Bass · Built 2001
Rickenbacker 4003 Autumn Glow Bass, Year 2001, Incl. Case
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Condition report
Checked by our team
Slightly usedHow we grade condition →Couldn't load pickup availability
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About this piece
The story behind it
The Rickenbacker 4003 is a legendary bass known for its distinctive, powerful, and overtone-rich tone. In contrast to its predecessor, the 4001, the 4003 was equipped with a redesigned truss rod and more durable frets.
Construction and Design
- Neck-through construction: The neck extends as a continuous piece of wood to the end of the body, creating long sustain and a solid bass foundation.
- Body Material: The body is typically made of maple, but special editions like the 4003 Walnut use walnut wood.
- Fretboard: The fretboard was originally made of rosewood, but from 2017 onwards, Caribbean rosewood was used. Characteristic features are the triangular inlays.
- Binding: A narrow, elegant binding strip runs along the body and fretboard.
- Pickguard: The single-ply pickguard is made of plastic.
Tone and Electronics
- Pickups: The 4003 features passive single-coil pickups known for their classic and powerful sound.
- Vintage circuit: A push-pull pot activates a vintage circuit, putting the pickup into the original 4001 mode. This reduces the bass in the treble pickup to achieve the characteristic 4001 sound.
- Stereo output (Ric-O-Sound): In addition to the standard output jack, the 4003 also has a stereo output, allowing the neck and bridge pickups to be picked up separately.
- Mute system: The special mute system built into the bridge can be raised to dampen the sound.
Playability and Upgrade
- Neck shape: Newer models often have a friendlier, more comfortable neck that is well-suited for fast playing.
- Bridge: The bridge has been revised over the years to simplify intonation adjustment. Earlier versions were known for their unreliability.
- Strings: The 4003 was optimized for the use of roundwound strings, making it more resistant to fret wear.
