replacement neck for ricks

wingnut · #1 02-26-2009, 11:43 AM

I know there is a site for finding these things that someone gane me here on TB before, but I'll be damned if I can find it. Lots of sites for pick ups etc... but no necks. I traded for a 1981 rick 4001 that I knew had neck issues. The truss rods are broken, I'm sure the neck has been damaged if they cranked the rods enough to break them both! Help out a poor dumb desert rat.

The Golden Boy · #2 02-26-2009, 12:02 PM

That's a neck through bass...

I suppose it's possible to replace the truss rods and the fingerboard, but the neck starts at the strap button and ends at the headstock.

73jbass · #3 02-26-2009, 12:07 PM

Check out the Ric BBS,and post there.The CEO regularly checks in there.You might want to comtact there customer service dept. first.

wingnut · #4 02-26-2009, 12:07 PM

What happens if I find the neck is damaged? Just because it's neck through doesn't mean it's not replaceable, right? Or I could be totally wrong...

Phalex · #5 02-26-2009, 12:10 PM

Replaceable?? No friggin way! Repairable?? Maybe.

**TheEmptyCell** · #6 02-26-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut

it's not replaceable

Edited for truth.

Unless you want to have the body wings cut off from the neck-through portion, you're going to have to have it repaired.

Basically, a repair would involve an experienced tech figuring out if the rods are in complete disrepair or maybe just overly tight. If they're too tight, they could coerce them out and then with some sophisticated clamping, repair the neck bow and put in new rods.

Worse comes to worse, the fingerboard would be removed and then the rods would be replaced.

202dy · #7 02-26-2009, 12:36 PM

You are in luck. A 1981 Rickenbacker 4001 has two truss rods. They are removable, repairable, and replaceable. There is no need to remove the fingerboard or saw off the body wings.

When you say that they are broken, do you mean that there is something visible that is broken, i.e. stripped adjusting nut or broken end? Or do you mean that they are not adjusting the relief enough or not at all?

wingnut · #8 02-26-2009, 03:39 PM

I will check into that when I get home. I'm taking the guy at his word at this point. He told me when we were trading that the truss rods were both broken, he didn't say how he knew. When i get home i'll take the cover off and take a look. I've never owned a rick and I'll be using the on line manual to check the rods. Hopefully it's just loose rods. There is no audible rattling and the neck has a serious bow to it. I do know where to get new rods at least. It sounds like you just remove the nut and slide the rod out?

202dy · #9 02-26-2009, 06:21 PM

Slide? In a perfect world, yes. More like tug. Or pull. Occasionally yank. Sometimes it feels like you'll have to clamp the guitar to the bench and use a cable puller. It depends on the bow in the neck and the bow in the rods.

These rods are a cruder style of a two way rod in that the rod works against itself rather than against the neck to change the relief. They set in two separate flat channels. The rods are pretty hard to break except at the nut. But sometimes they will take a bad set. The remedy is to remove the rod, straighten it, and then replace it. Sometimes the bow in the neck must be clamped out to remove the rod. It's rarely fun or easy to remove them.

N.B. This is one of those repairs that looks easy but isn't. If you are not handy in the extreme, take the guitar to a pro to have the work done. You should now have enough information to quiz a prospective tech to see if he knows how to do it. If he doesn't, talk to someone else.

Phalex · #10 02-26-2009, 06:23 PM

Hunt down a fella named Dale Fortune at the Rickenbacker forum. If anyone knows what you're up against, it'd be him.

wingnut · #11 02-27-2009, 11:05 AM

Got a chance to check it out last night and at least one truss rod is broken. Also the rick is a 4003 not a 4001 as I was lead to believe. It does appear to be a 1981 model though. Called my local luthier and he suggested sending it to Rickenbacker. Do they perform repair work?

Relic · #12 02-28-2009, 06:07 AM

I would check out the Rick forums. You'll likely be able to get all of the answers you need there.
One golden rule to remember when dealing with Ricks - there IS no unfixable Rick, it just depends on how deep thine wallet is

6BG6G · #13 02-28-2009, 10:33 AM

I have an '83 4003 That had a stripped truss rod. The bracket that held the two rods together had bent and snapped as well. I brought it to afew repair shops around NYC. Nobody wanted to touch it. Finally I decided to attempt the repair myself. Now it's better than before and fully adjustable again. it only cost me a few dollars worth of tools. If you're handy and feel confident undertaking such a project, then go for it.

Let me know if you have a similar problem, I'll let you know how I fixed it.

wingnut · #14 03-01-2009, 08:44 PM

Back again...I got the truss rods out, it was pretty painless. The rod ends are definately stripped and the rods themselves are very flimsy. I can't find a website for Dale Fortune. He does troll the rick website but I'm having computer problems and can't log in on the site. Anybody have a web address for his business so I can get some new rods?
Thanks