Rickenbacker dead E string?

[Travisx2112]

Hey guys, I've always wanted a Ricky, and now I finally have one - a brand new '09 4003 in JetGlo! I love it except for one problem that doesn't seem to be too uncommon among these basses. A dead E string. I haven't tried many things yet to fix it except for raising the poles on the pickups to try to fix it, and also to get a proper volume from each string, which I succeeded in doing. I was considering replacing the bridge with a hipshot bride to fix the dead E, since I've heard that the stock Ric bridge is a pretty shoddy design anyways. I don't think I'd need to change the string because it shouldn't sound that bad. The rest of them are new, so why wouldn't the E be? I have a lack in high end from the E, but the low fundemental and sustain are still there. It sounds like a flatwound E with roundwound A, D and G strings. I don't really want to mess with the truss rods since it plays so well and...I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to that.

[Ric5]

Try a new set of strings. Try a .105 E string. Try a set with a tapered E string. (That is tapered at the bridge.)
Tweak the truss rods.
Adjust the pickups. Adjust the bridge.
Also the nut may be cut too high. You may have to deepen the grooves of the nut.

The old 60s and 70s 4001 necks were weaker. The 4003 got a redesigned neck that is stronger. But the strength also killed some of the resonance.

My solution to the weak E string is that I convert my 4 string basses into 5 string basses. The additional stress on the neck makes the E string perform better. But then you can get a weak B string.

I am not convinced that a replacement bridge will fix the weak E string. But Hipshot does make a nice drop in replacement part.

[Travisx2112]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Try a new set of strings. Try a .105 E string. Try a set with a tapered E string. (That is tapered at the bridge.)

I am not convinced that a replacement bridge will fix the weak E string. But Hipshot does make a nice drop in replacement part.

What would the tapered E string change, the vibration on the bridge? Why are you not convinced that a Hipshot would fix it? Sorry, a bit of a noob here when it comes to setting up basses.

[Ric5]

I don't have a theory that explains why a tapered E string would help. But I have a Rickenbacker 4004 that I added a 5th string to and the low b just always seemed a little dead both acoustically and electrically. When I put a set of strings with a tapered B string on it then it finally sounded the way I wanted it to.

[Travisx2112]

Originally Posted by Ric5

I don't have a theory that explains why a tapered E string would help. But I have a Rickenbacker 4004 that I added a 5th string to and the low b just always seemed a little dead both acoustically and electrically. When I put a set of strings with a tapered B string on it then it finally sounded the way I wanted it to.

I see what you're saying, but I don't really want to at a 5th string to my bass

[deliciouspesto]

check PM, lets try to get this fixed up for you