Setup on Ric 4003

[RotoRick]

No matter where I go in my city or even others closeby I can't find someone to set up the intonation and lower the strings on my Rickenbacker.

They say they will do it, but have never worked on a Ric before. Not many basses have 2 truss rods in the neck, should I only let someone who has done these before, or am I being too picky.

Just don't want someone to mess up my bass and screw the neck up or something. GC and other music stores said they would do it, but I just don't know.

 

[Johntheson]

It's always best to find someone who is familiar with Rics to do the job. They are different; but in some cases; you live in an area where they're no "Ric Techs" available. Ric necks are best when nearly flat/with no relief, and it's hard to convince some techs that it's just the way it is. I bought my first Ric in 2010, and had no techs in my area who had Ric experience, and I just did it myself. Google a site "Joey's bass notes", and he has detailed explanations on what to do. It's basically just like other basses as far as the standard rules of truss rod adjusting; don't over tighten, ect. I'd do it myself before I'd let someone not familiar with it, and save the coin. It's really no big deal.
John

 

[Ric5]

Learn to do the setup yourself ... it is not rocket science ...

Most Ricks the nut is a little too high ... you can get any good tech to fix it.

The truss rods on a 4003 are like a fender but there are 2.

The bridge is cumbersome for moving the saddles back and forth ... you will have to detune the bass and remove the bridge from th tailpiece. The up and down adjustment on the bridge is a simple allen wrench adjustment.

The trick here is get the neck flat or close to flat.

Also adjust the pickup heights.

 

[electracoyote]

Learn to do the setup yourself ... it is not rocket science ...

Most Ricks the nut is a little too high ... you can get any good tech to fix it.

The truss rods on a 4003 are like a fender but there are 2.

The bridge is cumbersome for moving the saddles back and forth ... you will have to detune the bass and remove the bridge from th tailpiece. The up and down adjustment on the bridge is a simple allen wrench adjustment.

The trick here is get the neck flat or close to flat.

Also adjust the pickup heights.

Good advice all. The first time I needed a set up on a Ric, I was torn between taking it to a tech with limited or no experience with them, or educating and doing it myself.

After some of the wack set ups I've seen on Rics, I'm glad I did. Nut slots need attention on almost every bass I've ever played, so if you don't have the right tools or the knowledge to use them, I'd skip this step and leave it to someone who does.

 

[Floyd Eye]

I have never taken my bridge ( or even strings) off my Ric to intonate it. I slack the strings, but I'd do that on any guitar/bass. If your nut needs work ( and it likely does) I would take it to a tech. If you had a 4001 ( which I do and which I prefer) I would say take it to a tech who knows Rics, although for real there is nothing hard about these either, they're just scary for first timers. The rods on your 4003 can be dealt with by any competent tech.