• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dead E string on Rickenbacker 4003

#21
My guess is it's the bass. My 4001 was the same. The A,D,G sounded great but the E was woolly, unfocused, and cardboardy :vomit:.

Before I bought my bass I played another that looked and felt almost identical, and I don't ever remember being turned off by the E string. I have played several Rics, and many of them were far worse than man...and a few were better.

I do remember thinking the bass sounded pretty darn good with the Maxima Gold plated strings (now Optima), but every other set I put on the bass seemed to have a crappy E.

I should have sold the bass, but I spent a fortune and Frankensteined it. I put a BadAss bridge on it. Actually it sounded really great at first, but I wanted to be able to take the action down about 1/32 lower. Took another little sliver of wood off the body and remounted the bridge, and it killed the tone; even worse than before. Took some more wood out and installed some sort of spacer under the bridge, and got it back to about where it was. Installed Alembic pickups and PVF pre; never bonded with the superfilter.

Years later I sent the bass off to have a 2-tek installed and sent the Alembic pre back to be converted to Bass and Treble controls. Ron Wickersham interviewed me and dialed some mojo into the pre for me. The 2-Tek weighs a ton, so bass non longer has any neck dive. Between the tuning of the preamp and the 2-Tek, the bass sounds great and it is arguably a better instrument, but it doesn't sound much like a Ric :(:bag:.

I probably spent more on mods than I paid for the bass (and the bass was not cheap). I think the bass is worth about 1/3rd what it would be worth if I had left it stock.

I have seen suggestions that the problem is related to the pickups...also to insufficient rigidity where the neck and body come together. My guess is the problem with my bass was the later. The neck on my bass does not require truss rod adjustments, but it seems to move around like crazy. I have to tune pretty much every 3-4 songs, and rotating the body over from vertical to horizontal will pull the strings noticeably out of tune. Not sure if this is the neck or flexing at the body.

My advice. Try some different types of strings, and especially different gauges. I believe the Maximas may have worked because they were a lighter gauge. If that doesn't work sell the bass and find one that sounds and plays the way you want it to play. If you want another Rick 4003, play a bunch because Rics seem to have a lot of variation in personality, so you have to find the one that you can bond with.
 
#22
Since others are unloading on RotoSounds I will too. Although they sound great on a Ric, they only sound good for the first half hour after they’re installed. I simply can’t tolerate their short life. On my Ric, I love DR Pure Blues or I use Thomastik Jazz Flats.
 
#26
Sounds like a pickup issue if you've tried other strings you know are fine on it. This was years ago, but a friend bought a new Rick and there was something wrong with one of the pickups, and it ended up being a warranty repair. I'm an experienced repair tech, tested and re-tested connections (Can't remember if resistance readings were off but it wasn't obviously that or I'd have remembered it), and there was just something wrong with it that couldn't be pinpointed, I suspected demagnetization or a loose/faulty pole piece. Since it was a factory warranty repair, we never found out what the specific problem was other than "faulty pickup," and it worked fine when it was returned. DO make sure the strings aren't too close to the pickup as mentioned above, the E string has the most mass and will be most sensitive to magnetic pull, but in my limited history with Rickenbackers, I haven't found them to be particulary "even sounding" in general, and I have seen at least one "Rickenbacker certified bad pickup" come across my bench.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mastermold and Wasnex
#27
Nickweissmusic said:
Sounds like a pickup issue if you've tried other strings you know are fine on it. This was years ago, but a friend bought a new Rick and there was something wrong with one of the pickups, and it ended up being a warranty repair. I'm an experienced repair tech, tested and re-tested connections (Can't remember if resistance readings were off but it wasn't obviously that or I'd have remembered it), and there was just something wrong with it that couldn't be pinpointed, I suspected demagnetization or a loose/faulty pole piece. Since it was a factory warranty repair, we never found out what the specific problem was other than "faulty pickup," and it worked fine when it was returned. DO make sure the strings aren't too close to the pickup as mentioned above, the E string has the most mass and will be most sensitive to magnetic pull, but in my limited history with Rickenbackers, I haven't found them to be particulary "even sounding" in general, and I have seen at least one "Rickenbacker certified bad pickup" come across my bench.
Click to expand...

I had a problem with a pickup on a new 4003 as well (back in 2008), took it to a local luthier who couldn't figure it out, so sent the bass back and the replacement they sent me was good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#28
pbayneg said:
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.
Click to expand...
I had this exact same issue with my 2015 4003. The low E string was anemic. Made adjustments to both pups, truss rod, action, and intonation, and eventually it came alive, for lack of a better term. Couldn't be happier with it now, but it did take a long time to settle in. There's a synchronous relationship to all the above adjustments, more so than any other instrument I've ever owned, that need to come together. Of course all Ric's aren't like this, but mine sure was. Keep at it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#29
pbayneg said:
I've used rotosounds on a few other Rics I've owned and never had issues with them. Also, like I said, I swapped the E string with another brand new E string and had the same effect
Click to expand...
How are your pole pieces set? How high are your pickups set? The v2 bridge has string-spacing adjustment, have your tried adjusting this (possible your E string is sitting slightly outside of the peak of the magnetic field compared to the other strings)? Are the saddle height screws set pretty evenly (meaning does the saddle sit flat against the bridge after setup or at an angle)? Does the E string look like it sits well in the roller-saddle (sometimes you can slightly push down in front of the saddle to help create a more defined witness point on the string, usually more of a thing on a flatwound or really thick round)? How does the break angle of the string behind the saddle look?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#30
roswell1965 said:
I had this exact same issue with my 2015 4003. The low E string was anemic. Made adjustments to both pups, truss rod, action, and intonation, and eventually it came alive, for lack of a better term. Couldn't be happier with it now, but it did take a long time to settle in. There's a synchronous relationship to all the above adjustments, more so than any other instrument I've ever owned, that need to come together. Of course all Ric's aren't like this, but mine sure was. Keep at it!
Click to expand...

That’s good advice too. To find out if the problem is with the bass build itself, play it acoustically in a quiet room, maybe rest it on a table or something hollow so it can resonate, and listen. If the E string is anemic acoustically, then it’s time to dig around for a physical cause. Bridge pieces not snug enough; completely loose truss rod damping vibrations internally; nut slot too wide and string vibrating in it; tuning key loose or faulty; lots of possibilities.
 
#31
roswell1965 said:
I had this exact same issue with my 2015 4003. The low E string was anemic. Made adjustments to both pups, truss rod, action, and intonation, and eventually it came alive, for lack of a better term. Couldn't be happier with it now, but it did take a long time to settle in. There's a synchronous relationship to all the above adjustments, more so than any other instrument I've ever owned, that need to come together. Of course all Ric's aren't like this, but mine sure was. Keep at it!
Click to expand...

I think they might all be like that to some degree lol. I play everything from upright bass to soprano ukulele, and the most uncomfortable, inscrutable instruments I’ve ever held are Rickenbackers. Every angle is wrong for me, can’t figure out be where to pick or pluck it, it feels like trying to play a sack of doorknobs in general. I do love that sound though, someday I’ll have to get one and figure out how to play them ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: roswell1965
#32
Nickweissmusic said:
That’s good advice too. To find out if the problem is with the bass build itself, play it acoustically in a quiet room, maybe rest it on a table or something hollow so it can resonate, and listen. If the E string is anemic acoustically, then it’s time to dig around for a physical cause. Bridge pieces not snug enough; completely loose truss rod damping vibrations internally; nut slot too wide and string vibrating in it; tuning key loose or faulty; lots of possibilities.
Click to expand...
Good call in the truss rod- the double rod design makes it very easy to unintentionally place most of the tension on one rod, leaving the other loose and prone to buzzing and other vibration anomalies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#33
Nickweissmusic said:
I think they might all be like that to some degree lol. I play everything from upright bass to soprano ukulele, and the most uncomfortable, inscrutable instruments I’ve ever held are Rickenbackers. Every angle is wrong for me, can’t figure out be where to pick or pluck it, it feels like trying to play a sack of doorknobs in general. I do love that sound though, someday I’ll have to get one and figure out how to play them ;)
Click to expand...
You need to get your hands on a 4004 at some point- I used to feel the same about Ricks until I picked up a 4004 that was a real gateway between more Fender-y electric basses and the classic 4001/3. I still only really love the feel of the sleeker S basses when it comes to a 4003, as the edgy binding on the body is not worth the aesthetic trade-off for comfort for me! My favorite Rick players played early variations on these anyway (Squire/McCartney).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#34
sunbeast said:
How are your pole pieces set? How high are your pickups set? The v2 bridge has string-spacing adjustment, have your tried adjusting this (possible your E string is sitting slightly outside of the peak of the magnetic field compared to the other strings)? Are the saddle height screws set pretty evenly (meaning does the saddle sit flat against the bridge after setup or at an angle)? Does the E string look like it sits well in the roller-saddle (sometimes you can slightly push down in front of the saddle to help create a more defined witness point on the string, usually more of a thing on a flatwound or really thick round)? How does the break angle of the string behind the saddle look?
Click to expand...

Assuming the bass passes the acoustic ear test, side to side string placement can be a big one, good call. I have absolutely come across instruments, especially vintage with tired pickups, in which the happy spot of the pickup pattern isn’t in the correctly spaced track. Then you have to decide whether to compromise on sound or playability, replace the pickup, or let it be someone else’s problem.
 
#35
Nickweissmusic said:
Assuming the bass passes the acoustic ear test, side to side string placement can be a big one, good call. I have absolutely come across instruments, especially vintage with tired pickups, in which the happy spot of the pickup pattern isn’t in the correctly spaced track. Then you have to decide whether to compromise on sound or playability, replace the pickup, or let it be someone else’s problem.
Click to expand...
Yeah that’s a real problem on some Ricks in my experience (you can bend notes outside of the magnet field up the neck), one of the trade-offs to the single-pole per string setup even as the actual magnet coverage on the bottom of the pickup is plenty wide on a 4003. The adjustable spacing at the saddles on the new bridge should be able to fix this if it is the issue, also lowering the pickup height(s) will make the imbalance less extreme
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickweissmusic
#36
One last thought, that should have been part of my first: record the acoustic sound of the instrument! So you’re listening more objectively, and get other opinions if you’re not sure. I bet even a phone mic would be fine. Sound is a cruel mistress, it’s easy to hear what you want to hear ;)
 
#37
roswell1965 said:
I had this exact same issue with my 2015 4003. The low E string was anemic. Made adjustments to both pups, truss rod, action, and intonation, and eventually it came alive, for lack of a better term. Couldn't be happier with it now, but it did take a long time to settle in. There's a synchronous relationship to all the above adjustments, more so than any other instrument I've ever owned, that need to come together. Of course all Ric's aren't like this, but mine sure was. Keep at it!
Click to expand...

Yeah, the only thing I haven't messed with at all is the truss rods, which I'll probably look at sometime this weekend
 
  • Like
Reactions: roswell1965
#38
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...
Yes, I even complained to the Rotosound rep when I played shows in Branson over 15 years ago. I think it comes from when Entwistle wanted a thicker core to keep the E string from flopping. The rep shipped me a box of 105 E strings so I could change E strings every couple of shows so they wouldn't sound dead compared to the others.
 
#40
Read a lot of replies and glad that many reported being able to work out “dull” E string issues, etc., through other adjustments.
However, my issues with Rotos have to do with the strings (more than just the E string) being “thudders” repeatedly out of the package regardless.
Add to that, they chewed up the frets on my previous ‘74 and ‘75 Rics big-time.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back