Rickenbacker 4003S/5W Walnut

Roundabout. Many of the musicians here at Sweetwater remember the sound of that classic Yes bass line: an early-1960s Rickenbacker 4003S/5W Walnut strung with round-wounds.

Rickenbacker basses, with their snappy treble, robust bottom end, and sonorous, piano-like sustain, helped shape the sound of classic rock in the skillful hands of progressive bassists like Chris Squire and Paul McCartney. There’s only one way to get that legendary sound.

Today’s fearsome Rickenbacker 4003S/5W Walnut 5-string delivers those legendary bass tones — and more — in a sleek, modern instrument with slightly wider string spacing, a Schaller Deluxe 3D-5 bridge, and newly designed single-coil pickups. The Rickenbacker 4003S/5W 5-string electric bass will take your music to new heights.

Distinctive Walnut series bass tone

Rickenbacker’s basic tonewood formula includes a maple body and through-neck, as well as a rosewood fingerboard. The Walnut series guitars from the firm are a pleasant departure, with a through-neck but a maple fingerboard.

While this may result in overpowering brightness when combined with maple body wings, the tone on W series basses is mellowed by the addition of walnut body wings.

This combination creates a specific tonewood mix that is exclusive to Walnut series basses — all while staying loyal to the traditional Rickenbacker sound. It also happens to look awesome!

Maple neck-through for iconic sustain and treble punch

The Rickenbacker 4003S/5W’s neck and fingerboard are made of high-quality maple. Maple is incredibly stable, which helps to maintain the structural integrity of the neck, which runs the length of the body.

The instrument’s legendary bite and growl are partly due to the density of maple and the neck-through construction.

The walnut body gives a touch of warmth and harmonic richness, balancing off the dazzling high end with powerful, rich bass that you’ll really feel as you explore this magnificent instrument’s bottom B string. With the Rickenbacker 4003S/5W bass, you can create your own renowned sound.

Rickenbacker 4003S/5W Electric Bass Features:

• Modern 5-string version of an iconic bass guitar
• Maple through-neck and fingerboard, for serious sustain and treble zing
• Walnut body adds warmth and harmonic richness
• 2 redesigned single-coil pickups deliver a broad tonal range while staying true to the iconic Rick sound
• Three-way selector with 2 tone and 2 volume controls
• Schaller Deluxe tuners are stage dependable and studio precise

Rickenbacker 4003S/5W Electric Bass Tech Specs

• Number of Strings:5
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Shape:4003S/5
• Body Material:Walnut
• Body Finish:Satin Poly
• Color:Natural
• Neck Material:Maple
• Radius:10″
• Fingerboard Material:Maple
• Fingerboard Inlay:Black Dots
• Number of Frets:20
• Scale Length:33.25″
• Nut Width:1.844″
• Nut Material:Bakelite
• Bridge/Tailpiece:Schaller 3D-5
• Tuners:Schaller
• Neck Pickup:Single-coil
• Bridge Pickup:Single-coil
• Controls:2 x volume, 2 x tone, 3-way toggle pickup switch
• Strings:.045-.115
• Case Included:Hardshell Case
• Manufacturer Part Number:4003S/5W