Low end fades away on my 4003 Rickenbacker.

[Houston]

I'm not sure how to say this in a way that will make sense, but the "fatness" on the E and A strings sometimes just... goes away. Makes no difference which pickup I'm using (bridge, neck or both). I still get the notes (the upper harmonics), but the fundamental of each note disappears. No pattern of disappearance that I can discern; some days it happens, some days it doesn't.

Is this a known problem? Will a little solder fix this?

Thanks in advance,
Joey

[John Wentzien]

Your pickup might be adjusted too close to the string.. the pull of the magnet can dampen the note..

[billbern]

Is there enough relief in the neck so the strings don't "bottom out" with aggressive play?
Bill

[Houston]

Thanks for the replies.

I've never adjusted the pickup; I've left it just the way I got it (except for removing the bridge pickup cover). Anyway, the E string end of the pickups is even with the G string end.

I don't play very aggressively (usually), but no, it's not bottoming out.

I still get the fundamentals of the D and G strings, but the fundamentals of the E and A strings are gone or nearly so. The upper harmonics are still there though.

[Linas]

I had the same problem that i have just begun to work out. First thing, new strings. I think rotosounds are the consensus for rick musts, but choose what you want. Second i was digging around on the rick forums and they say that ricks sound best with no to little relief. After tightening my truss rods, i have the neck at about .010" relief and have a noticeable improvement. Im shooting for the full flat fretboard but am waiting a day in between truss rod adjustments so the neck can settle. Give it a shot, it worked so far for me.

[wunderman]

I have a 1980 rick and the pickup went bad on mine it seemed to work but not at full volume. I checked it with an ohm meter it showed 3 ohms ,I think its should be 8.wunderman

[yaggy]

i noticed no one has mentioned compression.


proper compression on your signal would smooth out the dynamic range so that the level you are playing at will not favor just the higher notes.

if setup well, those lower notes will not boom and disappear, they will ring smooth and long with good sustain and at levels equal to the rest of your bass guitar.

take the time to look for an article online that teaches you how to set this all up and the theory behind it. it can be a foot pedal or rack unit... some heads even have simplistic on-board compressors but they are often of little help.

compression is not an exciting thing, since it is more of a choker harness on your rig than a flashy tone effect, but when you understand it and have it dialed up perfect, you'll wonder why you never paid it proper attention before.