Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

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kt66
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Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by kt66 »

Hi, Rick strings used to be 10-42, now they are 10-46

So did Rickenbacker change the nut spacing? and when did they make this change?

I have searched, but if covered elsewhere please let me know. thanks

ps , why did they change it anyway?

many thanks
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jps
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by jps »

kt66 wrote:Hi, Rick strings used to be 10-42, now they are 10-46...

ps , why did they change it anyway?

many thanks
My guess would be to make the string tension more even across the whole set.
Clint
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by Clint »

it's been several years now, maybe even as long as a decade since they changed the gauges. I don't think it effected the tension or string spacing in any dramatic way.
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Tommy
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by Tommy »

Yeah, it was over a decade ago. I believe around 2004.

It wasn't just a string gauge change at that time.
- a different finishing process -- a UV process over the conversion varnish
- different fretboard wood -- change to Caribbean Rosewood
- pickup polepieces that can now be adjusted
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jps
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by jps »

Tommy wrote:Yeah, it was over a decade ago. I believe around 2004.

It wasn't just a string gauge change at that time.
- a different finishing process -- a UV process over the conversion varnish
- different fretboard wood -- change to Caribbean Rosewood
- pickup polepieces that can now be adjusted
IIRC, the UV cured finish started sometime in 2007; the CR fingerboard was introduced in late 2011; the adjustable pole pieces in 2007, I think.
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weemac
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by weemac »

The gauges were odd due to the compressed wound strings. I think the string starts near to a 46 but was compressed to 42. The tension changes probably not at all..
I have just put half a 12 string set of those old strings on a highly strung guitar. They sounded great when attacked with a big plectrum!

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jps
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by jps »

weemac wrote:...I have just put half a 12 string set of those old strings on a highly strung guitar. They sounded great when attacked with a big plectrum!

Eden.
Nashville tuning!
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Tommy
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by Tommy »

jps wrote: IIRC, the UV cured finish started sometime in 2007; the CR fingerboard was introduced in late 2011; the adjustable pole pieces in 2007, I think.
Yeah, you could be right on those dates. I have a 2011 330 and it has all the updated features.

Glad I got a Ric with the updates. I really love the adjustable polepieces and a standard string gauge. As far as the aesthetic updates... UV finish? My older 1992 Ric seems to have a far more striking finish than my 2011 does, however the Caribbean Rosewood fretboard is actually pretty impressive -- got nice wood figuring in it.
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jps
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Re: Modern Rickenbackers and low E strings

Post by jps »

A guess regarding the UV cured finish vs. conversion varnish, is two fold: faster finishing to help reduce the backlog, and for dealing with ever tighter California environmental regulations.

I love the CR fingerboards, it is a great looking wood.
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