Ric 4001 Neck Issue

Gin · #1 12-17-2009, 09:35 PM

After doing some neck adjustments on my Ric(went through Joeys bass notes, ricki resource and ric forums) I still have this relief that starts from the 5th fret to the string nut. Anyway to get rid of this? I'd really like to get this neck a little more flat then what it's at now...

Using rotos 45-105.

Thanks!

Zooberwerx · #2 12-18-2009, 06:42 AM

How much relief are you seeing with the string fretted at the 1st and 5th frets?

Riis

Gin · #3 12-18-2009, 02:30 PM

I sound like a newbie, but Im not sure how to check that... but I tried my best with my cell camera to take a picture of it. Hope this helps....

lug · #4 12-18-2009, 02:37 PM

Those strings are a mile and a half too high. I'm not trying to be rude but I think you should have it set up by a real tech w/ ric experience and get some pointers because that is about as far off as I've ever seen a bass.

Gin · #5 12-18-2009, 02:39 PM

Yeah, I knew something was wrong!

. Sadly i brought it to a tech at one of my guitar stores in the city, they didnt know to do to be honest. Im screwed for now.

Craig_S · #6 12-18-2009, 02:40 PM

You could shoot arrows with that neck! Take lug's advice.

Gin · #7 12-18-2009, 02:42 PM

I have a BAII bridge on it too, and theyre as low as I can get them, some of them are even grooved in a lot to have the strings set to a low action...

gidbass · #8 12-18-2009, 02:49 PM

I don't know anything about Ric's (other than the look awesome) but maybe this thread can help with your setup woes...

The Ultimate Guide To Perfect Bass Setup

With a BAII you should be able to get the strings pretty low, at least, lower that what you posted.

Maybe some pics of the bridge area will shed some light....(not that I could really help much)

Good Luck!

Zooberwerx · #9 12-18-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

Those strings are a mile and a half too high. I'm not trying to be rude but I think you should have it set up by a real tech w/ ric experience and get some pointers because that is about as far off as I've ever seen a bass.

Yep, what he said. Since you don't have much confidence in your local tech, let's try something else.

You mentioned that you tweaked your neck so I'll assume you have the proper truss rod tool. Correct? All you really need toolwise is a set of feeler gauges (available at your local auto parts store for ~$5) and a guitar capo (available from your local guitarist....with time, he'll forget he lent it to you so stash it in your toolbox for future use). You'll also need the appropriate hex key to adjust bridge height.

This is really not a big deal and you will have to do periodic adjustments. Here's your chance to hone your skills. Ric's are strange agents.....some models require removal of all string tension and counter-pressure on the neck whilst tightening the truss rod(s). I'll assume you've read the online instructions?

Riis

JMac4strngr · #10 12-18-2009, 02:57 PM

I used to have a '77 4001 and I am trying to remember the exact years but the truss rods changed I believe sometime in the 80's. From what I recall on the vintage ones you would actually have to loosen all the strings to set the truss rods, and the later ones would adjust with string tension on the neck........ I would definitly find a good Luthier in your area (not some Jo-shmo string swapper) and get it right. It would be cheaper to have the truss rods set correctly than to take a chance and wind up paying to have them replaced. That is too nice of a bass to have a bad set up.

Zooberwerx · #11 12-18-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin

I have a BAII bridge on it too, and theyre as low as I can get them, some of them are even grooved in a lot to have the strings set to a low action...

Sorry, I missed this bit of info.

Before we go dickin' around with anything, we have to figure out if we have a relief problem, a string height problem, or a combination of both.

How long ago did you install the BAII? Does the high action coincide with the installation?

Riis

Gin · #12 12-18-2009, 03:04 PM

The Ric came with a BAII installed already, it was purchased here on TB. When I got it, it had medium gauge rotos and the neck was dead straight. I then restrung with Rotosounds 66 standard gauge. The neck started to bow like that within a few days. I changed each string out one at a time too.

Gin · #13 12-18-2009, 03:10 PM

Well here are the bridge pics. Lackluster quality, but it's all I've got.

Saddles are completely flat, nothing is raised.

electracoyote · #14 12-18-2009, 03:18 PM

Okay, by way of reminder, here are a few observations:

I have three Rics. On each one, there is almost no relief. The fingerboards are almost perfectly flat. That is how a lot of Ric players prefer it, and the Rickenbacker is one of the few guitars where it is actually prescribed to remove 99% of the relief.

The dual-truss rod system makes truss rod adjustments tricky. If you don't know what you're doing, you need to find someone who does.

I've heard this from many, and my personal experience is that Badass bridges can make good set-ups more difficult (if not impossible) because of the thickness of the plate. This has no doubt complicated your situation.

Pictures are horrible diagnostic tools, but your action looks way too high. I would go for another bridge (an original or a replacement other than the Badass) and find someone who knows how to work with the dual truss rod.

Good luck.

Gin · #15 12-18-2009, 03:34 PM

I would get a replacement bridge, but I simply don't have the cash to buy anything at the moment because I bought this ric.

I think I'll look around for tech..hopefully.

JLS · #16 12-19-2009, 09:28 AM

This could be the dreaded Ric neck disease, wherein the the neckset changes; Rics w/bridges adjusted as low as they will go, proper relief in the neck, terribly high action. The only cure, sad to say, is similar to that for classical guitars: removal of the fingerboard, installation of a long wedge to change the angle.

*IF*--if the neck angle is okay, and you can adjust the pickups low enough, you *could* rout the bridge into the body, taking into consideration that however much you need to lower the action at the 12th fret, you'll have to inset the bridge twice that amount.

These are cool looking, but problematic basses.

Zooberwerx · #17 12-19-2009, 11:25 AM

Why don't you just put the old strings back on and see what happens? Installing a heavier gauge set will create increased relief / bow in just about every incident. This is problematic for those of us who like to experiment with different string sets....but that's what truss rods are for.

A simple set-up may cure all your woes. There has got to be a competent tech (within driving distance) ready and willing to intervene. Hopefully, he'll be sympathetic to your plight and provide some type of hands-on tutorial so, in the future, you can do your own set-ups.

Riis