The Rickenbacker Club Part Seven - Page 21

Duke21 · #**401** 01-18-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

That's an easy do-it-yourself fix, right?
Drill a couple of countersunk holes and put in a couple of stainless steel panhead screws?

Indeed, no big deal.

Rockin Mike · #**402** 01-18-2013, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

That's an easy do-it-yourself fix, right?
Drill a couple of countersunk holes and put in a couple of stainless steel panhead screws?

I found this thread about fixing it using washers under the existing screws instead of drilling holes and adding new screws. Is this not a better way to do it?

Rickenbacker 4003 tailpiece mod, picture tutorial

Sartori · #**403** 01-18-2013, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhynoRock

Now, newer Rics don't have that cap and run at full blast, right? Like mine being made in 2002 wouldn't have that, I suspect?

They do not.

The very last few years, RIC has included the cap, but it's switchable with a push/pull pot. Pushed in, it's disengaged. Pulled out, it's in the circuit.

Yours I don't think is one of those years.

kcole4001 · #**404** 01-18-2013, 03:02 PM

An '02 would not have the cap unless someone installed one.
You'd know if they did: the bridge pup would be considerably thinner sounding than the neck pup.

I've tried humbuckers (SD) in my '77 4001 and didn't like 'em, but briefly had the SD bridge pup in my '76 4000 and cranking that bugger up is like shouting 'stand the F\/@& back'.
Nasty!

Rockin Mike · #**405** 01-18-2013, 04:13 PM

Funny, in the 70s people used to take the cap out, later on people used to put the cap in... no wonder they went to the push-pull

Jaymi · #**406** 01-18-2013, 04:18 PM

I have always pulled the cap

sloppy_phil · #**407** 01-18-2013, 04:23 PM

i don't see the need to ditch it altogether; indeed occasionally it's just the sound that's called for. Push/pull means you can have the best of both worlds whenever you want.... i see no reason to totally dismiss one of those sounds as useless when such an easy win-win remedy is available/doable

woodyng · #**408** 01-18-2013, 04:23 PM

I like the switch,which can be purchased from RIC and added to basses that don't have them. I got to try out a brand new 4003 recently,and even just going the standard mono output route,the cap switch gives some great tonal options lterally at your fingertips.

Jaymi · #**409** 01-18-2013, 04:26 PM

Woody, you still need to send that 4000 to Tennessee!!

woodyng · #**410** 01-18-2013, 04:28 PM

Well,it used to live there!

Jaymi · #**411** 01-18-2013, 04:30 PM

it could have stayed here!!! LOL

woodyng · #**412** 01-18-2013, 04:32 PM

I really love it,about the only thing that would make me trade it is if someone found my old viellette-citron 8 string....but even that i'd have to think about!

Jaymi · #**413** 01-18-2013, 04:34 PM

I hear ya!

Jeff Scott · #**414** 01-18-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodyng

I really love it,about the only thing that would make me trade it is if someone found my old viellette-citron 8 string....but even that i'd have to think about!

Hmm......

Martin Keith works with Veillette and uses Citron pickups..........maybe an 8 string Elfin!

woodyng · #**415** 01-18-2013, 04:44 PM

Oh no, i want my old one back! It was a relatively simple one- tobacco sunburst, one pickup ,dot neck.....and it sounded fricktastic.

Rockin Mike · #**416** 01-18-2013, 05:26 PM

I believe it, but I don't understand it.
Strings vibrate in an arc, how come Ric necks don't need any curvature?

bigchiefbc · #**417** 01-18-2013, 09:22 PM

I jumpered around the bridge cap on my '76 4001 tonight. WOW, that bridge pickup really blasts now! Not just deeper, but a good deal more output too. I'll eventually put a flipswitch in there, but for now I'll just leave it jumpered.

thiocyclist · #**418** 01-18-2013, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I believe it, but I don't understand it.
Strings vibrate in an arc, how come Ric necks don't need any curvature?

They are no different than any other bass. I've seen Fenders and Rics set up the same way in order to play and sound their best.

Duke21 · #**419** 01-19-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloppy_phil

i don't see the need to ditch it altogether; indeed occasionally it's just the sound that's called for. Push/pull means you can have the best of both worlds whenever you want.... i see no reason to totally dismiss one of those sounds as useless when such an easy win-win remedy is available/doable

The vintage/ modern push pull on the 4003 is the best thing to have.

Rockin Mike · #**420** 01-19-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thiocyclist

They are no different than any other bass. I've seen Fenders and Rics set up the same way in order to play and sound their best.

I'm still at not understanding. Setup guides for other basses say there should be some slight curvature, and even give specs for how much curvature and how to measure it.

Everything I've seen about Ric setups says the neck should be dead straight.

So, according to the setup instructions they are different from other basses.

Can't understand why, though. The swinging string doesn't know what brand of axe it's on.

First thought was, maybe the nuts are higher on Rics, allowing the string more room over the fretboard. But no, any advantage from that would go away as soon as you played a note on the first fret.

Does Rickenbacker level their frets differently than other makers? Perhaps creating the curvature through varying fret heights when the neck is dead straight? That is really reaching and I'm sure it's not the case but...

What is the reason for the dead flat recommendation?