Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

On the hunt for a 4003S 8. Any tips on how to spot a rickenfaker would be great. The add says it is a '91, unbound, with 4-4 tuning pegs. I know where to look for stress problems, but any hints would be great. Thanks, Pete

Welcome, Pete!

Pics or a link to the ad would help us in determining if it is a fake, although I don't recall fake 8 stringers.

One thing to be on the lookout for is----Neck/Body Wing seperation.
These basses are/were prone to this!!!!! It will be obvious under close inspection.....that is IF the bass you're looking at is suffering from it.

Good Luck!!!!!


Lefty4003s8




Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

I have never heard of a fake 8 string either (apart from a dodgy 4 string with extra holes on the headstock even then it was a real Rickenbacker that someone had tried to modify)
Its probably for real...

emac.

I too, have never heard or seen a fakenbaker s8 so it's probably legit...one thing to check out though, at least a few of these beasts have neck bowing issues (mine included) I had to make new, slightly larger truss rods for mine to get the neck near flat again. If everything on the bass is correct and in good order....no seperations...all original ect, and the price is right, Grab that baby because they rarely come up for sale anymore....it seems that a few years ago I would see about one every week or so on ebay....not anymore....people are holding onto the ones they've got

There is one in the for sale section at this time. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=400065

As Pete is new to the forum, he can't see that one yet. I'm not sure just how much info from the restricted forums we're supposed to give out to new folks, but I'd think that the what and the owner's username should be OK. You can try to PM him if you're interested.

But, it's a 1988 4003S8 in Mapleglo. Owner is xsubs

Thanks CJ! Appreciate the thought.

Thanks for the help. I got my first opportunity to play a player's bass last year. A friend has worked at the local music store for 17 yrs and out of the blue, one day last year, I get a call from him saying, "someone has traded in a Ric bass. Do you want it?" I was down there faster than a Somali Flightless Chicken. I was trembling when they brought out the case. Upon opening there it was...a 1997 4003 Mapleglo. Needless to say, it rode home shotgun.

But now...I am finally in the market to make an investment. John Hall has done it right. We might become impatient in our desire to accumulate more, but the limited supply is working out great, and with the economy??? You all have much more experience than I. I am grateful for the nuggets of information here. I have learned to stick to my guns and not pay "mint" prices for "good" to "excellent" goods. I will try my best. But you know how hard it is to close it. I'm in the game. Pete

For all those who might be interested....

http://albany.craigslist.org/msg/2235566049.html

It seems like it would be a good addition to any stable. Just a tad too steep for me

Fascinating creature!! Is there any noticable weight difference with a standard 4? I'd have thought the neck would be beefed up a bit, that with a chunkier bridge and more tuning pegs, does it add up to much?

markyl wrote:Fascinating creature!! Is there any noticable weight difference with a standard 4? I'd have thought the neck would be beefed up a bit, that with a chunkier bridge and more tuning pegs, does it add up to much?

Not much weight difference. Just a bit of extra wood, 4 extra tuners, and 4 extra strings don't amount to much. Bridge weighs the same.

bassman7365 wrote:For all those who might be interested....

http://albany.craigslist.org/msg/2235566049.html

It seems like it would be a good addition to any stable. Just a tad too steep for me

Looks real to me, although this guys photos are awful.

Without seeing the whole headstock, it's possible that it could have been converted from a 4003.

If it really is a 4003S/8, then $2500 isn't a bad price for it.

I offered him $2000, but he was firm.