Newer Ric necks

drbassman · February 21, 2012, 10:03:52 AM

I thought I read somewhere that the newer Ric 4003 necks were not as thick as they used to be. Is that true?

gearHed289 · February 22, 2012, 10:18:01 AM

Yes. Apparently, some time around 1997, the necks got oddly thick for Rickenbacker. It was a year or two ago that they switched to a new, 2 piece neck design with a thinner profile.

Wilbur88 · February 22, 2012, 05:06:20 PM

Must be quite recent as my 2006 4003 is more chunky. I'd like to play a new one to see the difference.

drbassman · February 22, 2012, 06:56:10 PM

Me too. My local shop just can't get new ones very often Ric is so behind production. If I get my hands on a new one, I'll report back.

godofthunder · February 22, 2012, 08:20:13 PM

I think right around '09 they went back to the thinner profile. Bill the HOG has a mapleglo and jetglo in stock now. I can stop by and check them out for you if you want.

Dave W · February 22, 2012, 08:31:31 PM

IIRC when they started to shift to the thinner neck profile, for a while they were still doing the chunky ones. Maybe that's changed now.

drbassman · February 22, 2012, 08:41:41 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on February 22, 2012, 08:20:13 PM
I think right around '09 they went back to the thinner profile. Bill the HOG has a mapleglo and jetglo in stock now. I can stop by and check them out for you if you want.

Thanks Scott, I was gonna call Kurt. If you have chance, let me know what you think. Don't go out of your way though. I might be able to stop by on Monday or Tuesday.

jumbodbassman · February 23, 2012, 07:58:59 PM

just got a 2011 in midnight blue. much nicer neck than my late 80's ric. new pickups are pretty hot also. And bodies is slightly maller too!!!

ilan · February 23, 2012, 11:35:48 PM

Late 80's? The pickguard looks '80-'81.

And congrats on the new bass, looks stunning.

drbassman · February 24, 2012, 07:45:03 AM

Great! I like that body change too. Very smart looking. I found out my shop has 3 new Rics in stock, so I'm definitely gonna check them out (they are holding one for me). The only problem I ever had with my Rics were the necks.

jumbodbassman · February 24, 2012, 08:29:01 AM

Quote from: ilan on February 23, 2012, 11:35:48 PM
Late 80's? The pickguard looks '80-'81.

And congrats on the new bass, looks stunning.

never tried to date it by serial number. Nevr a huge ric guy. Had a early 70's 4001 and first few years of the 4003 sold both because i am an idiot.... I just assumed it was late 80's when i got it about 12 years ago off the feebay. back when rics were reasonable. think it was around 400 with HSC.

new one was part of the talkbass MF frenzy a while ago. came out to $1060, waited about 6 -8 months.

Wilbur88 · February 25, 2012, 08:25:04 AM

I'd love to hear any reports about the change in neck profile. I would really like a faster neck than mine.

Thanks for the heads up.

warriorbass05 · February 25, 2012, 09:21:28 AM

Quote from: jumbodbassman on February 24, 2012, 08:29:01 AM
never tried to date it by serial number. Nevr a huge ric guy. Had a early 70's 4001 and first few years of the 4003 sold both because i am an idiot.... I just assumed it was late 80's when i got it about 12 years ago off the feebay. back when rics were reasonable. think it was around 400 with HSC.

new one was part of the talkbass MF frenzy a while ago. came out to $1060, waited about 6 -8 months.

that burg is an early 4003/..the 2 piece guard is a dead giveaway....80-early 86 is when those were around...check your jack plate for the letters....it will range somewhere between T and Z for the first letter...

drbassman · February 25, 2012, 12:37:48 PM

Quote from: Wilbur88 on February 25, 2012, 08:25:04 AM
I'd love to hear any reports about the change in neck profile. I would really like a faster neck than mine.

Thanks for the heads up.

I'm going on Monday or Tuesday to see for myself! I'll report.

godofthunder · February 25, 2012, 03:16:41 PM

I was in and out of the HOG real quick today, only the jetglo left.