Trying to work out a deal on local CL. Want to make sure this isnt one of the many fakes floating around out there. What should I be looking for? Already tried Google. Thought I'd ask you guys.
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Looks legit at a glance. Any shots of the jack plate with serial number? How about under the TRC? Many of the clones have a single trussrod instead of two. I've read discussion about the shape of the string holes in the bridge as an identifier of real vs Allparts bridge, those look right, but one of the Ric experts may differ.
Edit:
That's a two piece pickguard, which should mean truss rod nuts at the neck heel under the PG. Maybe ask for photos?
Joey's Bass Notes - Recognizing Rickenbacker Bass Copies
Edit:
That's a two piece pickguard, which should mean truss rod nuts at the neck heel under the PG. Maybe ask for photos?
Joey's Bass Notes - Recognizing Rickenbacker Bass Copies
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It's a real early '80s 4003. The "Rick-O-Sound" lettering which is inked/painted onto the jackplate is gone, but that it typical. The date stamp and serial number are stamped into the jackplate. I see nothing to suggest it is a fake.
Not that it's a determinative factor, but the case looks just like the case my '83 came in. I'll note that my '83's TRC does not have the model number; when did they stop including those?
I don't ever remember seeing a serial # on the TRC, maybe that was before my time, only on the output jack plate.
Not the serial number, the model number. My old 4001 had the model number on the TRC, but neither of my 4003s do. Wondering when that changed, because (though I can't quite read it), there is a model number on this bass's TRC.
The bass looks good. The dust might be fake, though- No one can let a Rickenbacker sit around for that long without cleaning it.
You can see from the photo posted above that they did have Model 4003 on the raised-letter TRCs early on. The raised-letter, molded TRCs (for right-handed models, BTW - lefties and other special ones like the vintage and the "smiley" used on the C64 were back-painted clear acrylic) had what appear to be "branded" (heat stamped?) model numbers on them. Eventually, they did away with model numbers on the TRCs, just going with the "Made in USA." Incidentally, the mold for the raised-letter TRC is the same used for all models (I believe). The TRCs on some guitar models are cut down at the base end, and the 12-stringers have the top curve contoured a bit to clear some of the strings. The mold also allows any color plastic to be used, hence the black TRCs are different only in the paint/plating on the letters.
It's a dead ringer for my '84 4003.Trying to work out a deal on local CL. Want to make sure this isnt one of the many fakes floating around out there. What should I be looking for? Already tried Google. Thought I'd ask you guys.
I've seen a few early 4003's with the model number on the TRC, I think I owned one years ago as matter of fact. My Dec 79 4001 has 4001 on the TRC
Legit & '84-ish.
The additional screws on the bridge to combat tail-lift are indicative of this timeframe.
The additional screws on the bridge to combat tail-lift are indicative of this timeframe.
