Here we go again: Color of the Year 2014 teaser from RIC

[Aussie Mark]

One of the 15 US numbers has been obtained by an Australian from our local bass forum.  He's done well scoring that one, which is currently flying across the Pacific.

[uwe]

Is this the place to raise the point that finish does not influence sound much ... 

[ilan]

Is this the place to raise the point that finish does not influence sound much ...  

It's a bass. They all sound pretty much the same to your listeners. OTOH what your audience can distinguish is color. So a cool finish may be more important than sound.  

As you know, RIC currently makes only two bass models, 4003 and 4004, with no custom options available, and no new model to look forward to. So all we are left to toy with are finishes.

[uwe]

You can educate them though: Whenever people see my bass collection in the office, the braver ones among them hesitantly ask: "But since they are electric, don't they all sound the same?" I then proceed to plug in my EB-1 - "Listen for yourself!" - and then something like a Victory - "Hear a difference?" - and they all go: "Oh, that DOES SOUND DIFFERENT!".

It probably comes from my Purple penchant, but I will forever consider fireglo as the Ric color. When I think of a Ric 4001 or 4003, I think of a red one.

But I feel with you: Being a Ricster means coming to terms with the fact of liking one type of bass with one shape for half a century, no comparison to the - albeit failure-bred - wealth of variations in the Gibson kingdom! 

[gearHed289]

Well, here we go! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-4003-Bass-SnowGlo-/221275331857?ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123&item=221275331857&nma=true&si=x5M14Oa9VBA8Qg5FiEt362yR0nE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Just my opinion, but... I'm kind of a white Ric fanatic. I like white basses in general. But paying 50% extra for a color? That's a little extreme. I "get" the possibility of future value/collect-ability, but still.  Also, the binding looks bad on the ebay one.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

the binding looks bad on the ebay one.

It's literally darker than the finish and is only going to get worse with age as the plastic absorbs crud. It makes the bass just look cheap.

[ilan]

RIC made them pull the listing. It's on their website now for the same price.

[powerxxx]

As requested, the german online shop of thomann has listed the white 4003...

http://www.thomann.de/de/rickenbacker_4003_wh.htm

[ilan]

2.199 € = US$3K

[the mojo hobo]

They should have made them 4003Ss. They are special anyway and would look way better without the binding.

[Highlander]

SS model...?   

[ilan]

They should have made them 4003Ss. They are special anyway and would look way better without the binding.

They have already done a limited edition C64 in white.

[the mojo hobo]

I missed that one. It is beautiful.

[Dave W]

I missed that one. It is beautiful.

Except for the C64 reverse headstock which mercifully isn't shown in that photo.

[the mojo hobo]

Can't argue with that.