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Rickenbacker resonating question

Kevorargh

Kevorargh

Supporting Member
Nov 2, 2013
773
1,188
57
West Bethel, Maine
www.kevormusic.com
#1
So I bought me a sweet 2003 4003 Mapleglo Ric and it has quickly become my main bass. However, there is a resonating sound that's driving me nuts. When unplugged and I play any open note there is a slight rattle like what happens when you touch the head of an unplugged bass to a wooden table. This happens when I pluck various notes on the fretboard, particularly in the 9th - 12th fret range on any string.

It seems to be coming from the pickguard. I tightened it up but it did no good. However, when I press down a bit on the neck pickup, the rattle stops. Suggestions for permanently resolving the issue? Is there a thread about this already?

Thanks for the help!
 
#3
Does the sound come through the amp? I ask because I have some basses that have some buzzes and rattles like you describe, and while a little annoying when playing unplugged, my main concern is it does not come through the amp, which would be a real problem. Having said that, I get what you are saying.
 
#5
Coming from the pickguard.....
1. check pickguard screws are snug
2. inspect the condition of the rubber grommets between the pickup and the pickguard that the adjuster/mounting screws go thru.
3. possibly the pickup lead from the bass pickup vibrating against the bottom of the pickguard, tape pickup lead to pickguard to resolve.

I would make certain that it is not a bridge saddle vibrating, truss rod vibrating, vibrations from an over cut/improperly cut nut or string buzz FIRST before any of the above. Tho you may have already done this.
 
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#7
So I unscrewed the pickguard to check things out and there is nothing that the pickup is rubbing up against. While it was unscrewed form the bass I played some notes - no issues. As soon as I screwed the pickguard back in place - it was happening again. I tried adjusting the height of the pickup and had some success but it it is still happening. Is it possible that the pickguard is too close to the neck and rubbing up against it? I'm at a loss at this point.
 
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#8
Kevorargh said:
So I unscrewed the pickguard to check things out and there is nothing that the pickup is rubbing up against. While it was unscrewed form the bass I played some notes - no issues. As soon as I screwed the pickguard back in place - it was happening again. I tried adjusting the height of the pickup and had some success but it it is still happening. Is it possible that the pickguard is too close to the neck and rubbing up against it? I'm at a loss at this point.
Click to expand...
Don't be at a loss! You've almost solved your issue!
Try this... take a small bit of paper and use it as a shim. Place it between the neck and PG, place it between each screw in the PG between the body and the PG itself. Try a bunch of locations until you stop the sound. If you find a spot that this semi-stops the offender but not quite, double the thickness of the shim.
Once you solve it, fit the shim (or use scotch tape in place of the shim and cut it precisely to fit the area so it will remain out of sight.
 
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#9
lowendblues said:
Could be one of your truss rods is loose. Pop off the Truss rod cover and see if one of the nuts is completely loose. Or try just snugging both rods and see if it still does it.
Could be the pickup vibrating against something in the cavity. Just try process of elimination.
Click to expand...
This happened to me on a brand other than Ric, it drove me crazy until I figured it out, but it indeed was the truss rod.
 
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#10
Kevorargh said:
So I unscrewed the pickguard to check things out and there is nothing that the pickup is rubbing up against. While it was unscrewed form the bass I played some notes - no issues. As soon as I screwed the pickguard back in place - it was happening again. I tried adjusting the height of the pickup and had some success but it it is still happening. Is it possible that the pickguard is too close to the neck and rubbing up against it? I'm at a loss at this point.
Click to expand...

Don't give up now, you're close... the symptom has changed, as a result of your action. Inactivity resolves nothing, except getting extra nap time.
 
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#14
Yes, Saddle/Nut associated vibrations are quick and easy to checkout/isolate.
Place a finger on the offending string either above the nut (tuner side) or below the saddle (butt end of bridge side) and play the string either open or with a capo on the problem note(s). if you lift your finger and the noise comes back or place your finger down and the noise goes away... voila!

Of course as has been said, truss rod noises can certainly be the culprit. many times these can be isolated by tapping on the fretboard or the back of the neck. Tho often they are something that vibrates only on a certain note or pitch.

Hope you can nail this sucka down and rid yourself of it!
 
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#15
Excellent suggestions, everyone! I will try the paper shim and look at the truss rod again. I took off the strings and opened up the pickguard gain and tightened up the rubber grommets that connect the pickup to the pickguard - no change.

Interestingly enough, the vibrations worsen when the bass is against my body, and more or less go away when the bass is not against my body. At certain angles, the vibrations return when not against my body. Here is a video showing what's happening:

 
#19
Fingers crossed - may have solved it. The truss rods were tight, and I tried the paper shim and no luck, so I tried tightening the neck pickup grommets again and raising the pickup height, which may have solved the problem. Of course, I had to raise the bridge pickup just because. Now to play a few tunes to see what happens!
 

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