Early 4003 necks

[drbassman]

I remember reading some time ago that the earlier 4003 basses (late 80's) had slimmer necks without the volute the current ones have.  Is that true, Ric experts?

[gearHed289]

All Ric necks were slim up to about '99. Then they got weird. Then they got slim again around '11. I've never seen an actual volute on a Ric, though the 60s/70s ones *sort of* had one. It was more like the flat back of the headstock extended down to behind the first fret or so. That always bugged me. YMMV...

[ilan]

We have two 86's. One (the Shadow) has a pencil neck, and the other (my son's 4003S) has a really thick neck, which I like a lot. It also sounds amazing.

IME, the thicker the neck, the thicker the sound. A very experienced violin maker I know confirmed this is true also for uprights.

[LoEndMaestro]

The neck on my '03 4003 is pretty fat, especially compared to my '74 4001. It's wafer thin...

[Dave W]

I had three 4003s from about 2000-2006. All three had relatively fat necks. Although they were thicker front to back than the average bass neck (including earlier Ricks) IIRC the bigger problem fro my hands was the shape of the profile. With two truss rods placed the way they are, you can't really get a C curve, it's more of a D shape. That's okay with a neck that's thinner in depth but got to be uncomfortable for me with the thicker neck.

[saltymonkey]

I just picked up this 2009 beauty. It's neither fat nor thin. Feels good, plays great. I'd say it's very close to the feel of my '74 4001. It's 1/16" wider at 1 11/16" but I think it's actually a little thinner front to back. It's around 3/4" to 13/16" thick by eye with a tape (can't get calipers on it, it's strung up). The 4001 is 7/8" thick if I recall correctly. It's in my work crash pad in the city so can't directly compare. They both sit perfectly in my hand. The scale and profile couldn't be better for me.

[Dave W]

What a beauty!

[drbassman]

Wow, I'm envious!  I love the feel and sound of Rics, but after owning three new 4003 basses over the last 5-6 years, I just can't get comfortable with the necks for extended playing times.  I am looking at vintage Rics, hoping to find a neck that fits me better.  I want a Ric in my collection and I want to be able to play it!

[saltymonkey]

The slimmest neck of any that I have played is on my '93 4001 V63. It's more of a conventional C shaped profile and very slim and racy. I believe in 2005 Ric made a 4001 C64 which should have a similar profile. There was a Mapleglo C64 on eBay last week but it went by BIN almost immediately. All three of mine sound monsterous through the Mesa Prodigy Doc. Especially on setting 5 on the voice dial. Just perfect.

[drbassman]

Thanks guys for the info.  I might take a stab at a vintage RIC to see how it fits me.  I asked a seller about neck thickness and he ignored my message.  Guess he doesn't care to be helpful!  Or sell to me!

[Paul Boyer]

Thanks guys for the info.  I might take a stab at a vintage RIC to see how it fits me.  I asked a seller about neck thickness and he ignored my message.  Guess he doesn't care to be helpful!  Or sell to me!

Or didn't get your message. Or doesn't understand your question. Or you didn't get his answer.

[godofthunder]

  I had a '93 4003 that had a pretty beefy neck. I didn't mind it I liked it quite a bit really. Reminded me of a 70's Fender neck without the taper, sort of a flat C shape to it.

[gearHed289]

Or didn't get your message. Or doesn't understand your question. Or you didn't get his answer.

Or it's chunky and he doesn't want to tell you. 

[drbassman]

Or didn't get your message. Or doesn't understand your question. Or you didn't get his answer.

If he didn't get it, it's because he doesn't read his messages.  Oh well........

[drbassman]

Or it's chunky and he doesn't want to tell you. 

A distinct possibility!