Correcting slight neck twist

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:29 pm

Hey,

I noticed that the neck of my 96' 4003 is slightly twisted. When looking down the neck from the headstock to the body... the E side of the neck is a few millimeters higher than the G side of the neck... but only near the headstock.

Playing is unaffected, there is no fret buzzing, and there is an ideal slight bow in the neck... but I would still like to fix the slight twist if possible.

Is it just a truss rod thing requiring the adjustment of the rod on the E string side (I assume losen it a little... or maybe the opposite on the G side)? Just wondering if it is a serious issue to fix (most people in my area have no/little experience with rics).

Any advice is apprecieated. I'm guessing it would not be hard to fix myself... but I want to get the opinions of others first.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:41 pm

John, make sure that you do indeed have a slight neck twist. When sighting down the neck from the headstock end, the elevation of the nut always throws me for a loop. I'm not a luthier, and I will gladly bow to the others with more expertise on the matter around here, but it seems to me that the nut is higher off the neck at the E string than the G, giving an optical illusion of twist.

Anybody else have some input?

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:45 pm

Yes it is a truss rod issue . The e side primarily takes most of the pressure . depending on how straight the g side is i would loosen the g side just a little and then tighten the e side until it looks pretty straight then sight the g and the e to look for eveness . The 4003 has modern style rods so you dont necessarily have to use kid gloves . You can pretty much just put a wrench on them and give them a turn . However , I would suggest you go small increments at a time . Tune , sight , and adjust more if neccessary . Good luck

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:51 pm

A couple of quick tips if you do get to the point of adjusting the truss rods...

- Go slow, just a little turn, then give the neck time to adjust to the change in torque, then reassess the situation.

- Keep notes on how much you turn each rod, in case you want to go back to where you were.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:58 pm

John, I reread your post again and have been thinking about this... I would check the neck with a straightedge to know for sure before you begin any trussrod adjustments. It might be what you think, and it could be an optical illusion, given that the bass seems to play fine. I got an aluminum straightedge at Lowe's that I use - I had to carefully cut off one end so that it is the same length as a Ric bass neck, but it is a great tool for this purpose now. Or... Joey V or others here can coach you through the capo-method. Check and make sure before you twist any rods.

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:36 pm

Dean... I know the capo method...might actually be slightly low on the G side, but again it plays well.

The nut is uniform height from the fretboard on both the E and G sides... so I don't think it is an illusion. (see note later)

If you can visualize it... If I am looking down the neck and my nose is touching the top of the headstock, and I visually line the *top corner* of the G side of the nut with the *bottom* of the white trim on the body, The top corner of the nut on the E side is about 50% above the bottom trim line on that side (i.e lines up with the middle of the trim line... not the bottom like on the G side). The twist is not that extreme, but it looks that way when sighting down the neck.

What do some of you see when you sight down the neck using this method? I'm wondering if there is an illusion due to the fact that the trim is actually slightly closer to the headstock/eye on the E side of the nut simply due to the body shape.

Also, the only buzzing I have on the entire fretboard is a buzz at the 8th fret of the G string. Maybe just an uneven fret.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:04 pm

I am out of town on business in Phoenix right now and don't have a Ric to sight. However, I remember seeing an optical illusion from the headstock end... Hopefully one/some of the others can chime in soon to help. I hope it's just an optical illusion!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:41 pm

If the neck does not respond right away. Try setting it by hand before adjusting the rod. Twist it into place (gently) by holding the headstock then adjust the rod while holding it in place. Taking the load off of the rods like this often helps on problem necks.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue May 03, 2005 9:37 pm

I recently restrung my 1997PT (with Pyramids, of course!) and saw the same thing, that the neck appears to have a very slight "twist" to it. Because the guitar plays fine all the way up, down, and across the fretboard, I didn't bother trying to "straighten" it.

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Wed May 04, 2005 3:42 pm

Well, for now I am not touching it... but I am interested to hear more of what others see when they look down their necks. It would be interesting if it was an optical illusion, though I don't think it is.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Wed May 04, 2005 7:17 pm

John, if you are not sure if it is an illusion or not, get another opinion. Take a photo from the top of the headstock looking down the neck. Let's have a look.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:20 pm

Joey has helped me and others out with our setup issues... that's why I mentioned him... I'm glad you're not touching it until you reassess... if you can post pics here, great; if you take it another way that is okay too... hope we have been of some help.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:31 am

John, dont worry, i used to get paranoid about this too when i first got my rickenbacker. I have 2 and they both have this optical illusion.the nut is higher on the E side and the larger strings are a tiny bit higher off the fretboard.

I started to worry about his after seeing the diagram on the ric website showing you how to sight down the neck to "eliminate twist" After seeing this i was convinced my 4003 was warped!

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu May 05, 2005 10:25 am

Owen said:

... my 4003 was warped ...

That's what people say about my sense of humor ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu May 05, 2005 2:52 pm

...you too!?!?! LOL