Rickenbacker Truss Rod Nut(s) Issue

[Bassguitarbubba]

I'm hoping for a little insight from the experts! One of my bass guitars is a Ricky 2017 4003. I broke it out to play after not playing it for almost a year. The action was unreasonably high and when I looked further, I saw the neck was bowed. This is my first double-truss rod guitar so I followed the instructions in the Rickenbacker owner's guide on how to straighten the neck. As I slowly turned the truss rods counter-clockwise half a turn each time, as instructed, I saw that the truss rod nuts (on both truss rods) were coming off the truss rods. The truss rods were not moving but the nuts were coming off. Is this something I can fix at home so the nuts actually manipulate the truss rods? My initial thought is to use a dab of super glue on the threads but I don't want to ruin anything. Any info would be helpful! Thanks

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If the neck is bowed UP creating high action, you'd want to TIGHTEN the rods, righty tighty, lefty loosy. If you loosen them, the nuts will come right off. DONT put glue on the threads. It doesnt sound like anything is wrong with the nuts or rods, tightening them by turning clockwise would flatten the rods inside the neck, reducing neck bow. If you are the least unsure about this, take it a Tech familiar with Rics, though the rods work the same as any single action rods, just two instead of one. Most techs will tighten both rods equally. Posting on the Ric thread is good advice, take some good photos too.

 

[StereoPlayer]

The Rickenbacker Club Part Twelve

edit: erased my previous post by mistake.

 

[Bassguitarbubba]

If the neck is bowed UP creating high action, you'd want to TIGHTEN the rods, righty tighty, lefty loosy. If you loosen them, the nuts will come right off. DONT put glue on the threads. It doesnt sound like anything is wrong with the nuts or rods, tightening them by turning clockwise would flatten the rods inside the neck, reducing neck bow. If you are the least unsure about this, take it a Tech familiar with Rics, though the rods work the same as any single action rods, just two instead of one. Most techs will tighten both rods equally. Posting on the Ric thread is good advice, take some good photos too.

Thanks! It sounds too easy! I may have read the manual incorrectly. It reads, "Turn the nut clockwise to correct an under bow, counterclockwise to straighten an over bow." I took "over bow' to mean too much curve in the neck causing high action. Maybe I read it backwards. Thanks again!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Yeah, overbow is a back bow. Underbow is excessive relief. Tighten the truss rod nuts to straighten the neck.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

One other note if you do this yourself, put light hand pressure on the headstock to "help" bend the neck back to flatter profile as you tighten the nuts. Tighten them the same amount, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time, and keep checking the relief with it tuned to pitch and in playing position. Some people put a clamp on the first fret to minimize the possibility of popping the board if you overtighten, but I think that would only happen if you really cranked on it.
This 4 part series on setup is a good, maybe slightly conservative setup guide. He's doing it on a single rod Fender, and in this case loosening the rod to increase relief, but the concept is the same. I use his numbers as a starting point and then tweak to taste. You can probably get to less relief and lower string action on a Ric. Do the steps in order and you will have a decent setup. Again, if any of this worries you, take it to a Pro.

 

[Bassguitarbubba]

Thanks for all the advice! I appreciate it!