Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

For some time I wanted an original 5 string Rickenbacker. And an S model in JG was also on the wishlist somewhere.

This evening I bought this 4003S/5 JG. Previous owner bought it new, but never got used to the tight string spacing. I know I can.

Flash pictures unfortately. I will make better ones once I have time to make pictures during daylight.

Lovin it Bert!!

Congrats Bert

That is awesome. Looks almost new.
I'm still waiting to find one so I can try again, for the third time. New saddles are ready and waiting to widen the right hand spacing as much as possible.
Enjoy it!

berth wrote:Previous owner bought it new, but never got used to the tight string spacing. I know I can.

That's really funny. When we put out the 4004/5, we widened the neck slightly and everyone complained. We can't win.

johnhall wrote: We can't win.

You can. I expect this will be my main bass for some time to come.

johnhall wrote: That's really funny. When we put out the 4004/5, we widened the neck slightly and everyone complained. We can't win.

Was this due to the wider string spacing or the perceived B/G volume issue? I would think that the string spacing 4004/5 would have been ideal for the majority of 5-string players.

Cool bass, bert, congrats.

I just saw another S/5 (in clownburst) on CL - "$2,500, Make me an offer" - good price if the bass has no issues.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/4323941654.html

ilan wrote:Cool bass, bert, congrats.

I just saw another S/5 (in less than elegant clownburst) on CL - "$2,500, Make me an offer"

The guy whom I bought mine from asked 2500 euro. I also made him an offer.

Great bass and sweet deal Bert!

I find the neck and pitch work with the 4003s5. I like thinner profile necks and the 4003s5 isn't but that coupled with the narrower pitch work some how. To tell the truth my right hand (I use a pick) has the most problem adjusting... just run a couple scales and I'm good usually.

johnhall wrote:

berth wrote:Previous owner bought it new, but never got used to the tight string spacing. I know I can.

That's really funny. When we put out the 4004/5, we widened the neck slightly and everyone complained. We can't win.

Almost everyone. I didn't complain.

Congrats and enjoy your S/5, Bert! I'd love to have one in Jetglo someday.

I should have posted the 4003 5 string I saw on CL last week. I didn't because it seemed pretty high, around $3K. Seems like it was in TN?

Thanx all! Yesterday I took her to rehearsal with my new band. She sounded very good.

I do have a problem now though. There is not much left on my Rickenbacker wishlist. I've tried quite a few different models (2030,3000,4005) and now have a couple (ahum) of very nice sounding basses. Somehow what I have now seems enough.......

Congrats on such a find! I have a '97 one just like it (for which I literally had to scour the globe to find). Yes; the straight-and-narrow path that is its trademark string-spacing takes some getting used-to -- it's like playing a classical guitar, to my right hand, when fingerstyle -- but I find that the everything else (tone; looks; feel; Ric-ness!) of it makes up for that.