Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello everyone. I'm new to the Rickenbacker experience. I am LOVING the 4003 I got last week. Sounds and feels great; didn't even need a setup.

There is a potential problem: on the underside of the upper horn, there is gap where the binding meets the body. I can insert a fingernail into it, and there is a white powder substance in the gap. This is several inches long. Is this a major problem?

I LOVE this bass. It just feels right, so I don't want to return it if this is no big deal.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I'd return it.

Since you "LOVE the bass" I'd contact RIC customer service. The finish has a one year warranty from date of manufacture.

Is that one of the sale priced blue ones from the on-line dealer? There is a lengthy thread over at the forum that talks basses. Seems like there is something funny going on ranging from ones that already are out of warranty on the finish to other types of blems/defects. I wonder if that dealer was amassing floor demos or customer returns from other dealers?

Yes, it was part of the Musician's Friend sale that started last week.

Welcome to the forum, Brett, It seems like most of not all of those 4003's blown out by MF had some sort of issues for what ever reason. You can either call RIC customer service to see whats up or just live with it at that price. I don't believe that they were really all brand new 4003's.

Thanks for the welcome. In my original post I used the word "gap." It's not exactly a gap, it's more like the edge of the binding is a bit lower at the seam. You can feel a very shallow little trench where you can insert a fingernail.

Other than this issue in this one spot, the bass is amazing.

I'll probably just live with this imperfection at the price I paid for it.

SingingBassist wrote: I'll probably just live with this imperfection at the price I paid for it.

I tend to agree; it's a small price to play for one if it has a great neck and electronics.

rickenbrother wrote:Welcome to the forum, Brett, It seems like most of not all of those 4003's blown out by MF had some sort of issues for what ever reason. You can either call RIC customer service to see whats up or just live with it at that price. I don't believe that they were really all brand new 4003's.

Someone needs to get to the bottom of that MF blow out sale. This could negatively affect RIC's reputation.

I must have been a lucky one. June '10 and mine is perfect as a new bass should be.

Probably something to deal with under your warranty if you like the bass in general. The integrity of the binding is theoretically covered under the 5-year warranty. Call customer service, they'll talk you through it. I bet it's easy to fix, but you may have to ship it to Santa Ana, CA for the repair.

Mine is great as well. No problems at all. It needed a minor neck adjustment but that was no problem.
Is a binding problem a finish or blemish issue, or is it covered under other part of the warranty?

qwezirider wrote:I must have been a lucky one. June '10 and mine is perfect as a new bass should be.

You were not alone, Bruce. I am following that thread over on TB and the majority of the respondents who actually have the bass in hand are pleased and not having any issues other than needing a setup.

Joey, I don't think most of the basses on the TB forum thread have problems at all. Looks like 5 or 6 people had issues and they're the ones who are making the most noise and going back & fourth on the situation. The poll at the top shows almost 50% of the people who got 'em were "Very Satisfied" with the bass. Mine was flawless out of the box (received yesterday & dated November 2010). It just needs a slight neck tweek and will be perfect.

BTW, the white powder the original poster talks about is probably just some left over polishing compound that got stuck in the gap.

SingingBassist wrote:Thanks for the welcome. In my original post I used the word "gap." It's not exactly a gap, it's more like the edge of the binding is a bit lower at the seam. You can feel a very shallow little trench where you can insert a fingernail.

Other than this issue in this one spot, the bass is amazing.

I'll probably just live with this imperfection at the price I paid for it.

This slight "step" in the binding is due to the scraping process...the binding is taped off on the sides before color is applied, but the top surface of the binding is scraped to remove the color before clearcoat is applied. It's part of the process, and because this is all handwork, the depth of this scraped area varies. Sometimes it's virtually flush with the color area next to it, and sometimes it's slightly recessed. In any case, it's a difference in surface of only .010-.015". That's 1/4-1/3 mm.

Entirely normal.