Tuning machines on an '80 Rickenbacker 4001

[Engine207]

The tuning machine for the G string on my old Ric is slipping a bit and it's driving me nuts! I took it apart and cleaned it, thinking it had grimed up over the years, but now it's just a sparkling clean tuner that slips.

I'd like to solve the problem without drilling new holes. I bought it new and would sooner sell my liver than this bass, so the "monetary value" of it's originality is not a big issue, but drilling on it would damage it's "pristineness".

Does anyone out there have any thoughts on how to treat the problem? I could be talked into replacing all four of them at once, as long as the holes matched up, but what kind? Grover? Schaller? Hipshot? Gotoh?

I really like the Schaller M4S, but they don't appear to have any screws to secure them to the headstock (http://www.allparts.com/store/tuning...10,Product.asp). I could live with the original holes remaining unused if these are somehow secured without new drilling required. I also don't know about the size of the hole in the headstock for the actual string winders.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts...E207

[Chinguschild]

Somethings I found online

If the tuners are on a 4001, they are the old Klusons ...........replacement sets of the very similar Schaller vintage style tuners that say Rickenbacker.........They look much nicer and are interchangeable with the original Klusons.

factory Schaller tuners ...... look similar to the Kluson tuners ,but have superior gearing.

My replacement 00550 keywinds showed up today from Mike Parks at The Ric Page.

As it turns out, they were a drop on - no new holes needed, and the backplate is a perfect match. They tighten "backwards" from the originals (which were "righty-tighty"), but they work soooo much better, and no more rattles, either. I did use the new chrome bushings that came with the tuners.

Anyone with a similar vintage 4001 can rest assured - the current Ric "vintage" tunes will work, and it's a simple screwdriver job.

And very soon a perfect Gotoh replica of the original Klusons will be available as well. We've had to work with them to tool up from ground zero in order to have accurate keys for the "C" Series.

Not sure how old any of that info is or if its ANY use at all to you. I dont own a ric.

[Engine207]

Thanks for all of the research. I spent the better part of the day on it and couldn't find any of that.

Would you, by chance, have any of the sources where you found those comments? I'd like to follow up to make sure my Ric is among those considered "vintage" by the writers.

Thanks again for the help!

[Chinguschild]

I cannot find ANY of those post again (go figure) but here is a link to the site I used for all of the info.

http://www.rickresource.com/

[Engine207]

What an awesome web page! I just spent two hours bumping around that site and if I didn't have things to do, I could sit there all day! Of the quotes you copied, one of them was actually attributed to John Hall, the CEO of Ric.

He seemed to corroborate that 00550s are direct replacements, as are a new Gotoh model (which was released after this thread ended).

That's cool! I like the Schallers just fine, they are easily available with the "Rickenbacker" stamped on, and they look brilliant.

Anyway, Thanks again for turning me on to that killer Ric site. Have a great christmas...E207

[Chinguschild]

Glad I could help