string help rickenbacker 4003... I always mess up with the A and E.

Presto2112 · #1 12-10-2012, 07:36 PM

Hey guys, I've been messing up alot putting strings on my 4003 and my nut popped out for the 2nd time in a row because of me... Hey I've been used to a steinberger for 3 years. Currently my ric is upstairs no nut, and 2 strings that are put on wrong, some of the string is going over the tuning peg... I honestly have no idea how but... anyone else hate putting strings on a ric? I'm seriously considersing selling it so I can get a Geddy bass. I'm starting to hate my ric because of my errors.

Presto2112 · #2 12-10-2012, 07:38 PM

*considering

mccartneyman · #3 12-10-2012, 07:41 PM

Sounds to me like your strings are the wrong scale if some of the metal is around the peg. Best thing you can do is take the bass to a tech and have it checked and set up. I have never had a problem with a Rick neck or nut.

Presto2112 · #4 12-10-2012, 07:46 PM

I just use rotosounds standard guage. I don't want to pay someone for a simple issue like this. Plus, I don't really trust music stores or anything anymore after they broke my friend's truss rod.....

**Ric5** · #5 12-10-2012, 10:26 PM

Get rich so you can hire a full time bass tech to do all of your work for ya.

Freez · #6 12-11-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

Get rich so you can hire a full time bass tech to do all of your work for ya.

+1...if your messing up putting the strings on, you may be in over your head. Might want to look into drums or something not so complicated...

Duke21 · #7 12-11-2012, 07:20 AM

There is no different in effort to restring a Ric or a Fender (Geddy Sig Jazz). I do not really understand from your post what is the problem?
That is how:
http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/Rick_maint.htm#cs

Edit: If you want to sell your Ric, I'm willing buying it cheap from you and save you the pain!!!

**Ric5** · #8 12-11-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freez

+1...if your messing up putting the strings on, you may be in over your head. Might want to look into drums or something not so complicated...

Hahaha!!!!

rockinrayduke · #9 12-11-2012, 12:26 PM

Don't hate the bass, it didn't cause this. You on the other hand need to do a little research. Go to Joey's Bass Notes and read.

I still can't figure out what you did and how you did it.

u84six · #10 12-11-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Presto2112

Hey guys, I've been messing up alot putting strings on my 4003 and my nut popped out for the 2nd time in a row because of me... Hey I've been used to a steinberger for 3 years. Currently my ric is upstairs no nut, and 2 strings that are put on wrong, some of the string is going over the tuning peg... I honestly have no idea how but... anyone else hate putting strings on a ric? I'm seriously considersing selling it so I can get a Geddy bass. I'm starting to hate my ric because of my errors.

Yeah, those basses kind of suck and they always have problems with strings. So if you're thinking of selling it, I'll take that piece of crap off your hands for a couple hundred bucks. I use them to make lamps around my house.

WokenDeer · #11 12-11-2012, 10:48 PM

I just restrung my ric today for the 500th time, what's the issue? String through bridge. Into hole in tuner. Tighten until satisfied/tuned. ? Like any other bass. Are you using bigger gauge strings and ripping the nut out? If so just file the nut, with the string if anything.

I<34080 · #12 12-11-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WokenDeer

I just restrung my ric today for the 500th time, what's the issue? String through bridge. Into hole in tuner. Tighten until satisfied/tuned. ? Like any other bass. Are you using bigger gauge strings and ripping the nut out? If so just file the nut, with the string if anything.

Sounds like he's winding the D and G strings backwards on a broken nut or something

Duke21 · #13 12-11-2012, 11:37 PM

Indeed, doing so will put shear force on the nut.

Duke21 · #14 12-11-2012, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u84six

Yeah, those basses kind of suck and they always have problems with strings. So if you're thinking of selling it, I'll take that piece of crap off your hands for a couple hundred bucks. I use them to make lamps around my house.

Dude, wait in line, I was the first one to suggest this solution on this thread!

Ezmar · #15 12-12-2012, 06:50 AM

Maybe post a video of how you do it. My initial thought is that you might be winding some the wrong way. My brother did that once right before a concert and snapped the nut in half. This was back when he'd just started playing.

miholc · #16 12-12-2012, 10:59 AM

I hate my Ric. Bridge part of it. But hating Ric because of the nut?! I literally lol'ed when reading OP. Thanks for teh luls Presto, haha

Duke21 · #17 12-12-2012, 11:11 AM

Hating a Ric due to the bridge is just as bad as hating it due to the nut, the bridge is no issue and if you really do not like it, change it.

Ezmar · #18 12-12-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke21

Hating a Ric due to the bridge is just as bad as hating it due to the nut, the bridge is no issue and if you really do not like it, change it.

NO WAY MAN, The bridge is necessary to that Classic Rickenbacker sound!

Change the bridge and you might as well be playing a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BASS!!

Duke21 · #19 12-12-2012, 12:11 PM

Ha ha, yes, but I love my 4003 with its bridge, nut and pup cover, I love it as it is.

iiipopes · #20 12-12-2012, 12:16 PM

(Sigh) Did you trim the leader of the string so it has just the correct number of wraps to come down flush on the tuning post?

Yes, there are those who complain about the bridge. It can't be worse than on my 4002 which has threads on both flanges of the bridge bass, so when it needs adjusting you have to take the entire bridge apart, manually place the saddle, and then screw everything back down.

The postive aspect of this design is that once I settled on a particular brand, model and gauge of strings, in my case GHS Pressurewounds in 45-60-80-105, I haven't had to touch my bridge in almost twenty, that's right, two decade's worth of years, and it is usually perfectly in tune when I pick it up out of the case.