So here’s my biggest beef with the way Ben Hall is running Rickenbacker—but to be fair, if this is my biggest beef he’s doing okay! Everything is announced via the socials with scant details. No press releases, no spec sheets, just a pic on Instagram and Facebook and a “here it is!” announcement. Last night (Sept 23, 2025) we got one of those.
So it seems that the 4030 is now a production guitar—in “S” form. If you’re not familiar with the 4030, you can read all about it here, but the summary is that it is a short scale (30.5”) bass built on a 4003 body and neck. The scale is shortened by moving the bridge from the tail to mid-body.
The 4030 began as a custom guitar for Death From Above 1979’s Jesse F. Keeler in 2018, along with a handful of Boutique one-offs. Wilcutt Guitars ordered special runs in 2022 and 2024. And that was it until today…and now it’s an in-line production model.
Now this one is an “S” version—no binding, dot inlays, mono wiring. It appears to also be available as a 4030S/W. The 4030 featured “hot/12k toasters”, and it appears that these guitars have the same. But all these things I’m divining from one photo. As we learn more I’ll update this brief overview. But c’mon, Ben, give us a press release with all the deets!