4003 body shape changes

[L._4001]

I have a '92 4003JG that is a workhorse- a good bass. I have noticed a difference in the shape of the body over the years. I have played and examined, as well as seen, many pictures on the internet and have noticed the 4003 had thicker horns than that of the 4001 and until about '95 or '96. Then RIC changed the 4003 to a nicer looking thinner horn cutaway like that of the '70's 4001 and 4001v63. I love my old '92 4003 but I really think the newer basses made over the last 4 or 5 years look and feel much better. The last one I saw at my local large chain music retailer had a nice, little bit thicker neck, and a longer headstock like the 4001v63, very cool. I think they switched to a V63 template maybe. Keep'em rolling. The new ones I think really are nice basses. If I was to do it over again I would ahh...all ricks are awesome and mine has that certain sound I guess it has acquired from age..Anyone else ever noticed this..It is very subtle not really all that different..

[markthemd]

When I did two McCartney mods in the last 6 months the two basses that I did were not the same shape....both 4003 models.This is due to several things ,but if the methods of manufacturing the body halves are the same now as they were 25 years ago ,then I understand why they are different.

In a word it is the human factor.