seed · 2025-01-01
Praised for unique clank and sustain; the classic criticisms were the narrow nut and dated wiring — the modern 4003 fixed much of it.
bass
4001 / 4003 Bass
| Maker | Rickenbacker |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Type | bass |
| Introduced | 1961/1979 |
| Price | USD 2599 (2026-09) |
| Maker founded | 1931 |
| Status | current |
Rickenbacker's 4003 is the neck-through bass that carried the 4001 design forward from 1979.
Watch
Why it matters
The 4001 and its successor the 4003 have a sound and a presence unlike any other bass, which is why they appear across several decades of records. The 4003 lists at $2,599 in the current price list, with a walnut-bodied version at the same figure and a cheaper S model below it. Buyers tend to know what they want before they start looking, because the instrument is so specific in feel.
Note
Neck-through bass; the 4003 (1979+) is the definitive Rick bass — Lemmy, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Cliff Burton.
Specifications
- Scale length: unknown
- Neck shape: unknown
Before you buy
- Neck-through construction means setup work is worth handing to a specialist familiar with the brand
- Bound necks and full inlays identify the standard 4003 against the S model
- Finish and trim options change both the price and the wait
Collected notes
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Normans Rare Guitars · 2025-03 · 60,197 views
“It's with our guy Greg Coates on today's new episode of with this super cool 2025 Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Jetglo finish available here at !”
Norman's Rare Guitars demos a 2025 Rickenbacker 4003 bass.
Joe Calderone · 2026-09 · 6,822 views
“So I recently acquired a 2015 Rickenbacker 4003, basically as good as new!”
First-impressions playing demo of a Rickenbacker 4003.