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Fixed! More sad news for the Rick 4003S/5:

FunkHead

FunkHead

Supporting Member
Mar 10, 2007
12,829
19,733
#1
As some of you all know, I tried the Dogal JH172 Flats on my Rick 4003S/5. The B string has no Taper at the tuner end so the string will not fit the hole in tuning machine.

So I ordered some D'addario Chromes (ECB81-5). The B string will not fit all the way through the Schaller Bridge. I would gladly put a Hipshot Bridge on if it was a reversible mod(No extra holes to drill etc...

I was really looking forward to flats for last nights Gig but I just ended up taking my Spector NS2 instead.

I'm hoping that anyone using any Flats at all on the 4003S/5 will chime in with what will work.

So Far, these will definitely not work:
> Dogal JH-172 Flats(No B string Taper at machine head)
> D'Addario Chromes(B string Too fat for hole in Bridge)


Maybe I will just get some TI JF-345's for it. I believe some of us have used the TI's succesfully on the S5.


iu
 
#3
FunkHead said:
D'Addario Chromes(B string Too fat for hole in Bridge)


Maybe I will just get some TI JF-345's for it. I believe some of us have used the TI's succesfully on the S5.
Click to expand...
If so, it must be because they happen to have a bigger hole in the bridge: as their respective item numbers show, the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flat JF34136 is even larger than the D'Addario Chrome CB132.

The B string has no Taper at the tuner end so the string will not fit the hole in tuning machine.
Click to expand...
How long is the distance from bridge ball-end anchoring point to B-string tuning post?

Also, would you prefer brightish or dark flatwounds?
 
#4
FunkHead said:
As some of you all know, I tried the Dogal JH172 Flats on my Rick 4003S/5. The B string has no Taper at the tuner end so the string will not fit the hole in tuning machine.

So I ordered some D'addario Chromes (ECB81-5). The B string will not fit all the way through the Schaller Bridge. I would gladly put a Hipshot Bridge on if it was a reversible mod(No extra holes to drill etc...

I was really looking forward to flats for last nights Gig but I just ended up taking my Spector NS2 instead.

I'm hoping that anyone using any Flats at all on the 4003S/5 will chime in with what will work.

So Far, these will definitely not work:
> Dogal JH-172 Flats(No B string Taper at machine head)
> D'Addario Chromes(B string Too fat for hole in Bridge)


Maybe I will just get some TI JF-345's for it. I believe some of us have used the TI's succesfully on the S5.


iu
Click to expand...
It doesn't fit?? A .132" string is pretty standard. I would contact both Ric & Schaller and complain.
 
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#6
HaphAsSard said:
If so, it must be because they happen to have a bigger hole in the bridge: as their respective item numbers show, the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flat JF34136 is even larger than the D'Addario Chrome CB132.


How long is the distance from bridge ball-end anchoring point to B-string tuning post?

Also, would you prefer brightish or dark flatwounds?
Click to expand...
The Dogal JH-172's are basically Ball end to infinity. They are stranded core and just one thickness from ball end to the Factory cut at the other end which is about 10 extra inches. I have them on my 4 string Rick and the E string just barely fit into the Machine head Hole/Slot. I absolutely love their tone and the 5string set is my 3rd time purchasing them.

As far as tone, I don't mind losing some highs and lows. Dogal JH-172s seem to cut off both ends but I don't miss it at all. The Dogals are 100% what I want on my Rick 5 based on my experience on my other basses wearing them.

I opted to try the Chromes because I know the B string is great. It's tight and focused and usable all the up the neck on my Mayones Slogan 5 string. The Mayones is difficult to get a good B string feel/tone but the Chrome B worked great.
 
#7
Root 5 said:
It doesn't fit?? A .132" string is pretty standard. I would contact both Ric & Schaller and complain.
Click to expand...
Thanks, So Far I messaged Schaller. Here's what I asked them:

Hi,
Any suggestions? On your 3D5 bridge, The hole is too small for a D'addario Chrome B string. It's one of the few Flats that I really like.

I considered cutting off the Silk but I can feel there is extra metal windings underneath the silk. I don't want to destroy the string to just find out that it still won't fit.

I'll wait to see what they say...
 
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#8
FunkHead said:
The Dogal JH-172's are basically Ball end to infinity.
Click to expand...
That part is clear but, in order not to occur into the same problem, you should measure (and disclose here) the ball-to-post distance: it will help rule out some options (or rule in others).

They are stranded core and just one thickness from ball end to the Factory cut at the other end which is about 10 extra inches. I have them on my 4 string Rick and the E string just barely fit into the Machine head Hole/Slot. I absolutely love their tone and the 5string set is my 3rd time purchasing them.

As far as tone, I don't mind losing some highs and lows. Dogal JH-172s seem to cut off both ends but I don't miss it at all. The Dogals are 100% what I want on my Rick 5 based on my experience on my other basses wearing them.
Click to expand...
Gotcha. Bit of a Catch-22 then (unless you can write Dogal and get them to send you one with a more reasonable winding length).

Dogal Jaco System CarbonSteel flats might be the next best thing.

TI flats made sense as an option but, as I said, their low B is even fatter: the fattest non-customly available flatwound B around, in fact.

Hmm, what else may be found in that general (midrangy tone, high flexibility) ballpark. Dunlop perhaps?

I opted to try the Chromes because I know the B string is great. It's tight and focused and usable all the up the neck on my Mayones Slogan 5 string. The Mayones is difficult to get a good B string feel/tone but the Chrome B worked great.
Click to expand...
Are you willing to drill the hole larger?

FunkHead said:
I considered cutting off the Silk but I can feel there is extra metal windings underneath the silk. I don't want to destroy the string to just find out that it still won't fit.
Click to expand...
You're very probably right but you wouldn't destroy anything. Outside of nylon tapewounds (where it is fuctional, holding the tape in place), silk is accessory: I've had to remove it entirely many, many times (similar hardware restrictions to yours), with no ill effects.
EDIT - weeell, I wouldn't try doing it to the very expensive and possibly fragile Hellborgs, necessarily.
I wouldn't hesitate to do it to the Chrome B though. Apart from the fact it may turn out to be useless, as you said (there is some metal string buildup right past the ball, which may not pass the hole anyway).
 
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#9
HaphAsSard said:
That part is clear but, in order not to occur into the same problem, you should measure (and disclose here) the ball-to-post distance: it will help rule out some options (or rule in others).


Gotcha. Bit of a Catch-22 then (unless you can write Dogal and get them to send you one with a more reasonable winding length).

Dogal Jaco System CarbonSteel flats might be the next best thing.

TI flats made sense as an option but, as I said, their low B is even fatter: the fattest non-customly available flatwound B around, in fact.

Hmm, what else may be found in that general (midrangy tone, high flexibility) ballpark. Dunlop perhaps?


Are you willing to drill the hole larger?


You're very probably right but you wouldn't destroy anything: outside of nylon tapewounds (where it is fuctional, holding the tape in place), silk is accessory: I've had to remove entirely many, many times, with no ill effects.
Click to expand...
I'll get a measurement tomorrow morning.

I'm 99.9% sure that the metal wraps will inhibit the Chrome from fitting the hole. It gets even fatter under the silk as you get closer to the Ball end.

I really don't want to drill but it's something to think about. I would rather just install a Hipshot if they made one that was a drop in replacement.
 
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#12
Problem Solved:

I trimmed the Silk off of the Chrome B string and it fits fine. I am starting to really like these Chromes. The B sounds good all the way up. I'm Sure it has to settle in a little and will most likely get even better.

I took the opportunity to R&R the String Nut to better align the Stings along the neck. The G was too close to the edge of the fretboard. Simple Fix!
IMG_3609.jpeg
 
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