Rickenbacker Truss Rod Updates?

[iiipopes]

So I'm thinking of turning the key (finally) on a Rick 4003S.
After I saw the new bridge I was excited but the idea of a normal truss rod would make it a no brainer move for me.

"Normal"? Quid est veritas? To recite summarized Rickenbacker truss rod history:
1) Back in the dark ages (before @ 1960), some Rickenbacker instruments had single truss rods. The experts on rickresource.com can tell you which models and when with better details (along with a few short scale instruments that may have had single rods in the meantime).
2) Rickenbacker has had double truss rods ever since then.
a. The originals were "hairpin" shaped, and had to be set with the neck pre-flexed to position, then the nuts tightened, so the rods would not rotate and pop the fingerboard off the neck.
b. Since the mid-80's, Rickenbacker truss rods have been "conventional," in the sense you can adjust them just like any other truss rod, although slightly loosening the strings and helping the neck a little has always been recommended.
3) This recently released Cisneros bass is the first bass where a full-sized instrument of any kind from Rickenbacker that has had a single truss rod (at least, as a standard production item) in literally over sixty years. We'll all see how it goes. Several of the forumites on rickresource.com have purchased one; there is a thread on them; and you can see what the comments are, yea or nay, on the bass generally, not just the truss rods.
4) I am not going to discuss relative merits or demerits of single v. dual truss rods. Please take that discussion to another thread. This thread is about what the factory is doing now.

 

[cataract]

I miss my 4003 but feel like I was crazy for DIALING IN some fret buzz after hearing what it sounded like completely buzz free. Literal dream tone and very easy to set & forget.
EDIT: not sure what the factory’s doing but it’ll probably be the opposite of what everyone’s asking for, if their past stances are any indication.

 

[citizenchris099]

"Normal"? Quid est veritas? To recite summarized Rickenbacker truss rod history:
1) Back in the dark ages (before @ 1960), some Rickenbacker instruments had single truss rods. The experts on rickresource.com can tell you which models and when with better details (along with a few short scale instruments that may have had single rods in the meantime).
2) Rickenbacker has had double truss rods ever since then.
a. The originals were "hairpin" shaped, and had to be set with the neck pre-flexed to position, then the nuts tightened, so the rods would not rotate and pop the fingerboard off the neck.
b. Since the mid-80's, Rickenbacker truss rods have been "conventional," in the sense you can adjust them just like any other truss rod, although slightly loosening the strings and helping the neck a little has always been recommended.
3) This recently released Cisneros bass is the first bass where a full-sized instrument of any kind from Rickenbacker that has had a single truss rod (at least, as a standard production item) in literally over sixty years. We'll all see how it goes. Several of the forumites on rickresource.com have purchased one; there is a thread on them; and you can see what the comments are, yea or nay, on the bass generally, not just the truss rods.
4) I am not going to discuss relative merits or demerits of single v. dual truss rods. Please take that discussion to another thread. This thread is about what the factory is doing now.

thanks man. this helps. My big concern when considering purchasing a Rick is "can I set it up". Mind you I'm a novice at setting up Bass Guitars. I've only in the past few months begun setting up my own instruments as apposed to taking them to Techs (who at the time were all closed due to shelter in place etc..)

I believe the question of what the factory is putting out now has been answered and I appreciate it.
Looking like a new 4003S is my speed...now I just need to decide on finish.

 

[Robert Darby]

thanks man. this helps. My big concern when considering purchasing a Rick is "can I set it up". Mind you I'm a novice at setting up Bass Guitars. I've only in the past few months begun setting up my own instruments as apposed to taking them to Techs (who at the time were all closed due to shelter in place etc..)

I believe the question of what the factory is putting out now has been answered and I appreciate it.
Looking like a new 4003S is my speed...now I just need to decide on finish.

I just got a 4003 Jetglo a few weeks ago. I love it so much I have a 4003sw on the road right now. If you want I can give you some feedback. As far as setting up a ric I don't seem to have any problem with mine right now. The neck is pretty much dead flat and action nice and low. I put some flats on her and the action got even lower. I had to tweak her the other day she started to whine a little. I just tuned the adjustment at the saddle about 1/8 of a turn. I took a measurement before I did any adjustment and the big E was at 4/64 at the 15th fret. I never had a bass than you can run the relief dead flat with action so low. Ric on baby!

 

[citizenchris099]

I just got a 4003 Jetglo a few weeks ago. I love it so much I have a 4003sw on the road right now. If you want I can give you some feedback. As far as setting up a ric I don't seem to have any problem with mine right now. The neck is pretty much dead flat and action nice and low. I put some flats on her and the action got even lower. I had to tweak her the other day she started to whine a little. I just tuned the adjustment at the saddle about 1/8 of a turn. I took a measurement before I did any adjustment and the big E was at 4/64 at the 15th fret. I never had a bass than you can run the relief dead flat with action so low. Ric on baby!

very cool man. Was considering putting flats on mine as well. I've needed an excuse for Pyramid flats for a while lol.

 

[iiipopes]

very cool man. Was considering putting flats on mine as well. I've needed an excuse for Pyramid flats for a while lol.

Instead of Pyramids, check out the Optima RB flats. Optima holds itself out as the successor to Maxima, the company that made flatwound strings for 4001 basses in the '60's and '70's. They have similar gauges, and according to several players both here and on rickresource.com , they do indeed sound just like the original strings. Optima even has a picture of a Rick bass on their webpage with the string specs.
Optima Strings | RB FLATWOUND BASS | Strings for E-Bass

 

[Koshchei]

why do you prefer dual? is the meme that they are hard to set relief just that....a meme?

could you link the thread please sir?

Combined with the neck itself, they form a system. Once you understand how they interact with one another and with the neck (a conventional truss rod setup pushes against itself, which moves the neck; a Ric torsion beam setup pushes the neck directly), you'll have no problem with them. It's a very old school design, but it works well, and has a number of advantages, such as running the entire length of the neck, and being easily user replaceable with hardware store mild steel rod stock in the event of disaster.

Because of simple, really elegant design quirks like this, my Ric is my "Zombie Apocalypse" bass; even if society comes apart at the seams, I'll still be able to fashion a replacement truss rod and have it installed in under 30 minutes.

 

[johnk_10]

my new 4005XC has a single truss rod. i actually wish that they would've gone with the dual. mine's about as tight as it can go to get the neck perfectly straight.