'83 Rickenbacker 4003 - Information Appreciated

henny · Post by **henny** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:23 am

Greets.

Relatively new to the Rickenbacker guild, I've been with Gretsch and Gibson most of my life.

Anyway, come across a Rickenbacker 83' 4003 it seems, with Seymour-Duncans on it. Plays like a dream, super action, and the added extra punch from the Seydunc's is truly fantastic. I love my bass.

There's no denying, it's had its *** played off. From looking at the pictures, Is it a standard 4003, 4003S or any other kind of 4003?

I've noticed some of you mentioning the term "Blackstar" - As I say, it's a 1983 model, and any information you could share on it would be super.

Mark.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:47 am

Welcome aboard, Mark.
Congratulations on scoring your new baby!

It's a standard 4003 JG (could very well be a 4001 too as there seems to be "Model 4001" under "MADE IN USA" on the TRC) that the previous owner replaced the original white pickguard with a black one and tried to also make the TRC into a black one with white letters.

Do you think it easy to get rid of the black paint on the TRC? Is it "MODEL 4001" OR 'MODEL 4003" there?

By the way, it's an unanimous opinion here that the stock RIC pickups sound way better than the Duncans. I highly recommend getting new RIC pickups for your new baby. You'll love her even better!

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:22 am

Mark, no, it's not a Blackstar, that was a later model (late 1980s) limited edition with an unbound body, dot neck, all black (Jetglo) everything incuding the fretboard itself.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:58 am

Hey Dave, there are at least two of us out here that have January 1990 (A3) Blackstars!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:24 am

Gary, my new one is #188, thanks to Kenny's help. Any idea what # yours is?

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:39 am

Mine is # 107 5/4/89. I still have the certificate with mine too. Sure could use some polishing too!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:50 am

That's the one bad issue with them, they're a pain to keep clean. You wouldn't believe how bad mine looks after a gig, especially in the summer.
With the new one I took it apart and buffed it with a wool bonnet and some Finessit II compound, looks like new with the exception of the finish crack on back.

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:59 am

Yours sure looks good buffed up. Speaking of finish cracks, I starting to get some around the bridge. Bummer on that.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:22 am

Still for $500 you did well, I sold one to Lowell a little over a year ago for $600 and it needed a refin on the top, so from the looks of yours it was a great deal.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:23 pm

Welcome aboard, Mark.
Yeah, you should get rid of those SD pickups and fit your Rick with current high-gain pickups.
I don't recognize those tuners. Are they replacements?
Meanwhile, meet my 'Blackstar'. Actually it's an April 1974 4001 with an original black pickguard & nameplate. It is truly terrific. I bought it a few months ago from Gregg Silagyi.

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:45 pm

Sergio:
You should show them the back of this bass. It still has all it's paint on the back. Amazing but true.

Sergio threatened me with bodily harm to obtain that bass from me.

Gregg

henny · Post by **henny** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:46 pm

Hey Gentlemen, thank you for your gracious responses.

It is indeed a 4003 after checking the TRC. I have to admit I like the current Seymour's, however - there is a slight difference in tone compared with my father's 4001. It's by no means inferior, in my opinion, but it seems to have a lot more at the lower-end, rather than the tangy, aggressive tonals of the '01.

The TRC, however - I love. The grimy mismatched look attracted me to it straight away, it looks and performs like a real workhorse. Almost looks industrial if you will.

Cheers for the comments, naturally. And those Blackstars are real beauties!

Mark.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:29 pm

Mark,
Could it be that your father's 4001 (what's the serial #, by the way?) has the .0047 cap between the toggle switch and the treble pickup volume pot, which takes away everything below 500hz (low and low mid frequencies) from the treble pickup?
If yes, replace it with a straight wire and see if you like the 4001's sound.

keb · Post by **keb** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:18 pm

If you like the Duncans, keep 'em! It all comes down to it being *your* instrument and how *you* want it to sound.

I tried out the same pickups (well actually, just the bridge one) for awhile, but it just wasn't quite what I was looking for. The stock RIC pickups seem to work better for my music.

By the way, that SD bridge pickup in parallel mode yields a killer slap tone, not too unlike a Music Man Stingray. I almost miss it just for that! If I ever come across a gutted, beat-to-hell 4003 in a pawnshop or somewhere, I may put the SD in it to create a sort of Stingraybacker (Rickenray?)

henny · Post by **henny** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:46 am

Rickenray. lol.