Full width inlays

[gearHed289]

When did these come back? I wasn't paying attention for a while, and next thing I know, there are new Rics with full width inlays! Kinda cool, though I'm more of a dot fan myself. I don't see anything about them on the Ric web site. Pics?

[Bert]

[ilan]

They were introduced this year and everybody's ecstatic.

It's part of a process that returns some of the old features and proportions, like the 60's body contours with thin horns, longer headstock with walnut wings and 60's style generous "cresting wave", full-width inlays, slimmer neck profile, and even the bass-cut capacitor has made a comeback. Personally I hope next in line is the 60's pickguard shape.

[gearHed289]

Woo, that's pretty! I'd like to see checkerboard binding come back, even if I'm really an "unbound" kind of guy. 

[SKATE RAT]

i like the other ones more.

[bobyoung]

I really like the idea of the thinner neck profile, those full width inlays do look nice. I'd like to see the old neck pickup position come bass on 4003's, maybe even with a toaster, the cap is still useless IMHO. Are all 4003's now shipping with the new thinner neck profile? Has anyone tried one yet? Is there a real noticeable difference? If so, how do they compare with late 70's 4001's which are my favorites? Are they still a little wider as they have been for some time?

[gearHed289]

I'd like to see the old neck pickup position come bass on 4003's, maybe even with a toaster

There seems to be a lot of nostalgia around the 1/2'' spacing, but the fact is, the pickup is more correctly centered at the octave harmonic (as is the treble pup) in the 1'' location. Having said that, there's not a whole lot of difference in tone between my Chris Squire (1/2'') and my 4003S (1''), both with the same "hot" toaster in the neck position.

[ilan]

the pickup is more correctly centered at the octave harmonic (as is the treble pup) in the 1'' location

I never really understood this. That may be true for an open string, but once you fret a string all the harmonics move, don't they?

My guess is they moved the pickup because they wanted more solid wood at the neck/body joint, to prevent neck collapse problems which are not rare with old Rics.

I once asked John Hall if he will consider moving the pickup back to the 1/2" location. His reply: "Not going to happen."

[Bert]

.....
Are all 4003's now shipping with the new thinner neck profile? Has anyone tried one yet? Is there a real noticeable difference? If so, how do they compare with late 70's 4001's which are my favorites? Are they still a little wider as they have been for some time?

I have played the one from the full width picture above (which is for sale in holland btw). It is wider than my '73 4001 MG and my '86 4003 MID/BT and about just as wide as my '06 4001c64. It is a lot thinner than my former '99 4003 JG though and probably thinner (but wider) than my '79 4001 FL .

[gearHed289]

I never really understood this. That may be true for an open string, but once you fret a string all the harmonics move, don't they?

That's a good point. I never thought of that. 

[bobyoung]

That's a good point. I never thought of that. 

Yeah to me they sound better, more bottom. I had a mint 75 4001 with 1/2" spacing and it sounded great, one of the more stupid things I've done was selling it.

[Chris P.]

It looks very well!