I picked up this 4003 about ten days ago...I've been using Thunderbirds for some time and armed with some good advice and available funds, I went for a Rickenbacker.
Been a long road for me. I had a copy as a kid many years ago, loved them in the early Rush/punk days, fell out of love for a long, long time and then a guy I worked with said he had a 4001, I had a lunchtime loan and I was smitten again..
It's a nice alternative to the Thunderbirds, but to be honest it sounds very similar, but only because I'm setting my gear to make it sound similar, if you get my meaning. Irrespective, nothing but positive comments in the band, both on the look and tone. I've removed the treble pickup cover and installed a coved pickup bezel to fill up the ugly gap. The bass comes with Schaller compatible strap lugs, so I just fitted the strap-side fixings to a strap.
Here's a pic from last Saturday (Basingstoke Live Festival). I'll post more if anyone is interested.
P