Neck strength Rickenbacker

If you're using the correct gauges for however low you want to tune than the tension on the neck won't be any higher than normal.

 

You're worrying about the neck too much. You just need the right strings to tune to the notes you want and the set up is for you, not the health of the bass. It's about getting everything where you want it to make playing as effortless as possible.

Now I have no idea what strings might be to big for the bridge or the tuners or the nut. It's not like you can put giant drop tuning strings on a bass without any adjustments or possible modifications. That's something others will know more about.

 

The neck strength problem on the 4001 is due to the truss rod system, as it was not designed to use with roundwound strings (flatwounds were standard when the 4001 was designed, and have a lower string tension). My understanding is that the necks on the 4001's would crack near the nut where the fretboard was attached to the neck. This crack is caused from an improper adjustment of the truss rods. In addition, many 1970s 4001's have truss rods that are completely maxed out and nonadjustable due to stress and age. With that being said, the 4003 model was designed with an improved neck and truss rod construction so that the problems of the old 4001's are eliminated, so you have a lot more possibility to tune down.

 

I don't think so.