Rickenbacker 4003/S5 - the 1990's version - anyone had one?

[6feet7]

I've been hankering for a 5 string Ricky. I did have the new version with the triangular pickups, but was underwhelmed with it (you buy a Rick for it's looks, and this new version has been watered down too much).

Does anyone have any experience with the late 1980's/early 1990's 5 string version? If so, are they worth it or is it all hype (I should say that I've had 2 4003's and the new 4003/S5 in the past and sold them, but I still keep coming back

Edited May 16, 2021 by 6feet7

[4000]

The only thing I can really remember about the single one I played back in the day was it had very narrow spacing, which didn’t bother me (even my 4s are 16.5mm) but might bother some. 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I played one in Denmark St years ago. VERY tight string spacing - far too tight for me - and a very floppy B, although this could have been a poor setup or light string.

I don't hate the aesthetics of the new ones, but the triangular pickups look daft. RIC say the shape is due to having bigger magnets under the lower strings, but there's no reason they couldn't sit in a nice and tidy rectangular box.

[Skybone]

IIRC, they basically just added a 5th string onto a standard 4 string 4003.