Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo Black Bass

Description

Rickenbacker Bass 4003 Jetglo Black

The Rickenbacker 4003 is one of the most iconic versions of the 4-string solid-body electric bass. Its neck-thru body construction, maple body, maple and walnut neck, and rosewood fretboard contribute to great sustain and a prompt, compact, and presence-rich response, with that mix of punch and roundness that has made the 4003 an absolute benchmark for those seeking a bass with strong character yet always clear in the mix.

Alongside the classic appeal of the Jet Glo finish, neck binding, and triangular fret markers, the modern 4003 introduces very practical design solutions. One of the most important is the V2 bridge with string retainer: compared to previous versions, string tension does not rest directly on the tailpiece but is managed by the retainer, a solution that helps prevent the known phenomenon of lifting and deformation of the bridge/tailpiece associated with earlier generation Rickenbackers. Added to this are more precise adjustments for height, intonation, and string centering, as well as the presence of an integrated damper/mute that can be mechanically engaged.

Operationally, the 4003 features two Hi-gain pickups, two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three-position pickup selector. The tone control for the treble/bridge pickup integrates a push-pull potentiometer with a Vintage Tone Selector function: in the modern configuration, the bridge pickup branch works with the standard .047 µF tone capacitor, offering the fuller and more balanced voice of the 4003; pulling the push-pull reintroduces the vintage .0047 µF capacitor into the circuit, resulting in a brighter, drier response closer to the historic setup of the 4001.

Among the most distinctive features of the standard 4003 is its output system. The Standard mono jack combines the signal of the two pickups in the instrument's normal mono operation, with management entrusted to the volumes, tones, and three-position selector. The Rick-O-Sound stereo output, however, must be used with a TRS stereo jack connected to a Y-cable, or with an amplifier equipped with a dedicated stereo input, to separate the bass/neck pickup and the treble/bridge pickup into two distinct channels. In this way, for example, the bridge pickup can be sent to an amp head or a channel with distorted sounds and the neck pickup to a head or a clean channel, achieving a broader, more three-dimensional, and controllable result. The two jacks cannot be used simultaneously, because the internal routing is switched by the contacts of the jacks themselves, and the system is designed to work with only one active output at a time.

Specifications

Body type: solid body

Number of frets: 20

Scale: 33 1/4"

Nut width: 42.9 mm (1 11/16")

Width at 12th fret: 54.0 mm (2 1/8")

Radius: 10"

Body wood: maple

Neck wood: maple and walnut

Fretboard wood: rosewood

Weight: 4.1 kg (9.0 lbs.)

Overall length: 113.8 cm (44 13/16")

Overall width: 34.3 cm (13 1/2")

Overall depth: 31.8 mm (1 1/4")

Neck binding: yes

Fret markers: triangular

Neck type: thru body

Pickups: 2

Pickup type: Hi-gain

Controls: bass/neck pickup volume, treble/bridge pickup volume, bass/neck pickup tone, treble/bridge pickup tone push-pull

Pickup selector: 3 positions

Treble/bridge pickup tone circuit: standard .047 µF tone capacitor + vintage .0047 µF capacitor engageable via push-pull Vintage Tone Selector

Outputs: Standard mono and Rick-O-Sound stereo

Mono output operation: combines the two pickups in the instrument's normal mono operation

Stereo output operation: separates bass/neck pickup and treble/bridge pickup via TRS jack and stereo Y-cable or dedicated stereo input

Output compatibility: Standard jack and Rick-O-Sound jack cannot be used simultaneously

Tailpiece: RIC

Bridge: V2

Bridge structure: 4003 V2 bridge/tailpiece assembly with string retainer

Bridge adjustments: string height, intonation, string spacing/centering

Damper/mute: integrated in the V2 bridge, mechanically activated via dedicated side screws

Truss rod: single dual-action adjustable with 4 mm hex key

Tuners: Schaller