Sight down from either end, you should be able to see the bow.
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Rickenbacker 4003: Unresolved Back-bow Issue
- Thread starter Gilbert Godoy
- Start date
As a former tech myself, I make it a policy to not talk smack about others, but in this case I'll happily make an exception. Taking your bass to Guitar Center is like taking your dog to Petco for their "vet" service; if there's anything seriously wrong with your dog it's probably going to die. Same with your bass. I have yet to meet a tech at a GC that I would allow to change strings on any of my basses, let alone attempt to adjust anything; they are utterly untrained and GC seems totally ok with that being the case. Don't expect them to pay for any damage their employees inflict on your axe; they will not. God only knows what this guy has done to your bass already.
I can tell you this; I've worked on well over five thousand instruments in my life, and have never seen one with true backbow that was not caused by improper truss rod adjustment. It can happen, of course, but it is rare. REALLY rare.
I can tell you this; I've worked on well over five thousand instruments in my life, and have never seen one with true backbow that was not caused by improper truss rod adjustment. It can happen, of course, but it is rare. REALLY rare.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
If you are in Colorado then come by and I will look at your bass for free … I can teach you how to work on it yourself
OP is in far south Texas. There's a dearth of instrument repair techs there and has been for years. A good one would be able to make a decent living there I'd think. I wouldn't let anyone at GC twist a knob on my 4001.
Gilbert, if you know any gigging musicians that work steady around you:
When I've lived places where there aren't a lot of serious guitar techs, nonetheless, gigging musicians are going to require service from time to time. So if they're not heading off to San Antonio or Corpus Christi (or even if they are . . . ), find out if there's a consensus about who they use if you can. GC is going to keep a guy on staff to re-string and do basic adjustments (that's a LOT of guitars on the wall to keep playable), but for finer work, they may just not have the experience. Rics can be a handful to the inexperienced, but ultimately they have to adjust out just like any other guitar and a good tech should easily be able to reel it back in.
BTW, I'd have dumped that idiot tin-can bridge, too !!
When I've lived places where there aren't a lot of serious guitar techs, nonetheless, gigging musicians are going to require service from time to time. So if they're not heading off to San Antonio or Corpus Christi (or even if they are . . . ), find out if there's a consensus about who they use if you can. GC is going to keep a guy on staff to re-string and do basic adjustments (that's a LOT of guitars on the wall to keep playable), but for finer work, they may just not have the experience. Rics can be a handful to the inexperienced, but ultimately they have to adjust out just like any other guitar and a good tech should easily be able to reel it back in.
BTW, I'd have dumped that idiot tin-can bridge, too !!
Backbow on a Ric is odd, the rods are single action, so they can only correct forward bow, usually a front bow is the issue. +1 on heavier gauge strings first, a $25 investment, and you'll still have the strings either way. If that doesn't improve it, schlep it to a real tech that knows Rics. Anybody competent doesn't last long at GC with their horrific turnover.
Do you not drive? Do you not have access to the Post Office/Fedex/UPS? It may require you to leave the safety and comfort of your sofa, but you DO have other options.
Do you have a capo? If you do, clamp the strings at the first fret, then push the E string down with your finger around the 17th fret. When the strings are held down like this, the 7th or 8th fret becomes the midpoint. Try to slide a business card under the E string either between the capo and the 7th fret, at the 7th fret, and then again between the 7th and 17th fret (that you are pushing down with one hand). If the string is touching/almost touching at the 7th fret, and has extra clearance on either side, then the neck likely has backbow.
Just steer clear of Guitar Center all together, on the main, the employees are incredibly uninformed and the techs will likely do more harm than good to your bass.
sorry , but that's not un-common on rics , I've owned two and they had similar issues but were reparable .
if your coming to Michigan , in the Detroit area you've been given good suggestions for competent repair options.
if your coming to the west side I would recommend Galloup Guitars near Big Rapids for repairs. world class shop they do work for many national touring artists. ( Vince Gill , Dickie Betts , and others ) good luck with the fix.
if your coming to Michigan , in the Detroit area you've been given good suggestions for competent repair options.
if your coming to the west side I would recommend Galloup Guitars near Big Rapids for repairs. world class shop they do work for many national touring artists. ( Vince Gill , Dickie Betts , and others ) good luck with the fix.
You have a very good straight edge. 4 Of them, actually. Your strings. Fret the first and last fret and tap the string between them. there should be a slight gap. If the string is bottomed out on the frets in between, you've got a back bow. If this happens on some strings but not all, you have a twist or warp in the neck.
