Finally Returned to Rickenbacker

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Wed Sep 11, 2002 1:04 pm

This is a great forum one which I visit often. It has been a while since I posted.

The story:
In May of 2000 I purchased a new 4003 FireGlo. After two years of fustration with trying to get the neck adjusted for decent action, I am finally sending it back to Rickenbacker for repair under warranty.

The issue with the neck started when I received the 4003. There has always been a bow from the 1st thru 4th frets then the neck seems to be normal from the 4th fret downward. I have tried adjusting the truss rods per the Rickenbacker manual and using the E and G strings as a straight edge (capo at first fret and fretting last fret) But what happens is the truss rods only adjust from the 4th fret downward on the neck. The neck then has a slight horizontal "S" shape to it and the strings buzz heavily on the 5th thru 7th frets on all strings. If I lossen the truss rods to remove the "hump" in the middle of the neck the action is extremely high even with the bridge bottomed out. Fustrated again, I put it away for almost a year. I have also tried several brand of flatwounds strings including Rickenbackers.

Recently, I started getting the itch to try the bass again. This time the neck had an excessive bow and I could not tighten the truss rods any further to remove the bow. I called Rickenbacker and spoke with their service department. I obtained an RA number and will be sending it back to be checked out.

Its really strange that I would have so much trouble with the 4003. I've played several 4003s in the past and the action and playbility was smooth as butter. I have always wanted a Ric bass and would like to make this bass work and be the Rickenbacker bass I know it can be.

I will post updates in case anyone is interested in how this proceeds.

fireglo · Post by **fireglo** » Wed Sep 11, 2002 3:50 pm

I'd love to hear how this turns out for you. When will you be shipping it?

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Sep 11, 2002 4:00 pm

Tom: Please do keep us posted. I am glad that you are able to send it back under warranty and I will be most interested to hear your comments on playability after the adjustments have been made.

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 1:29 pm

I shipped it out this afternoon. When I obtained the RA number Rickenbacker Service Department stated it may take up to two weeks for them to return the bass back to me. That's prefectly fine with me if the bass comes back with the famous Rickenbacker playability

I had to do something simliar when I bought my Carvin LB70 back in 1989. After six months I had to send it back due to a neck issue. Apparently from the workorder Carvin had to heat treat the neck. I haven't had any problems with the bass since. Seems neck issues with new basses tends to be some sort of curse for me

craigv · Post by **craigv** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 2:27 am

Your handle would seem to indicate you live in Arizona? If so, perhaps the low humidity was a factor in your run of bad luck with necks.

I'm sure the factory will be able to take care of this for you. It's nice that Ric has factory warranty service. It's one of the things I dislike about Fender...they make you deal with "authorized" repair shops. Gee, I wonder what the criteria would be to become authorized.

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 6:49 am

Craig:

Yes, I do live in Arizona and it really is a "dry heat."

I've been thinking that the problem may be due to the low humidity here. The 4003 I purchased in May of 2000 came from a music store in New Jersey. I grew up back East so I know the humidity is very high during the summer. But I would think after two years of being in the dry Arizona climate the wood would have settled by now. Maybe not. I know wood can sometimes have a mind of its.

I agree. It is nice Rickenbacker has factory warranty service. Their Service Department was very nice on the phone and seemed to want to get the problem resolved. Carvin also has factory warranty service though this may have changed since 1989.

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:26 am

I received a call from Rickenbacker yesterday informing me they have my 4003 and will be checking it out

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 7:49 am

UPDATE:

I received a call from Rickenbacker Service Department on Wednesday. They informed me that the neck on my new 4003 was indeed defective and they will be replacing it to make it right. They said the repairs/replacement would take about two to three weeks to complete.

I just received my SansAmp Bass Driver DI yesterday so I guess I'll have to wait to try it out with the 4003. Currently, I am checking out the SansAmp with my Carvin and the SansAmp Bass Driver DI sounds awesome. I can't wait to try it in SVT emulation with the 4003

Question:

Since the neck is through the body of the bass, how are they going to replace the neck?

robj · Post by **robj** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 9:54 am

Once upon a time I had a neck issue with a 4001 and they took all the hardware off my bass and installed it on a completely new neck/body. It will be interesting to see what they end up doing with yours. I would think that because of the gluing involved in attaching the body wings its easier to do that than try to disassemble the bass.

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 11:32 am

Robert:

You are problably right. I couldn't see how they were going to just replace the neck since that would require cutting the body wings then gluing them on another neck. Seems easier just to replace the entire guitar or as you stated, remove all the hardware from the defective neck/body and install it on a completely new neck/body.

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 8:18 am

That's a weird thing. Sooooo many times I was told that a defective Rickenbacker was an impossible thing

)))))

robj · Post by **robj** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 7:30 am

The bass I mentioned was a '72 MG with checkered binding, walnut headstock wings, etc. I had the work done by the factory sometime in '78 or '79. what this means is somewhere out there is a MG 4001 with a '72 serial number and a non '72 body/neck, which could lead to some interesting discussions about what features appeared in what time frame. Chris Squire once said in an interview that RIC wasn't really happy about the number of returned for neck repair 4001's they were getting as a result of his use of Rotosounds, which influenced other players do do the same. That makes me think there are plenty of examples out there where the serial number indicates an older model 4001 than the body features would have you think.

az4stringer · Post by **az4stringer** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 3:27 pm

Its been over two months and I just received the bass yesterday but I have to say the wait was well worth it. .

Apparently, they found a defect in the neck on my original 4003 bass I bought 2+ years ago. Rickenbacker never did say what the problem was with the neck. I'm still curious to what it was but no matter

It looks like they put the original hardware on a new neck/body and set it up which is fine with me.

The bass now has extra low action with no string buzzing or dead areas. I have to state that Rickenbacker has awesome customer service. Its hard to believe a company will stand by its products like this today. I'm sure I would have been SOL if the bass was from another "major" manufactuer.

My hats off to Rickenbacker for great customer service. I'm now a life time Rick owner and fan

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 3:33 am

Congratulations, Tom.
Now you're really back to the POINT OF NO RETURN.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Dec 21, 2002 8:01 pm

It's good to hear of a company that makes good on it's warranty and does the right thing for it's customer. I've heard of repair stories about instruments of other manufacturers that didn't turn out as good as yours Tom.