Is it sacrilege to put flats on my 4003 Rick ?

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I really like EB Cobalt flats on my Rick, my main strings are DR Fat Beams though.
Rickenbackers sound great with flats!
Edit: I only use 45-105 strings

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So who makes the “brightest” flats? I like how flats feel, but want some bite on tap too. The TI’s? I like a fairly stiff string too, not too “rubbery”. Gonna have to buy something fairly soon for my current build, and I’m torn.

No idea if they are *the* brightest, but EBCFs are the brightest I’ve played. That’s one reason almost all my basses wear them.

 

[Relsom]

I have a few 4003s, mostly with nickel rounds. But for flats, a '23 S model has TIs, which I find ok, but I'm not nearly sold on that as I am with the rest. Then there's a '07 fretless with D'Addario black nylon tapes that is a joy to play. Love the sound and feel on that one. Maybe you should consider tapes. Labella and D'Addario I believe make sets light enough where you won't need to have the nut slots widened.

 

[danelectro42]

I have them on mine, sounds great. You do you.

 

[steve_ss]

Ummm... I have a possibly stupid question.
Some of my Rics have flats, some have rounds. Great. My question has to do with string tension and taking a 'mint 1986' that as had rounds all of its life. If you install flats, is there a change in string tension such that it could cause a change in the neck leading to the truss rods needing an adjustment and ...? My Rics with flats are all 2018 and newer and had flats installed on day 1. My older Rics (back to 1986) have the rounds they came with because I am unsure if I change them will I have a neck issue. As I am not comfortable doing my own truss adjustments, I might be overly concerned over nothing. Thoughts...?

 

[Ric Vice]

No it is not, dependinging on the style of music you play and what kind of flats you are intending to,use. We’re long past the days when our choices were limited to Rotosound Swing Bass and Labella Flatwounds. D’Addario Half Rounds and especially Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats can get you within spitti’n distance of the sound and gauges of many rounds,

 

[bobba66]

Just part of the natural ebb and flow of life. Definately try some flats.

 

[SouthPawGary]

Ummm... I have a possibly stupid question.
Some of my Rics have flats, some have rounds. Great. My question has to do with string tension and taking a 'mint 1986' that as had rounds all of its life. If you install flats, is there a change in string tension such that it could cause a change in the neck leading to the truss rods needing an adjustment and ...? My Rics with flats are all 2018 and newer and had flats installed on day 1. My older Rics (back to 1986) have the rounds they came with because I am unsure if I change them will I have a neck issue. As I am not comfortable doing my own truss adjustments, I might be overly concerned over nothing. Thoughts...?

Definitely a part of my concern.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Definitely a part of my concern.

Perhaps this will confirm to those out there who already think I'm clueless that I am in fact so, but back in 72 - 84 I wasn't even aware that basses had truss rods, and I had all kinds of different strings on my 4001. Never had a problem with the action.

 

[jd56hawk]

So, im 62 years old & have a mint 86' Rick 4003 mapleburst that i ordered brand new back in "The Day". Back then it was perfect for me playing heavy rock/metal & a little prog stuff. when i returned to bass playing after a layoff during the young kids years, I discovered I really like 5-string basses & now mostly play a Carvin LB75 & a G&L L-2500 Fretless. Anyway, I've been playing in my sons "neo-soul / R&B" band for the last year & its been awesome. Obviously everyone is drawn to the Rick & my son (& others ) would like me to play it in this band. I know, it really isnt the bass for that genre, but if i play the neck pick-up, keep my fingers accordingly & roll off the highs, its not bad. All that to say, i bought the 4003 because it was designed for roundwounds (dbl. trussrods) & its had nothing but Rotosound RS-66LD's on it since day 1. I think I would consider playing it, but the flats would help soften the brighter edge Ricks have. What do you think ???? Also how much neck adjustment do you think it would need ?It's always been unbelievably stable & ive never had to touch the trussrods, ever . thanks

No, more than playing with a pick, but GHS black tapewounds would be better.

 

[micguy]

I don’t know if flats on a Ric is “very common”, but I think flats on a Ric is surprisingly very common.

Ric's used to come with flats installed on them, and a (ridiculous) warning that, if you put rounds on it, you'd damage the bass from the tension (rounds have less tension at the same gauge than flats).

 

[Zooberwerx]

First thing that came to mind is "Silly Love Songs"...was that a Ric / flats / pick? I've always like the Cobalt Flats and LaBella LTF's but that's all I've ever tried.

Riis

 

[ElectricBass72]

I bet Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats sound badass on a Ric. Haven't tried it yet.

 

[bobomatic]

I bet Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats sound badass on a Ric. Haven't tried it yet.

They do. They seriously do. I’d be rocking a set on mine if I wasn’t firmly and deeply entrenched in my Roto 66 phase.

 

[hands5]

Not to me .. that’s what I put on my 4003 when I had one way way back in the day. lol

 

[5StringBlues]

That's alright, honey, this is a free country
Live like you wanna live, baby!

 

[Saint]

Roundwounds for me, but flats on a Ric sound great. Very McCartney!

 

[micguy]

4001's used to come with flats, and a warning that if you used rounds (or indeed any strings other than the ones they sold), the extra tension would mess up your neck and void your warranty. This makes no sense, because rounds of the same gauge have less tension, and a bass manufacturer that insists you use their strings forever..yeah, that's insane.

 

[BassicJazzy]

4001's used to come with flats, and a warning that if you used rounds (or indeed any strings other than the ones they sold), the extra tension would mess up your neck and void your warranty. This makes no sense, because rounds of the same gauge have less tension, and a bass manufacturer that insists you use their strings forever..yeah, that's insane.

I didn't get an owner's manual with mine, even though I bought it new at the largest musical instrument store of the time in downtown Chicago. I kinda wonder if that turned into Chicago Music Exchange? Actually, I didn't get an owner's manual with my SKG Bass Collection or my Fender Jazz Plus either. Nada, nothing but a case. So I had no idea about what strings were supposed to be on the bass, but it did indeed come with steel flats. Over the 12 years I owned it I had just about every type of string I could find on that bass at one point or another. It sounded best with nickel rounds, IMO.

My action never changed, and my neck was still true when I donated it in '84. The bass was perfect, except for some minor belt rash, mostly from a guy I let play it at a jam.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

It's arguably a waste of the Ric's famous "clank" potential and legendary high-end, but so what? If you like it with flats, play it. My 78' 4001 came strung with flats..... which were immediately replaced with Roto Swing 66, of course.