Seasonal Changes and Rickenbackers

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 3:03 am

I live on the east coast of Canada and find that I need to make intonation adjustments to my Rickenbackers in the Spring and Fall as the humidity builds and tapers off. I would be interested in knowing whether other Rickenbacker owners notice the same change in the Spring and Fall which is bound to change depending on the climate where you live.

rob · Post by **rob** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 5:07 am

I have never had any intonation problems from ny 4001. (I'll have to see about my "newly aquired 330.) I live in Buffalo, NY. So, I probably see as much humidity changes as Peter. The only bass I've ever owned that had this sort of problem was a MIM Fender Jazz bass. I just passed the intonation problem and warped neck due to inferior quality. Otherwise, I find myself pretty lucky. How bad does your intonation get, Peter?

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 6:22 am

Robert: Only slight changes are required but I find that things are worst in the fall as the air becomes drier. I do add humidity but this, while helpful, is an imperfect solution.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 10:59 am

I have some seasonal problems with my Rick basses, but strangely enough, it is the two 4001v63s I own that are more susceptable to it
My '73 4001 doesn't EVER seem to need trussrod tweaking!

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 12:06 pm

I've gotta touch wood here, cause i've never had to adjust the neck of my early 70's 4001. I'm located just a hour north of Robert, in Toronto.
Thank you lord.

jblakey · Post by **jblakey** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 9:48 am

For all the years living outside of DC in NO. Va.. I never had a problem with intonation of the '75 4001. But notice now after a move to Tulsa, Ok. a year ago, that I need to get this one adjusted.

sornord · Post by **sornord** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 9:07 pm

I live in Frankfurt, Germany and have had to slightly tweak the truss rods on my 660/12 last spring, and again last month (September). I'm not sure it has to do so much with humidity as with how I store it. It usually hangs on the wall but lately (while my wife's be in the states for a few months) I've had it in the living room almost constantly, laying with the head on the arm of my sofa. Had to work two days straight and didn't pick it up from the sofa (told you my wife's away) but when I did, it was noticibly changed. Needed a slight tweak to get the action down "Les Paul low" like it had been.

SW

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 7:41 am

Peter,

My RIC 360/12v64 seems to exhibit seasonal sensitivity. I purchased it while living in metro-Detroit, MI and for those paying attention, I moved from Detroit to metro-Portland, OR in late June. Once I got here, I added a 370/12 to the pile (July). I twiddled with it yesterday, tweaking the neck relief and adding a twelve saddle bridge.

In general, I'm sort of leery of the pending "rainy" season as I've been warned that it will be wet and gray from now (mid-Oct) through April. For all that, the June-Sept weather was truly splendid.

So, I suspect to have a humid winter (rather than a dry one as experienced back east). We'll see what my two RICs do this winter.

None of my other guitars seem to mind the weather changes.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 3:22 am

For those lacking in humidity, I find that the clay pot humdifiers that you leave in your case are helpful during the winter months. A simple and yet inexpensive way to make a difference.