For Sale: 2004 Rickenbacker 4003 – Midnight Blue | Rare Finish | OHSC

Up for sale is a 2004 Rickenbacker 4003 Bass in Midnight Blue, complete with its original Rickenbacker hard-shell case.

The Rickenbacker 4003 is one of the most recognizable basses ever built, known for its unmistakable tone, neck-through construction, distinctive styling, and legendary presence across rock and progressive music.

Finished in Midnight Blue, this example is particularly striking. The deep metallic blue paired with Rickenbacker's contrasting binding and classic appointments gives the bass a completely different personality from the more commonly encountered Fireglo, Jetglo, and Mapleglo examples.

Condition

Very Good – 8/10

• Light surface scratches from normal use
• Small dings throughout
• Some of the blue finish has bled into the binding
• Overall very attractive condition for a 2004 instrument

The blue color bleeding into the binding is cosmetic only and is something that can be encountered on Midnight Blue Rickenbackers from this era. Please review the detailed photos for the best representation of the affected areas.

There are no cracks, breaks, repairs, or structural issues.

The bass is all original.

The neck is straight and stable, and the original frets remain in excellent condition with minimal wear. The bass has been professionally inspected and set up by our in-house luthier and plays cleanly up and down the fingerboard with comfortable action, excellent intonation, and no buzzing or dead spots.

The original Rickenbacker hard-shell case is included.

No paperwork is included with the bass.

Specifications

• Model: Rickenbacker 4003
• Year: 2004
• Serial Number: 04 21906
• Finish: Midnight Blue
• Body: Maple
• Neck: Neck-Through Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 33.25"
• Nut Width: 1.70"
• Neck Depth: .94" at the 1st Fret
• Neck Depth: 1.01" at the 12th Fret
• Pickups: Original Rickenbacker Single-Coils
• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone
• Switching: 3-Way Pickup Selector
• Outputs: Standard Mono & Stereo Rick-O-Sound
• Bridge: Original Rickenbacker Bridge
• Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz
• Case: Original Rickenbacker Hard-Shell Case

Midnight Blue Finish

One of the biggest attractions of this particular 4003 is its Midnight Blue finish.

It's a beautiful color that can change considerably depending on the lighting, ranging from a deep, almost navy appearance to a much brighter metallic blue under direct light.

The contrasting binding, chrome hardware, and rosewood fingerboard make the color stand out even more and give this bass a fantastic combination of traditional Rickenbacker styling and a less commonly encountered finish.

As noted above, there is some blue finish migration into the binding. This is purely cosmetic and has no effect whatsoever on the structure, playability, or performance of the bass.

Electronics & Features

The 4003 has earned its reputation largely because there simply isn't much else that sounds like one.

Its original Rickenbacker single-coil pickups deliver a combination of powerful lows, aggressive upper mids, and crisp, piano-like definition that allows the bass to cut through a dense mix without losing clarity.

The traditional two-volume and two-tone control arrangement allows each pickup to be individually balanced and shaped.

The bass also retains Rickenbacker's famous Rick-O-Sound stereo output, allowing the neck and bridge pickups to be routed separately when used with the appropriate stereo setup, in addition to the conventional mono output.

Neck-Through Construction

The classic neck-through maple construction is another major part of the 4003 formula.

Rather than using a conventional bolt-on or set-neck design, the neck runs through the center of the instrument, contributing to the sustain, resonance, and immediate response for which Rickenbacker basses are known.

The rosewood fingerboard balances the naturally articulate maple construction and provides the familiar feel and appearance of a traditional 4003.

Tone & Feel

This bass delivers the unmistakable Rickenbacker character—punchy, articulate, aggressive, and extremely defined.

Played with a pick, it can produce the famous upper-midrange growl and attack that made the 4003 a rock staple. Played with the fingers, it offers a surprisingly broad range of warmer tones while retaining excellent note definition.

The 33.25" scale length also gives a Rickenbacker a subtly different feel from a conventional 34" long-scale bass.

This particular neck measures .94" at the 1st fret and 1.01" at the 12th fret, gradually filling out as you move toward the upper register.

At 9 lbs 4 oz, it has a substantial, solid feel without being excessively heavy and balances nicely in the playing position.

Most importantly, it plays and sounds fantastic.

All Original

Another important feature of this bass is that it remains all original.

The original pickups, electronics, bridge, tuners, and hardware remain intact, making this an appealing example for someone looking for a 4003 that hasn't been heavily modified over the years.

No original paperwork is included.

Original Rickenbacker Hard-Shell Case

The bass comes complete with its original Rickenbacker hard-shell case.

Having the original case is a nice addition to a 20+ year-old Rickenbacker and provides excellent protection for storage, transportation, and shipping.

Transparency & Photos

As with all Guitar Chimp listings, detailed photos are provided of the exact instrument—no stock photos.

At the end of the photo set, you'll find close-up images taken under direct lighting to clearly show the scratches, dings, finish migration into the binding, and any other cosmetic wear.

We don't just describe the condition—we show it in detail so there are no surprises.

Many of our customers tell us their guitars and basses arrive in better condition than expected.

Why Buy From Guitar Chimp?

With over 18 years of experience, Guitar Chimp is trusted by players and collectors worldwide for high-quality, player-ready instruments.

Every bass is thoroughly inspected and professionally set up by our in-house luthier.

We are experts at shipping and have safely shipped thousands of guitars and basses all over the world. Every instrument is professionally packed, fully insured, and shipped with signature confirmation.

Buy with confidence knowing your instrument will arrive safely and exactly as described.

📞 Call/Text: (801) 317-9013

💬 Message anytime—we're always happy to help!

This 2004 Rickenbacker 4003 in Midnight Blue is a great-playing, all-original example with one of the coolest finishes offered on the model. With its classic neck-through maple construction, rosewood fingerboard, original Rickenbacker electronics, Rick-O-Sound capability, original bridge, and original hard-shell case, it delivers everything players love about the legendary 4003.

Professionally set up and ready for its next owner.

🎸 Jerald – Guitar Chimp

Providing The Finest Guitars, Basses & Amps Since 2006