i just want to say how impressed i am with my new 2012 4003 mapleglo, i have owned many Rickenbackers in my life, but this new one is just incredible. Rickenbacker standards are getting higher each year , i can see and hear improvements from last years basses. the tone from this bass is as good as a mature 4003, one thing i did notice is the weight of this new one, it is really heavy!! which is a good thing for me, i have noticed over the years the heavier the bass is, the better the tone. thats just my experience, does anyone agree with me??

that's good to hear... I have been on the fence for a new ric 4003 for almost 2 years now... but qc issues and complaints have kept me shy from buying a new model... maybe next year...now if MF will ever offer pricing like they did last year...maybe sooner

PS... any tail lift on your new 4003?

Hi jav, none what so ever, in fact i have been all over this bass and can not find one single flaw, and i am fussy very fussy, if Rickenbacker made every 4003 like this they would not have any complaints. The E string is spot on too all the strings sound even, the caribbean rosewood is beautiful, a great contrast with the maple body, one thing i did notice was the weight of the bass, it is very heavy, i am not complaining, sounds as good as any mature 4003. so no complaints from me . i am a happy customer. thank you Rickenbacker.

I couldn't agree more about the quality. I have a 2011 4003 Jetglo and just got my 2012 4003 Fireglo. I too am very fussy and these two basses are just outstanding. Not a single issue or complaint. Keep up the fantastic work RIC. Now I need to start thinking about what my third RIC bass is gonna be.

Ok sounds good...time to get off the fence and get one! So the only decison left is which one. fireglo or mid blue!

i think the new mapleglo is stunning , the wood used on the headstock wings is a lighter shade now and looks stunning, brings out the grain of the wood. i have always had 4003,s with a paint job, so glad i have a mapleglo to show off the beautiful wood grain.

in reality any serious issues (other than finish, is the yellow binding issue resloved?) should arise during the 5 yr warranty period...so I prob might choose to get the 4003 over another J Bass...

The finishes have been very stable for many years now, but especially so since they started switching over to UV-cured varnish (c. 2009 or 2010 I think).

I also was very happy with the build quality of my 2011 Mapleglo. But based on my limited sample of 1 each, I find that my 2004 is on top quality wise, followed by my 1990 then my 2011. The routing on the 2004 is the cleanest if have seen in a 4003. One can say who cares about about the freakin routing... But if a job deserves to be done, it deserves to be well done!

Soundwise these are all different and well complimentary. Ditto for the necks. All very different but I cannot pick a clear winner. After playing 5 minutes on one, it usually become my favorite neck, until I pick the other bass for 5 minutes.

But one can definitely not go wrong by choosing a new one. Would it be only for the beauty of the new type of rosewood used!

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4001 '68 Noglo in restoration
4001 '73 Jetglo

Since I can only afford to keep 2 basses, it needs to do everything my P w flats cant do... I always thought the 4003 was as versatile as a J bass anyway.