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Dead E string on Rickenbacker 4003

pbayneg

pbayneg

Oct 31, 2018
50
61
27
Atlanta, GA
#1
So, I've just finally finished setting up my new (new to me) Rickenbacker 4003. I installed new pickups, new wiring harness, new 4003v2 bridge, and strings. Everything sounds and feels great with the exception of the E string. The E string sounds dead and almost like the tone knob is turned down whenever I play it. It doesn't matter if it's an open E or even fretted it sounds like there is no brightness in the note. I restrung my other 4003 with new strings to compare and my older one diffidently has a brighter E string.

I even swapped the E strings to see if maybe it was a dull string in the package but still "dead" on the newer Ric and bright on the older Ric. The string also sounds dead when played acoustically, so it's not any electrical issues.

Both 4003's are early-mid 90's guitars with brand new modern pickups and strung with standard gauged rotosound 66's.

I've tried adjusting the bridge but haven't messed with the truss rods yet, as I've heard that can sometime come into play. But like I said, only the E string. A, D, and G strings all sound the same on both instruments.

I don't know if there is anything anybody may have some insight about or if I'm blatantly missing something. But any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is the wrong thread to post this
 
#4
I grew up on Roto Swings. I still love the way they sound and feel for rounds. I moved to DR because Rotos tend to be all or nothing, especially the E, sometimes the A. Can go from full John Entwistle bravado to dead so rapidly and you can’t predict it. In as little as a single day. And it has always been like that.
This much I can tell you for certain, your bass doesn’t have a dead quarter of the neck. And a pickup isn’t going to cause that. Good luck and try a ton of strings. You might find something you like better.
 
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#7
michael_t said:
Nothing new or unusual about the Roto 66 E string being dead fresh out of the pack. Quite common according to what I've read.
Click to expand...

Well, I replaced the E string with the E string from another bass that sounded good, and got the same results after restringing, so it's definitely something with the bass and not a dud string out the package
 
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#8
pbayneg said:
Well, I replaced the E string with the E string from another bass that sounded good, and got the same results after restringing, so it's definitely something with the bass and not a dud string out the package
Click to expand...

So, what you're saying is you suspect it's more of a setup issue than a string issue?

Then I would suggest you post your concern in the "Hardware, Setup & Repair" section.
 
#10
Stings lose energy at their ends. Look at how the string interacts with the bridge, nut, etc. If it's not a string problem, it has to be a physical issue - the pickups and electronics have the same electrical response on all 4 strings, the electrical system isn't going to make one string sound dull if the other 3 sound OK.
 
#13
michael_t said:
Nothing new or unusual about the Roto 66 E string being dead fresh out of the pack. Quite common according to what I've read.
Click to expand...
Why I stopped using Rotosounds. After two magnificent Rics and disappointment every single time I bought Rotosounds, decades ago, then a reading about the same issues now? Rotos are a no-go. They also chewed up the frets on my ‘73 and ‘75 Rics.
 
#17
I’ve got a dead-ish spot on my E around the 5th fret. It’s bern suggested that I give the truss rod a tweak. I haven’t (I need to buy the right tool), but it’s a common answer I’ve seen. Might be worth a try.
 
#19
pbayneg said:
So, I've just finally finished setting up my new (new to me) Rickenbacker 4003. I installed new pickups, new wiring harness, new 4003v2 bridge, and strings. Everything sounds and feels great with the exception of the E string. The E string sounds dead and almost like the tone knob is turned down whenever I play it. It doesn't matter if it's an open E or even fretted it sounds like there is no brightness in the note. I restrung my other 4003 with new strings to compare and my older one diffidently has a brighter E string.

I even swapped the E strings to see if maybe it was a dull string in the package but still "dead" on the newer Ric and bright on the older Ric. The string also sounds dead when played acoustically, so it's not any electrical issues.

Both 4003's are early-mid 90's guitars with brand new modern pickups and strung with standard gauged rotosound 66's.

I've tried adjusting the bridge but haven't messed with the truss rods yet, as I've heard that can sometime come into play. But like I said, only the E string. A, D, and G strings all sound the same on both instruments.

I don't know if there is anything anybody may have some insight about or if I'm blatantly missing something. But any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is the wrong thread to post this
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to figure out what the bridge and truss rod has to do with a dead string.....

Is the pickup height to string set to oem? If so, get a new set of strings or new e string.

You're over thinking
 

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