Rickenbacker 4003 and TI flats: impossible to intonate?

TI flats on my 4003W intonate just fine

 

Never a problem here. The saddles usually barely need to move as compared to OEM RIC strings.

 

So this Luthier gave it back to you with bad intonation?

 

There are a couple different ways to get more travel in the saddle, if necessary.

 

You can flip the Saddles around 180 degrees and get more adjustment(At least on Older RIC Bridges).
Edit: sorry for delayed reply, I'm hanging a storm door.

 

Failing that, some minor surgery on the shafts of the saddles can allow for a greater range of travel, done easily with a small file.

 

Intriguing issue. The usual problem is having insufficient travel to correct sharp intonation on the e string. @FunkHead and @Jeff Scott have given excellent advice. If that fails, perhaps a Hipshot tailpiece is required.

 

TI flats should intonate perfectly on a Rick 4003 without any problems. Unless someone has moved the entire bridge there must be a problem with the strings.

Are you aware that these are round core strings and need to be bent/crimped before cutting? Failing to do so can cause the windings to come loose, sometimes just very slighty and not really noticable except for all the problems it can cause such as problems with intonation or weird metallic sounding overtones. I've also experienced this when removing TI flats from the bass and re-installing them. TI flats are amazing sounding strings (my personal favourites) but they need to be handled carefully or they can most definitely go bad.

The bridges on Ricks are very poorly designed but I don't think the bridge can be blamed this time.

 

Exhibit A - a '74 4001 with TI flats - note how staggered the saddles are for the "e" and "a" strings to achieve correct intonation. BTW apologies - having weird issues with attaching pics....

 

Now, I have to go look at my 4004L and fretless Martin Keith Elfin 5 that have TI JFs on them!

 

maybe your action is whacked - if different strings have largely different string heights, it may add more tension when you fret - I have found the TI flats way more even for intonation than a number of other strings I've used (boomers round and hex core, dr pure blues, dean Markley's, La Bella black nylon and daddario flats) not on rick's mind you but end of the day - its just tension, mass and distance.

 

Trash the TI flats and get a set of Optima RB's instead - the spiritual successor and re-creation of the OEM Maximas that originally came on '60's and '70's basses.
Optima Strings | RB FLATWOUND BASS | Strings for E-Bass

 

They sound nothing alike...

 

The strings shouldn't cause this.

 

ya the lame bridge / saddle / tailpiece design has limitations ... lots of limitations ... but the fix is simple ... take the assembly apart and grind off some metal with a dremel tool to allow a greater travel distance. I have done this mod for dozens of Ric basses ... mostly 5 string basses to get the B saddle back far enough to not be sharp.

or better yet try flattening out the neck a little more and that might fix it.

Also make sure the bridge is not tilted when it sits in the tailpiece.

The best solution is replace the bridge with a better design

 

your luthier is probably just a bass tech and may not know how to setup Ricks

 

I had to do this with my 1968 4001 to get it to intonate

I flipped the D and G saddles

 

Here's one where I modified the B saddle to travel farther