Rickenbacker 4003 neck profiles

[Cairobill]

Here's one aimed at the Rick specialists.

Much is written out there about on the 'net about Rick 4003 dimensions varying wildly. I am keen to hook myself up with a second hand 4003 but I am basing that enthusiasm on playing an older 4003 which had a slim neck (I've gravitated to J basses with early vintage profiles after trying and owning every flavour of neck).

I notice that there are Ricks out there with 'P bass type necks' i.e. thick and deep. Does anyone have a thumbnail guide for when 4003s were being made with slim necks? Or is that a can of worms? Apparently there are some well known eras of thick necks e.g. early 2009?

I hope to try before I buy but it would be great if anyone has some thoughts on this.

Cheers!

Nick

[absolutpepper]

[quote name='Cairobill' post='935719' date='Aug 25 2010, 10:36 AM']Here's one aimed at the Rick specialists.

Much is written out there about on the 'net about Rick 4003 dimensions varying wildly. I am keen to hook myself up with a second hand 4003 but I am basing that enthusiasm on playing an older 4003 which had a slim neck (I've gravitated to J basses with early vintage profiles after trying and owning every flavour of neck).

I notice that there are Ricks out there with 'P bass type necks' i.e. thick and deep. Does anyone have a thumbnail guide for when 4003s were being made with slim necks? Or is that a can of worms? Apparently there are some well known eras of thick necks e.g. early 2009?

I hope to try before I buy but it would be great if anyone has some thoughts on this.

Cheers!

Nick[/quote]

I think these days its a bit of a crap shoot. I've played early 2009s with the slim neck but mine (a late 2008 midnight blue) has a neck like a baseball bat!

[spongebob]

2009 necks became slimmer in April of that year. Early 2009 are supposed to be some of the thickest to date!

The 2008's were slim - as are the 2009's after April.

I've owned a 2003 (thick), a 2008 (slim), and now have a late 2009 (very slim) and a 2010 (bigger, maybe more like the 2003).

Rickresource.com is a great source of info....neck size changes quite frequently, so you take your chance!

Then again, one player's 'chunky' is anothers slim or medium, so it's quite a minefield which I knew nothing about until I became a Ric-only player!

Only advice is before you buy (the best bass bass in the world, obviously!), do your checks first.

BTW, if you got for a 4004, they're all chunky!!

[Cairobill]

Yes, they seem very variable as basses, so I guess try before you buy is a must.

Back in the mid nineties when I had some deal money to spend I went down denmark street and demo'd a 4003. It was a total and utter dog. Thick neck, heavy, nose dive, weedy tone etc I decided on a 'Ray as my stage bass with my 70s J as backup/studio. I haven't played a Rick since but had the urge to fiddle with one recently and it was amazing. Thin neck, light, resonant, great sustain, delicious mids and fat bottom. I kind of regret not looking harder for a Rick back then.

So I am somewhat on the market for a thin necked Rick!

N

[quote name='spongebob' post='935874' date='Aug 25 2010, 12:52 PM']2009 necks became slimmer in April of that year. Early 2009 are supposed to be some of the thickest to date!

The 2008's were slim - as are the 2009's after April.

I've owned a 2003 (thick), a 2008 (slim), and now have a late 2009 (very slim) and a 2010 (bigger, maybe more like the 2003).

Rickresource.com is a great source of info....neck size changes quite frequently, so you take your chance!

Then again, one player's 'chunky' is anothers slim or medium, so it's quite a minefield which I knew nothing about until I became a Ric-only player!

Only advice is before you buy (the best bass bass in the world, obviously!), do your checks first.

BTW, if you got for a 4004, they're all chunky!![/quote]

[absolutpepper]

[quote name='spongebob' post='935874' date='Aug 25 2010, 12:52 PM']2009 necks became slimmer in April of that year. Early 2009 are supposed to be some of the thickest to date!

The 2008's were slim - as are the 2009's after April.

I've owned a 2003 (thick), a 2008 (slim), and now have a late 2009 (very slim) and a 2010 (bigger, maybe more like the 2003).

Rickresource.com is a great source of info....neck size changes quite frequently, so you take your chance!

Then again, one player's 'chunky' is anothers slim or medium, so it's quite a minefield which I knew nothing about until I became a Ric-only player!

Only advice is before you buy (the best bass bass in the world, obviously!), do your checks first.

BTW, if you got for a 4004, they're all chunky!![/quote]


Well not all 2008s can be slim. Mine is defo a 2008 model and the neck is huge, its not a one-player assessment, lots have people have commented on it. Perhaps mine is the exception to the rule.

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='spongebob' post='935874' date='Aug 25 2010, 12:52 PM']2009 necks became slimmer in April of that year. Early 2009 are supposed to be some of the thickest to date![/quote]

My old Rickenbacker was made in January 2009 & the neck was thick like the early 50s P-basses. It was part of the appeal. So that ties in with this.

[absolutpepper]

[quote name='Johnston' post='936041' date='Aug 25 2010, 02:57 PM']Maybe a daft question but when you order one can you specify the neck dimensions or is it just luck of the draw?[/quote]

I'm not sure, I didnt order mine. Getting a new Ric can be reasonably difficult at the best of times due to their production rates and procedures. I would be surprised, however, if you could specify a neck dimension that was outwith the current production technique (unless you are Chris Squire )

You'd be best scoping around for a second hand one and finding out the neck dimensions from the seller. They pop up on the forum reasonably regularly. Go ahead and join the club. In spite of the -well discussed - quirks, they are some of the best produced instruments in the world.

[Starless]

[quote name='Johnston' post='936041' date='Aug 25 2010, 02:57 PM']Maybe a daft question but when you order one can you specify the neck dimensions or is it just luck of the draw?[/quote]

It is a daft question. Ric please themselves and don't tell anyone. There is no indication on the bass itself as to what you are getting. If you order new then you will get whatever rolled off the production line at that particular time.

The recent neck shenanigans started when Ric made a cosmetic change to the fretboard inlays. Originally the 'shark fin' inlays stretched from one side of the fretboard to the other (full-width inlays), but in 1973 they stopped that and the inlays were narrower (non-full-width). This was an attempt to strengthen the neck by not chopping the fretboard into non-contiguous pieces (which is what a full-width inlay effectively does). The extra strength was needed to combat many cases of Ric necks bending all over the place when those new-fangled roundwound strings were used. This is how things were up until quite recently when for no apparent reason (other than to maybe coax a few more sales out of the more-money-than-sense brigade who wanted that 'vintage' vibe) they re-introduced full-width inlays again. This would have weakened the neck again so they just made it thicker to compensate (not telling anyone - least of all their potential customers). After a bit of an outcry at these thick necks, they kept the full-width inlays, but started making the necks multi-piece and thin again (rather then the single slab of wood that a Ric neck usually was). Maybe they've stopped piddling about and this is how Rics will be from now on, but don't bet on it. One thing is for sure, if they change things again, they won't let anyone know (until the sh*t hits the internet forums), by which time that brand new £1800 bass that you hate will be gathering dust in your bedroom cupboard.

What has been churned out of the factory in recent years is a complete lottery and the only way to decide if a Ric neck is for you is to hold it and play it.