Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

....Because I think I already did.
Hi Guys,
I just put this on hold until I can get back to the store tomorrow after work. I'm actually a guitar player (sorry) but I used to play bass (4001) in a band back in the early 80's and I still keep one bass around the house "just because". Right now I've got a Warwick Fortress but I found this 1991 4003S (Jetglo) on consignment at a local store for $675 with no case. The bass plays great and the neck is straight with no fret wear. The neck is also thinner than the new 4003's they have, which is nice for me. It's got a couple of nicks and some finish crazing or lacquer cracks just starting. The only real problem is that the bridge has started to lift a little (I've already posted about that) and the finish is chipped a little around the bridge. Do you think this is a good price? I'll have to sell the Warwick because I don't need two basses.

I do have a couple of extra questions since I'm pretty sure I'll be owning it. First, the bridge pickup is crooked on the actual adjusting plate. Is that common, or do they tend to come off and need to be reglued? It works fine. Second, the mute is there but the screws are gone. Are these the same thing as the strap buttons, because I have a spare set from my 350? Third, is it common for the nameplates to yellow alot more than the pickguards? None of my Rick guitars have. Lastly, this is my favorite music store and they told me they could order me a case for about $130 (new Rick SKB style) or $155 (silver vintage). Is it likely that I would be able to beat these prices anywhere else by the time I had one shipped? I wouldn't mind looking for a used black tolex model either, but I doubt it would be much cheaper after shipping.

Thanks for any help.

no ... tell me where the store is so I can snatch it up ...

seriously $675 is a good price for a 4003s especially if it is an 85 or later model and if it is in good shape ... what color is it?

Ric basses fit nice in jazz bass cases ... I prefer the silver Ric cases myself ...

DO IT!! (R)copyright Jared Nakanishi

With regards to the bridge pickup being crooked...there was a post relating to that recently and from the replies it recieved it appears to be quite common, even on recent Ric basses, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

The strap buttons on my '74 4001 are the same as the screws for the mute, so you should be OK there too.....recent Rics do have a different strap button from the older ones....I'm not too sure when the change to the newer ones occured.

hey!

copycat infringement!

Thanks for the help so far. Jared actually gave me the "do it" in my post about the bridge.

It's a 1991 by the serial number, and it's Jetglo so it matches my 330 and 350. That's actually not my favorite color, but somehow I always end up with them. It looks like it was well taken care of, but still used quite a bit. I'm guessing that's why it's starting to get the lengthwise finish crazing in it, but the back of the neck doesn't have a nick or mark on it. It's also got flatwounds on it so maybe someone was worried about all the possible problems involved with the older Ricks and roundwounds. I was looking for a nice affordable Rick when I bought the Warwick used and couldn't find anything, but I don't think I can pass up the "S" model. I'm sure this will hold it's value better. I've loved these "S" versions since I was a kid and McCartney had one.

Are there certain years of bridgeplates that will interchange in case this one ends up pulling away from the body more?

What do you want for the Fortress? Love em!!

I have a super-mint burgundyglo 1979 4001 in my stable with an off-white truss cover. I've noticed other 1979 Rick 4001s that were the same way. I think it was just an off-color batch whether intentional or not. Maybe they had an off-color batch in 1991 as well. The strap buttons and mute screws should be the same on yours. You should be happy with that one. I have a 1987 4003S. Its one of my favorites. It plays like the late 1970s 4001s, but has the modern truss rods and it sounds like a freight train!

Hey, my '79 has an off-white color TRC, too! I just swapped it with an early 80's (white!) cover I got from the local music store for $30. Sorry, the old one isn't for sale!

Milo, I agree - do it!

I want mine to stay the way it was born!

See, mine's a total beater. I've got a grand total of $225 into it, and it's got a RI horseshoe bridge pickup! Bought it with a broken headstock... and I call it "Autobodyglo" since it's got a horrendous burgundy refin that looks like Joe at Joe's collision hosed it down with his bigass spray gun. Ha!

My 78's TRC is yellowed along with the trim, my 79's TRC is white along with the trim. The pickguards are white on both of them. I read somewhere it was the plastic reacting with something in the air. ??? smoke?

It looks like I'll be picking this one up and bringing it home tomorrow, unless I notice something wrong that I overlooked the last two times I played it. My Warwick just sold so I've got no real excuses not to get the 4003S.

Jeff ... that bass was a good buy ... nice strong slim neck and good tone and pretty looks ...