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9:42in productionCh. 1 · The 4001, revised/ 9:42 · ceiling 15 min
Instruments

4003

Rickenbacker · 1980

Rickenbacker's 1980 revision of the 4001, near-identical to look at, with a truss rod redesigned for roundwound strings. Still in production.

The Rickenbacker 4003 debuted in 1980 as a near-twin of the 4001 with an updated truss rod system made for roundwound strings. It has neck-through construction, has stayed in continuous production, and has spawned five-string, eight-string, fretless, limited-edition and signature versions.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:50
    The 4001, revised

    In 1980 Rickenbacker released a bass almost identical to the 4001 in appearance.

  2. 2:22
    Built for roundwounds

    An updated truss rod system handles the greater tension of roundwound strings.

  3. 3:42
    A family of variants

    The 4003S, five- and eight-string models, a fretless and limited editions followed.

  4. 5:12
    Signature basses

    Al Cisneros and Mike Mesaros have signature models based on the 4003.

Worth your time?

Yes. Use the whole thing.

4/ 5
What works
  • a truss rod system made to handle roundwound tension
  • neck-through construction
  • roundwound strings, which give the singing sustain and treble punch Rickenbacker basses are known for
What does not
  • depart visibly from the 4001's design
Use it if
  • players who want the 4001's look and neck-through build with roundwound strings
  • Rickenbacker players who want a model still in production
Skip it if
  • players who want a bass that looks different from the 4001
The written brief2 min read

What it is and what it was built for

The 4003 is a Rickenbacker electric bass that debuted in 1980. It looks almost identical to the 4001 it superseded. The difference lies underneath: an updated truss rod system, engineered to accommodate roundwound strings, which need greater tension than the flatwound strings the 4001 was designed for.

How it works, in terms a player would use

Like the 4001, it has neck-through construction. The truss rod is the change that matters for a player, because it is what lets the neck carry roundwound tension. Roundwound strings allowed the singing sustain and treble punch that Rickenbacker basses became known for.

What it does better than anything else

It keeps the 4001’s appearance and adds a neck made for roundwound strings. It has also stayed in continual production since its release, which the 4001 did not.

What it does badly

The design withholds any visible break from the 4001: a player who wants a new shape or a new layout will not find one here.

What people made with it

The 4003 has carried signature models for bassists: Al Cisneros of Sleep and Om has the 4003AC, with a signature pickguard, green fingerboard inlays and a removable thumb rest, issued in a 420-bass run in 2019. Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens has a model based on the 4003S.

Who should use it, and who should not

Players who want the 4001’s look and neck-through build and intend to play roundwound strings. A 4003 also suits anyone who wants a Rickenbacker bass that can still be bought new. Players who want something other than the 4001’s shape should look elsewhere.

Is it worth your time

Yes, if you want a Rickenbacker bass with the 4001’s looks and a truss rod built for roundwounds. The family is wide: the 4003S arrived without binding (in 1981 by one account, 1985 by another), with five-string, eight-string and fretless versions after it, a 1986 Guitar Center exclusive called the Shadow, the Tuxedo in 1987, white apart from its black pickguard and hardware, and the Redneck in 1988, red apart from the same, and a walnut-bodied 4003SW alongside the 4003S reissue in 2015.

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