Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Saw this post on fb about a new 4003 SPC model inspired by the 4003AC. All cool. But what really caught my attention is the new style pickup surround covers. Apparently available from the boutique soon as well. I assume we`ll be able to order up these on their own? Dont suppose anyone here has heard how soon these will be available?

Would love to retro-fit these to my 4003AC.

I'm surprised these surrounds aren't getting more coverage.

Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

lumgimfong wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:11 am Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

Wouldnt it then just be a 4004?

I like the 4003 look. Personally.

lumgimfong wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:11 am Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

The bridge version of the high gain pickup has a significantly larger magnet, so that might be a factor. Most likely it's the aesthetic. The 4004 solved basically every complaint people had about the 4003 (as well as its predecessor, the 4001), but it didn't sell as well.

Personally I've always liked the cover as a hand/thumb rest.

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:43 am

lumgimfong wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:11 am Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

The bridge version of the high gain pickup has a significantly larger magnet, so that might be a factor. Most likely it's the aesthetic. The 4004 solved basically every complaint people had about the 4003 (as well as its predecessor, the 4001), but it didn't sell as well.

Personally I've always liked the cover as a hand/thumb rest.

I too, like using the bridge pickup cover, or better yet, a horseshoe pickup. I also do floating thumb technique, so 4004s are easy to play, too. I always have used the floating thumb technique, given I play acoustic guitar, too.

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:43 am

lumgimfong wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:11 am Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

The bridge version of the high gain pickup has a significantly larger magnet, so that might be a factor. Most likely it's the aesthetic. The 4004 solved basically every complaint people had about the 4003 (as well as its predecessor, the 4001), but it didn't sell as well.

It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed.

Weirdly I actually find the 4001/4003 more comfortable than the 4004…

Not a fan.

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:43 am

lumgimfong wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:11 am Why not just route and mount like the 4004?
Is the huge hole necessary anymore since the days of horseshoes are long gone?

The bridge version of the high gain pickup has a significantly larger magnet, so that might be a factor. Most likely it's the aesthetic. The 4004 solved basically every complaint people had about the 4003 (as well as its predecessor, the 4001), but it didn't sell as well.

It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed.

Weirdly I actually find the 4001/4003 more comfortable than the 4004…

Exactly. Rickenbacker addressed every issue and complaint I've seen bassists make about the 4001/4003 when they made the 4004. No big pickup cover people complain about, no single coil hum, a much more standard bridge with no mute, no binding that some people say hurts their arm, simplified controls... and yet, it never sold as well as the 4003.

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:21 pm

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:43 am

The bridge version of the high gain pickup has a significantly larger magnet, so that might be a factor. Most likely it's the aesthetic. The 4004 solved basically every complaint people had about the 4003 (as well as its predecessor, the 4001), but it didn't sell as well.

It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed.

Weirdly I actually find the 4001/4003 more comfortable than the 4004…

Exactly. Rickenbacker addressed every issue and complaint I've seen bassists make about the 4001/4003 when they made the 4004. No big pickup cover people complain about, no single coil hum, a much more standard bridge with no mute, no binding that some people say hurts their arm, simplified controls... and yet, it never sold as well as the 4003.

I wanted to like them, but every one I played had a monster of a neck. Plus I would have been even more interested if the pu's were closer to JB locations.

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed...

But the 4004 also sounds very different from a 4001/4003 in my opinion. If RIC had kept the electronics the same as the 4003, the outcome might have been different.

bluewhale wrote: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:22 pm

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed...

But the 4004 also sounds very different from a 4001/4003 in my opinion. If RIC had kept the electronics the same as the 4003, the outcome might have been different.

And to me, that's a great sound!

jps wrote: Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:08 am

bluewhale wrote: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:22 pm

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed...

But the 4004 also sounds very different from a 4001/4003 in my opinion. If RIC had kept the electronics the same as the 4003, the outcome might have been different.

And to me, that's a great sound!

And that's fine, but it's not the sound most people are looking for when they're looking at a Ric.

teeder wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 9:46 am

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:21 pm

henry5 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:35 am

It never ceases to amuse me how many discussions I’ve been involved in where people criticise Rics for the features, comfort etc, and I’ve pointed out that the 4004 solves pretty much all these ‘problems’, and the reaction has been tumbleweed.

Weirdly I actually find the 4001/4003 more comfortable than the 4004…

Exactly. Rickenbacker addressed every issue and complaint I've seen bassists make about the 4001/4003 when they made the 4004. No big pickup cover people complain about, no single coil hum, a much more standard bridge with no mute, no binding that some people say hurts their arm, simplified controls... and yet, it never sold as well as the 4003.

I wanted to like them, but every one I played had a monster of a neck. Plus I would have been even more interested if the pu's were closer to JB locations.

I thought in the later years they switched to using the same necks as the 4003. I never got to try one.

Korladis wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 5:45 pm

teeder wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 9:46 am

Korladis wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:21 pm
Exactly. Rickenbacker addressed every issue and complaint I've seen bassists make about the 4001/4003 when they made the 4004. No big pickup cover people complain about, no single coil hum, a much more standard bridge with no mute, no binding that some people say hurts their arm, simplified controls... and yet, it never sold as well as the 4003.

I wanted to like them, but every one I played had a monster of a neck. Plus I would have been even more interested if the pu's were closer to JB locations.

I thought in the later years they switched to using the same necks as the 4003. I never got to try one.

Come on over, I still have two of the three that used those necks.