Nut wrench missing?

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:00 am

I bought a new Ric 4003 a couple weeks ago and just realized it didn't come with a nut wrench. Is this the common practice? Or was one supposed to come with it? I called the shop and they didn't seem to know. Typical!

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:28 am

I dont think Ricks come with them - which is rather silly. I think they want more of your money

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:36 am

I agree. My MIA Fender jazz came with a really nice 8" long nut wrench with a comfy red rubber handle. Works great! I just found out today the Ric 1/4" nut wrench just went up to $16 plus $6 shipping! Yikes!!! It's not a lot of money, but there's a lot of profit in those little wrenches. Think it's time to visit the local auto parts shop!

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:35 am

I donrteven have a nut wrench for my rick, youll find that an appropriate tool is part of most toolkits. I have to use a pair of pliers to turn the wrench tho

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:59 am

It's a long handled nutdriver, I believe it's 1/4" but mine's not at hand at the moment. It's a quality tool, not some coolie-quality knockoff, and you can adjust the truss rods at full tension as RIC recommends, without removing the strings.

But if you don't have one, just use an appropriate nutdriver or socket extension.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:13 am

We don't supply the wrench because the vast majority of people never need them. Also, years ago when we did do this, they all ended up on the dealer's work bench instead of the customer's case!

Really, there's not much profit in the wrenches and not many are sold. If said profits bought me a steak dinner last year, I'd be surprised.

The only caveat about other types of tools is that you must be careful not to overtighten the rods as you can easily do with a socket or T-handle wrench. A long nut driver has the advantage that your hand usually slips before you can twist the end of the rods off, as well as tending to keep the nut straight.

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 2:43 pm

Hi John,

Thanks for the response. I have several screwdriver-type 1/4" nut drivers and none of them fit because they are too short and the handles hit the headstock, making them off-center. I've been adjusting my basses for years and prefer to do it myself. I have sufficient experience to know when to stop or not overtighten the nut. Frankly, when I put Pyramids on my 4003 and tuned it, the neck bowed immediately. So, I wanted to bring it back in line. My own belief is you should be able to adjust your own equipment rather that always rely on a shop. Being self-sufficient is a virtue as well as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Anyway, I wasn't able to find a long handled nut driver locally, so I've ordered one from you folks through my dealer who gives me big discounts for being a regular customer. So, problem solved.

As for the profit on a nut driver, I suspect you are being honest about your net gain from their sale since most folks don't bother to do this themselves and few purchase them anyway.

Thanks for the input. You should know that I love this bass and adjusting it myself is just a labor of love. You should be proud of this instrument. I am pleased to own and play it! It has become my primary instrument. Thank you!

scoobster28 · Post by **scoobster28** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 2:19 pm

John Hall,
My Carl Wilson 360/12 came with a set of wrenches. Either two or three as I believe. Do the more expensive guitars get them, or did one of your techs. accidentally leave them in the case? Just wondering, as I got them and it seems that they are rare. By the way, I finally got the poster. Thank you very much!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:25 am

Bridge wrenches come with every guitar, neck wrenches are optional. Almost everyone will use their bridge wrenches at some point and almost no one will ever use a neck wrench.

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 6:16 pm

I would find a neck wrench useful, since the first thing I have had to do with every guitar I have bought is set it up to the dropped tuning I use.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 7:00 pm

I agree with Jeff.
The first thing I do after getting a new bass is setting her up to my liking...neck relief adjustment to begin with.
It would be nicely consumer-friendly if a 1/4" socket driver comes with every new RIC instrument.
I bought my driver from pickofthericks.com and I can't live without it.

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:17 pm

"We don't supply the wrench because the vast majority of people never need them. "

Hi Guys,
Yep, I like doing my own too. I adjust all of my basses myself. I have to. Changing strings with varying tensions, huge swings in temperature and humidity here in upsate NY, make it a necessity to be self-sufficient. I can't afford to run down to the shop at $45 a pop (and a 5 day wait) to have a couple nuts turned by a technician. Fact is, the neck on my 4003 is no more stable than that of my Fender jazz or Gretsch Broadkaster. Once I get the 1/4" driver I ordered, I will make good use of it. Looks like there are also some other folks here who do their own adjustments. Good for us!

Since the wrenches don't appear to cost much, including them would be a nice form of customer service. All of my cars still come with jacks, although I may never use them, it's nice to know they are there. I'm glad the car companies don't assume everyone has AAA and will just call for help on their cell phone if they get a flat.

Taking Mr. Hall's logic to its ultimate level, they should also delete all of the instructions in the Ric owner's manual that tell one how to adjust the neck! No wrench, no instructions. Problem solved. By the way, the description in the manual could be better written for non-technical folks!

This is not a big issue, by any means. Just one I feel strongly about. Fact is, I've owned 3 Fenders, 3 Epiphones, 1 Gretsch and a Yamaha bass over the last 2 years. All came with wrenches and I used 'em. That's how it goes.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu May 01, 2003 9:43 am

I see a price change looming on the horizon.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Thu May 01, 2003 9:51 am

I think that if your gonna put a bridge wrench in the case, throw in the neck one too.

And a manual thats really informs the average musician how to maintain and adjust the instrument.

ive never seen a Rick Manual (My rick is used)

But the fender one is terrible. It has about 9 pages devoted to locking tuners and tremsetters and god knows what. And that came with a P Bass?!?!

Also - the set up on nearly all basses is way off, although all the new Ricks i tried in shops were really very good.

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Thu May 01, 2003 1:30 pm

"I see a price change looming on the horizon." That sounds like a reasonable idea. #;^) Well, they don't cost much anyway, you can't even buy a steak dinner with the profits, so how much could the increase be?

By the way, I've never seen a manual with a bass that was worth much, so Ric is not in a club by itself. In fact, overall, the Ric manual is pretty good (even available on their web site, too. Now that's handy). It's just the neck adjustment section reads like two technicians talking to one another. Not written for the average lay person who buys a bass to play it.

Hey, for a few bucks, I'd rewrite the neck section for Ric in language even my 15 year old could understand! Just one of my many talents!

#;^)