There is a Rickenbacker 4003 for sale locally. 2013, Midnight Blue. Asking $2000.
Please reassure me that I can let this one pass, and will have no trouble finding a nice Rick at a decent price in the future. I know people usually post things like this to be enabled. I’m genuinely looking to be talked down.
A Rickenbacker 4003 is one of my dream basses. I fully intend to own one someday. I have the cash on hand to buy this without it being a hardship.
However, I’m also hoping to start grad school next year. Earmarking that money for schooling or slush fund during school is much more prudent. It would also make my wife much happier.
I’d love to by myself this bass in 2.5 years for a graduation present, not spend the money now.
Please reassure me that’s totally reasonable, and I’m not missing a limited opportunity to own my dream bass.
You know you’re caught in a trap here, right?
If you let it go, you’ll think about it all the time.
This will be your White P/J Fernandez (MIJ) Telecaster bass on the wall of that one music shop in Cambridge. I still miss it.
You have the cash on hand and buying wouldn’t be a hardship? Easy yes!!
Wife would be much happier without another bass? Easy no!!
Grad school on the horizon, prudence, etc…
I mean, you’ve answered the question in the question. Now it’s just what side of your shoulder are you going to listen to.
”Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead… You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going…”
”You must do what you feel is right, of course.”
Also, for bass-buying consultation services, I charge $2,000.
No need to pay me directly.
I hear there’s a Rickenbacker 4003 for sale in your area… feel free to just send the bass, and we’ll call it even.
I actually might be able to, but the answer - you might not like.
Ricenbackers require homework.
The newer ones are very very very different basses from the older ones, esp around neck and feel, craftmanship, etc. I hated the newer ones when play testing and fell in love with the older ones that to me have more character. Older Rics are a complex, ever changing spec soup of fun. The details difference are astounding, even year to year, or in-year changes. There is even a book that details all this.
I have a ‘72 4001, which I love dearly, and would never even consider a new model. After ‘72, cost cutting and other changes abound. The move to the 4003 makes the bass an entirely differnet thingy.
YMMV, as everyone is different. What you like might be polar opposite of my likes.
Be warned, older Rics cost more generally, and are more tempermental (truss rods are a whole can of worms in this department). Worth the bother? That is for you to decide.
Net/net, it is worth the time to do research and play test as any way you slice a Ric, they are on the pricey side of bass life.
Mine has the full width inlay triangles, which to me look cooler, but cause the neck to be a bit weaker, neck quality and truss rod functionality make or break the old Rics. The original bridges are crap (as are the new ones but for different reasons), so HipShot replacement bridge it is (as most folks do). What sold me on mine was the figured wood on the neck…
absolutely wait until after grad school gets rolling so you have that money just in case. also would be very smart to keep your partner happy. you should not buy the bass.
but you should also buy the bass right now if you can afford it. the older i get the less i believe in delayed gratification. life is too short. buy it.
If possible play a Ric. I’m a Fender guy-what I learned on and what I play and am comfortable with. Got a new 4003 never having played one and it felt like holding a cactus. It felt like it didn’t want me to play it . Sounded freaking amazing though.
you have actually PLAYED a ricky right? and if you have and you like it, then go for it. I only ask because one of my first bass was a ricky. I sold it a million years ago and had wanted one again ever since then. but then years later I picked one up to play it and absolutely hated it.
A Rick is a hard pass of me. A colleague has a 4003; I really do not like how feels and how it plays. I also don’t particularly like how it looks… but obviously, each to their own.
Also wearing my sensible head - personally I would get through my studies before dropping $2,000 on a bass.
I think this is your best bet, I’ve personally have never played a Rick and I’ve heard you either love em or hate em. I don’t see them being hard to get however the G&L situation comes to mind. Personally I’d have to absolutely LOVE it to buy it now or pass to be acquired another day. If in doubt do without.
