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What (if anything) Do You Find Special About Rickenbacker Strings (if you use them)

S

Sean150

Jul 18, 2018
669
1,539
#1
So the situation is this, I have a Ric 4003s that I bought new last year, so the strings are getting a bit dull. I like the stock Ric strings but I would have to special order a set. I have not tried any other strings on it and have not played Ric strings on anything else so I don't know if there is anything special about them. I have to special order the strings so I am wondering if they are so special that I should just order them or if I should try some of my other standards first.

So, what are your thoughts?
 
#2
I like the Ric strings and keep them on one of my Rics. The thing that is different from most other standard nickel roundwound sets is the gauging, .045, .055, .075, .105 giving you a lighter D and A string. I've read that the D'Addario EXL170BT set (I hope I got that right from memory) has a very similar feel, with similar gauges. (It may very well be that D'Addario makes Ric's strings.) I mean, Ric strings are not mind-blowing, but I really like them.

BTW, the cheapest I've seen Ric strings lately is Sam Ash online.

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#3
farace said:
I like the Ric strings and keep them on one of my Rics. The thing that is different from most other standard nickel roundwound sets is the gauging, .045, .055, .075, .105 giving you a lighter D and A string. I've read that the D'Addario EXL170BT set (I hope I got that right from memory) has a very similar feel, with similar gauges. (It may very well be that D'Addario makes Ric's strings.) I mean, Ric strings are not mind-blowing, but I really like them.

BTW, the cheapest I've seen Ric strings lately is Sam Ash online.

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Thanks for the info. I am bad for looking at the gauges of the middle strings. I know I should but it's easy to forget when your in a hurry.

Unfortunately Sam Ash (and most U.S. music stores) don't ship to Canada readily.
 
#4
Sean150, if you are keen on having Ric strings, go for it. If they are roundwound strings, Rotosound 66's were the strings used by 70's heavyweights like Chris Squire or Geddy Lee who used Ricks. Rotos should be readily available at most larger music stores. These strings sound amazing but can lose their bite after about a month. Strings that will stay bright a little longer that sound great would be D'addario XLs, DR LoRiders, HiBeams or Fat Beams, Dunlop Super Brights (DSBs) or my favourite - Marcus Miller signature DSBs.
 
#5
Reviving this thread. Sam Ash is out of stock online for the Rickenbacker strings.
I really do like the feel of this gauge combo .045, .055, .075, .105 I looked at the specs for D'Addario EXL170BT but they are higher gauge middle strings. It probably doesn't make that big a difference but I'd like to keep the tone and string feel of the stock strings.

Any other alternatives? Seems like there would be some TB wisdom on who actually makes these strings for Rickenbacker.
 
#6
ThingsAbove said:
I really do like the feel of this gauge combo .045, .055, .075, .105 I looked at the specs for D'Addario EXL170BT but they are higher gauge middle strings. It probably doesn't make that big a difference but I'd like to keep the tone and string feel of the stock strings.

Any other alternatives? Seems like there would be some TB wisdom on who actually makes these strings for Rickenbacker.
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Curt Mangan, SIT and D'Addario are the three companies I've seen mentioned who have supplied Rickenbacker strings in the past.

Curt Mangan does list a set with those specific gauges.

Custom 45-105 Nickel Wound Light 4-String Bass Guitar String Set
 
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#8
These have to be ordered special from Optima distributor. But I love them on my 4003.

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#9
I ordered a set from Curt Mangan. I'm not quite ready to change out the stock strings but hopefully these will do the trick. About $25 less (including shipping) than ordering a set from the Ric Boutique. If they are the real deal I'll order a couple of sets next time.
 
#11
eriky4003 said:
Sean150, if you are keen on having Ric strings, go for it. If they are roundwound strings, Rotosound 66's were the strings used by 70's heavyweights like Chris Squire or Geddy Lee who used Ricks. Rotos should be readily available at most larger music stores. These strings sound amazing but can lose their bite after about a month. Strings that will stay bright a little longer that sound great would be D'addario XLs, DR LoRiders, HiBeams or Fat Beams, Dunlop Super Brights (DSBs) or my favourite - Marcus Miller signature DSBs.
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Yes, nothing really sounds like Rotosound Swing 66's if you're looking for that bite. I just bought some for the first time in close to thirty years and it all came right back to me why I used to love them. The A and D string are a little heavier than Ric strings though so if you put them on a new Ric you may want to widen those two slots just a bit with an appropriate file or whatever you call it but nothing sounds like them.
 
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