Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know the necks from various years were slimmer than others. Did rickenbacker make the body size bigger/smaller from year to year? I had a 79 4001 and 82 4001s and the 82 looks much bigger on me. Unless its just my camera angle. just curious if rick produced different body sizes.

I think the top horn was somewhat thinner, or smaller, on early 70's Rickenbacker 4001's.

yes ! body wing shapes started to change , for some reason, in '74 era, pickguards as well in screw hole, knob and pickup placement in '75. i've seen some pretty huge wings towards the early '80's.

There's a ~1/4" difference in the lower bout width (measured from binding to binding edge just about where the mute screws are) between my Dec '72 and my April '73 4001's. A standard RIC pickguard overlaps the binding on the '72 but looks much more current-day on the '73 - it stops well short of the binding. I've seen this "teardrop" issue come up here with respect to pickguards and I had always assumed that the older pickguards were bigger in the teardrop region. Apparently, that's not the case; the bodies are smaller.

I haven't got round to measuring it yet but my Azure '72 (Aug) seems noticeably smaller than my Fireglo '72 (Feb). My guitarist was the first to notice. It's nothing to do with thinner horns or any other usual differences but more that the body seems narrower across the rear bouts. Interesting that others may be similar, as I'd thought it may have been a custom order (it's definitely 100% Ric!).

Also from about 1987?? to 1991-2?? the 4003S models had really bigger upper horns.

Here's a '93 4003S/8 with the chunky upper horn & 2004 4003 where they went back to the slimmer wings:

hieronymous wrote:Here's a '93 4003S/8 with the chunky upper horn & 2004 4003 where they went back to the slimmer wings:

I like the one on the right. Smaller horn.

2112 wrote:

hieronymous wrote:Here's a '93 4003S/8 with the chunky upper horn & 2004 4003 where they went back to the slimmer wings:

I like the one on the right. Smaller horn.

Agreed!

jps wrote:

2112 wrote:

hieronymous wrote:Here's a '93 4003S/8 with the chunky upper horn & 2004 4003 where they went back to the slimmer wings:

I like the one on the right. Smaller horn.

Agreed!

Agreed- agreed!

This is something I had wondered about also, because I know I'm not a big guy (about 5'6"), but every Rickenbacker bass I've played has seemed bloody huge on me. However, I've only ever played a few. First was a 4001, I think it was like early 80s, end of the run, one of the overlaps. Second was a late 70s 4001, third was an '87 4003, fourth was a 4004 (couldn't say what year) and most recently another 4003 (modern, but pre-2008 as there was no cap.) IIRC they all had the wide horns, though the 4004 might not have, I'm not sure. Now, I know in comparison to say, Chris Squire, I'm a midget, but I've seen other artists who aren't gigantic people with Ricks that don't look so massive. And how do the newest 4003s measure up in body size?

hieronymous wrote:Here's a '93 4003S/8 with the chunky upper horn & 2004 4003 where they went back to the slimmer wings:

I'll agree that the one on the right has a nicer body, but I wouldn't turn down an 8-string, even if it is carrying a little extra weight.

My May 2011 4003 compares very closely to my early 1973 4001 in size. I'd even say the newer 4003 looks to be a little thinner in the "horns" than the 73. The crest on the headstock is nearly identical to the 73. Now my Blackstar is completely different. Huge horns in comparison and the high crest.

It seems the newer 4003's are made to resemble the early 4001 70's basses with their proportions and full width inlays and very slim necks.

My may 4003 really impressed the heck out of me!! So much so I had to have an early 70's for the mojo! The Blackstar, well that was inevitable! Snow White, well I had to have a toaster and a functional horse shoe pup!!

The scary part is I know I'll most likely add a Shadow to the mix as well. Now that may very well be my BEAD bass!!

I'll see if I can get a side by side comparison foto, sans Blackstar. That's in Paul W's hands getting a complete refinish.

Sepp

They've been getting larger since I picked this one up in 1981...

2112 wrote:I think the top horn was somewhat thinner, or smaller, on early 70's Rickenbacker 4001's.

The top horn is really thin on the new ones.