Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

For those still wondering about whether new 4004 neck profiles are more like 4003s as advertised, I may have an answer. I finally got to play mid-2014 examples of a 4003 and a 4004 a few days ago. The neck profile was absolutely identical in feel except for by the nut, where the 4004 was a bit thicker. If I closed my eyes above fret 3 or 4 I probably couldn't have told you which was which. I have been tracking the neck profile numbers published by one of the RIC dealers as well and they confirm that recent 4003s and 4004s have virtually identical neck profiles.

The factory setup was typical: medium action, neck almost flat but not quite. The 4004 was definitely the better player in my opinion though (can't put my finger on why since the necks felt so similar, maybe it was all the extra right hand real estate), and honestly I preferred the sound of the 4004 too. Either my tastes are changing, the test amp was to blame or RIC is really improving the 4004 in all aspects compared to past years when I preferred the 4003 time after time.

With the necks being pretty much equal,the reason you thought the 4004 felt better was because there was no plastic (or whatever) neck binding. Your hand is just gliding over wood,like nature intended.....

Possibly -- I have never been certain of equal neck profiles comparing a 4004 and a 4003 in the past. But I don't have any complaints about my bound basses.

I dunno,for me S models,and 4004's combination of ergonomic differences to 4001/3's always makes them feel like better "players". I have a 76 4001 on loan,took it to one practice,while it sounds fine,and is set up comparably to my 4 Ricks,i just do not like the sum feel of that bass's appointments. The most extreme bass in that regard that I have now is the 4004c,which is even making my other 4004's feel a bit clunky by comparison....
Getting back to neck comparo's,i found several current 4003 and 4004's at Apple Music to have virtually the same neck profile feel. The 4003w seemed sleeker feeling than the normally-finished Ricks i played,even though the necks felt comparble,sizewise.

I have noticed there is a thin outlier here and there as well.

I think what bugged me about the 4003 was actually all on the right hand side... the bridge pickup cover and the bridge mostly. Since I don't have that on any of my basses I am not used to it anymore.

I guess it's also possible the fret work was cleaner on the 4004 since it wasn't varnished.