Help me with this Rickenbacker

[bobyoung53]

Yeah definitely a good deal, and I'm still waiting for their admins to approve my registration. I did trade a pretty unique hand made bass for it but i definitely came on top of that deal, taking into consideration it's the first year of production and the magnetic pickup bring ip it's value quite a lot I'd assume.

There is a Rickenbacker club here with many members of the old Rickenbacker forum (rickresource), such as Jeff Scott, Aceonbass and many others, I'm also a member over there and have been for about 15 years, although I don't post that much there anymore but check out the Rickenbacker club here.

 

[Komadinic]

There is a Rickenbacker club here with many members of the old Rickenbacker forum (rickresource), such as Jeff Scott, Aceonbass and many others, I'm also a member over there and have been for about 15 years, although I don't post that much there anymore but check out the Rickenbacker club here.

Well i keep trying to do it, got my wife to help but as soon as i release the tensions strings go back up. It might be doing some small work that i can't spot easily, I'll keep doing it but I'm running out of turns on the rods, if I don't manage to do it eome luthier will easily tackle it.

 

[bobyoung53]

Well i keep trying to do it, got my wife to help but as soon as i release the tensions strings go back up. It might be doing some small work that i can't spot easily, I'll keep doing it but I'm running out of turns on the rods, if I don't manage to do it eome luthier will easily tackle it.

Does it play any easier? The strings will never stay against the neck when you let up, you are only doing this to take tension off the neck, The Rickenbacker explanation about moving the neck into position first is kind of a parable, it does not stay where you hold it. This may take some patience on your part. Are the nuts still comparatively easy to turn?

 

[basmansam]

I would loosen the rods & strings, let the bass sit a day or two. Then hold the neck to the position ,tighten truss rods finger tight.

 

[Komadinic]

Does it play any easier? The strings will never stay against the neck when you let up, you are only doing this to take tension off the neck, The Rickenbacker explanation about moving the neck into position first is kind of a parable, it does not stay where you hold it. This may take some patience on your part. Are the nuts still comparatively easy to turn?

Well they are starting to get quite tight, I'm thinking about doing what Sam suggested and loosening tension on the rod and strings, letting it relax and sit for a while and trying again in a couple of days. I feel like i made no progress and I'd prefer to not break anything lol

 

[bobyoung53]

Well they are starting to get quite tight, I'm thinking about doing what Sam suggested and loosening tension on the rod and strings, letting it relax and sit for a while and trying again in a couple of days. I feel like i made no progress and I'd prefer to not break anything lol

That would be very counterproductive to what you are trying to do. You want to keep them tight and let it sit for a day or two so the wood can become acclimated to it's new shape and relax somewhat. This is why it takes patience. This may take weeks to accomplish, it looks to me like it had not been adjusted for years. I once bought a 1975 4001 with a perfectly straight neck that I wanted to put a little relief in, I had to put some very heavy strings and tune it up to pitch with the truss rods nuts loose on it and leave it like that for weeks until the neck even moved at all. You need to do the exact opposite it that makes sense.

 

[Komadinic]

That would be very counterproductive to what you are trying to do. You want to keep them tight and let it sit for a day or two so the wood can become acclimated to it's new shape and relax somewhat. This is why it takes patience.

Sounds good, I'll keep trying. I did almost tighten it all the way, can i loosen it and then tighten it after i push the neck down?

 

[bobyoung53]

Sounds good, I'll keep trying. I did almost tighten it all the way, can i loosen it and then tighten it after i push the neck down?

Why would you want to do that? If they're tight just leave it until they don't feel tight anymore. That can take a considerable amount of time sometimes. You may also want to weight down both ends of the bass on a table, even the floor or something to help the rods until the neck takes on it's new shape.

 

[Komadinic]

Why would you want to do that? If they're tight just leave it until they don't feel tight anymore. That can take a considerable amount of time sometimes.

Not sure honestly, I thought because I'm running out of purchase on the truss rods that I should release them and then retighten them while pulling the neck, otherwise i fear i could break them. I'm sure you could fix this like it's nothing but as a newbie it's causing me headaches..

 

[bobyoung53]

Not sure honestly, I thought because I'm running out of purchase on the truss rods that I should release them and then retighten them while pulling the neck, otherwise i fear i could break them. I'm sure you could fix this like it's nothing but as a newbie it's causing me headaches..

Just look at my previous post:

If they're tight just leave it until they don't feel tight anymore. That can take a considerable amount of time sometimes. You may also want to weigh down both ends of the bass on a table, even the floor or something to help the rods until the neck takes on it's new shape.

 

[Komadinic]

Just look at my previous post:

If they're tight just leave it until they don't feel tight anymore. That can take a considerable amount of time sometimes. You may also want to weigh down both ends of the bass on a table, even the floor or something to help the rods until the neck takes on it's new shape.

I'd like to ask something unrelated to this current issue, is it normal that the middle selector position (both pups) sounds a bit quieter than pickups by themselves? It's not too big of a difference but it is very confusing to me cause i never experienced it before

 

[bobyoung53]

Not sure honestly, I thought because I'm running out of purchase on the truss rods that I should release them and then retighten them while pulling the neck, otherwise i fear i could break them. I'm sure you could fix this like it's nothing but as a newbie it's causing me headaches..

The reason the truss rod nuts are tight is because they are trying to force the neck to be flatter than it is, I wouldn't tighten them any more at this point and you may want to put some heavy weight on both ends of the bass and leave it and periodically check how it plays.

 

[bobyoung53]

I'd like to ask something unrelated to this current issue, is it normal that the middle selector position (both pups) sounds a bit quieter than pickups by themselves? It's not too big of a difference but it is very confusing to me cause i never experienced it before

Rics are like Jazzes, with both volumes up to full the mids are cut which makes them sound quieter and takes away their presence somewhat depending on how the pickups are set in relation to each other, i will usually back one volume off just a little bit and usually the neck pickup. The position you like will be very touchy to get it balanced the way you like it.

 

[bobyoung53]

Not sure honestly, I thought because I'm running out of purchase on the truss rods that I should release them and then retighten them while pulling the neck, otherwise i fear i could break them. I'm sure you could fix this like it's nothing but as a newbie it's causing me headaches..

Oh, if you are uncomfortable with how tight they are you could back them off a tiny bit if you want to but I would only do that if you REALLY cranked down on them which you don't want to do. If they're tight the neck should gradually flatten out, sometimes it will take one day, sometimes one week, sometimes it can take a long time, months.

 

[maxschrek]

When i moved the truss rod under the D string that side did come down a bit while the other did not so I think you're right!

Of course he's right. I have a V63 that had a twisted neck that I corrected by asymmetrically adjusting the truss rods. It totally works.

 

[Komadinic]

Oh, if you are uncomfortable with how tight they are you could back them off a tiny bit if you want to but I would only do that if you REALLY cranked down on them which you don't want to do. If they're tight the neck should gradually flatten out, sometimes it will take one day, sometimes one week, sometimes it can take a long time, months.

Sounds good I'll let it sit for now. Unfortunately I can't put pressure on the body cause i live in a small Brooklyn apartment and there's really no space for my instruments other than the wall hangers, it's so overcrowded in here and my cat would try to mess it up haha. Good thing is that it can be fixed and truss rods work as they should, I'll take it slow and I'm not too worried about it any longer. Thanks for all the answers you've provided me with and for the constant reassurance in my abilities!

 

[bobyoung53]

Sounds good I'll let it sit for now. Unfortunately I can't put pressure on the body cause i live in a small Brooklyn apartment and there's really no space for my instruments other than the wall hangers, it's so overcrowded in here and my cat would try to mess it up haha. Good thing is that it can be fixed and truss rods work as they should, I'll take it slow and I'm not too worried about it any longer. Thanks for all the answers you've provided me with and for the constant reassurance in my abilities!

Did you get the lighter strings yet? I would do that next before you touch the rods again. That can really make a big difference too as could tuning down to an E flat or even D while its sitting.

 

[bobyoung53]

Sounds good I'll let it sit for now. Unfortunately I can't put pressure on the body cause i live in a small Brooklyn apartment and there's really no space for my instruments other than the wall hangers, it's so overcrowded in here and my cat would try to mess it up haha. Good thing is that it can be fixed and truss rods work as they should, I'll take it slow and I'm not too worried about it any longer. Thanks for all the answers you've provided me with and for the constant reassurance in my abilities!

I have a video of my cat playing my Ric which I left on top of the case on the floor.

 

[Komadinic]

Did you get the lighter strings yet? I would do that next before you touch the rods again. That can really make a big difference too as could tuning down to an E flat or even D while its sitting.

Unfortunately the guitar center on Atlantic avenue is still closed and i have to buy them on reverb. Might take a while till they arrive. Can you send me a link of the strings you recommend and i will buy those?

 

[bobyoung53]

Unfortunately the guitar center on Atlantic avenue is still closed and i have to buy them on reverb. Might take a while till they arrive. Can you send me a link of the strings you recommend and i will buy those?

These are the ones I like, they come in gauges all the way from 90 to 110, you might want to try 95's or 100's. 100's are fairly light to me and I've had them on my 4001. They also make stainless steel strings which they call Sunbeams.

https://www.drstrings.com/bass-hi-beam