bass model.

Now, this can be confusing; from 1984 to 2002, RIC also produced the 4001V63 which looks like the old 4001S (no binding, dot markers) from the mid 1960s. Structurally, it has 4003-style truss system and modern "reissue" pickups that look like the old ones. Then in 2002 to 2010, RIC produced the 4001C64 and 4001C64S which were similar to the V63 series but have a reversed headstock to look like the style of bass that Paul McCartney has, a lefty 4001S from 1964.

Any of these basses can get you the trebly Chris Squire sound by using round-wound strings, modifying the bass' controls and amplifier EQs, and having the right picking technique. Much of a certain player's tone comes from picking and fingering. I'm sure if I picked up Chris Squire's bass and played it, it would sound way different from his playing.

This has been a very simple overlook that I hope answers your question. The full story would be book length!

bassduke49 wrote:...The full story would be book length!

...we are all waiting for!!!

bassduke49 wrote:...The full story would be book length!

Funny you should mention that .....

Thanks for that Bassduke.
I take it the pickups are more or less the same then?

The current pickups on the 4003 are fairly "hot" high-gains, and for the last three years or so have had poles that can be raised/lowered slightly with an Allen wrench.

The "reissue" Toaster and Horseshoe pickups used on the "vintage" models are available sporadically (see thread on Horseshoes) and have their own qualities.