Very nice early '68 4001 at Willie's Guitars

[teeder]

I see what you did there?

[jps]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBg8rdB ... e=youtu.be

It didn't last long at 16K!

http://www.williesguitars.com/index.cfm/basses/10

From what I understand, someone famous Rushed to buy it!

He must have been pretty Giddy about that bass.

[jdogric12]

1, 2, 3, look at that bass!

[FabGearHead]

Hey everybody, are all of the older 60's Rick basses prone to high action with the bridges bottomed out? In my experience I have worked on a several 60's Rick basses and on all of them the bridge was adjusted all the way down. Some had their saddles ground down as well. I have even seen where the wood directly under the tailpiece was routed to the outline of the tailpiece and about 3/16" deep to get a lower action. I am asking this question because as a repair-tech/luthier, I would be seeing instruments needing help rather than clean straight examples. Installing new truss rods was common due to ******** up adjustment nuts and broken off threaded sections.

Just wondering...

Jim

[FabGearHead]

Huh?! I'm not allowed to use THAT word? ......interesting

[jdogric12]

Huh?! I'm not allowed to use THAT word? ......interesting

No idea what your word was, but yeah, long story... dont' ask.

[jps]

Hey everybody, are all of the older 60's Rick basses prone to high action with the bridges bottomed out? In my experience I have worked on a several 60's Rick basses and on all of them the bridge was adjusted all the way down. Some had their saddles ground down as well. I have even seen where the wood directly under the tailpiece was routed to the outline of the tailpiece and about 3/16" deep to get a lower action. I am asking this question because as a repair-tech/luthier, I would be seeing instruments needing help rather than clean straight examples. Installing new truss rods was common due to ******** up adjustment nuts and broken off threaded sections.

Just wondering...

Jim

The best way to deal with this is the make a very tight plug for the neck pickup route and "pop" it in while the neck is pulled back to provide compression, just like doing so with frets that have wider tangs to correct for forward neck bow. Then, route out the absolute smallest/shallowest area needed to install the neck pickup.

[FabGearHead]

Jason, the "word" was something one finds in one's nose that is removable!

Jeff, I have used the compression plug method on a V63 Rick that I once owned. It was a definite improvement to overall rigidity. I also made some aluminum saddles which added a nice round clarity without it sounding too brittle.

Aren't we persnickety? Oops! Can I use that word?

Jim

[jps]

Apparently, persnickety is an okay word!

[teeder]

[quoteI also made some aluminum saddles which added a nice round clarity without it sounding too brittle.][/quote]

I've wanted to do this also, but never got 'round to it. IMO, aluminum is generally good for tone. Hmm, now wondering what an aluminum nut would do?

[jps]

Hmm, now wondering what an aluminum nut would do?

My old Kramer 350B from 1975 had one.

[FabGearHead]

I've wanted to do this also, but never got 'round to it. IMO, aluminum is generally good for tone. Hmm, now wondering what an aluminum nut would do?


Kevin, they're great if you play every song with open strings...

[jps]

Hmm, now wondering what an aluminum nut would do?

My old Kramer 350B from 1975 had one.

Make that 1976; slip of the old keyboard. Kramer wasn't around in '75.

[wim]

I've wanted to do this also, but never got 'round to it. IMO, aluminum is generally good for tone. Hmm, now wondering what an aluminum nut would do?


Kevin, they're great if you play every song with open strings...

Indeed it only affects the open strings when played.
I've got a brass nut on my 4001, I'd say it adds a little little little bit of clarity and uniformity to the sound of the open strings.
Since aluminium is a lot lighter my guess is the difference will be difficult to hear.

[teeder]

Kevin, they're great if you play every song with open strings...

Good point, though I keep thinking about all those guitars back in the day with brass nuts that I hated the tone on no matter where I was fretting.
Probably my imagination.