Strings for C64S.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:40 am

These strings are workin' out well Randy. I just needed to "help" the D string into place but it worked out fine. The action is just a tad to high for my liking. I don't no how to adjust the action on this bass. I thought the truss-rod was the only way.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:43 am

Didn't know Macca had a C64S!!! Thanx JH please excuse my ignorance. Pretty cool. Just wish we could get some more recent shots of Paul with either Rick.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:15 am

I thought that might be the case with the D string Richard. That can be easily adjusted. There are people that can explain that better that I can though. As far as the action goes, you can use the small allen wrench that came with the bass to adjust the action. The allen screws are on both sides of the bridge saddles located on the tailpiece. You should then easily be able to adjust the action to your liking. Good luck.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:52 am

Well Randy, I sat down with the the allen wrench and attempted to lower the bridge. I was dissapointed to discover that it is down as far as it can go. So i guess it's time for a set up. I am not going to attempt this myself because I don't want to destroy this instrument. So now I have two problems. 1.) I just can't bring my self to part with this bass yet. 2.) I don't trust anybody around here. I gave my 4003 to all the local guys (Rockland County NY) and every two weeks my strings would begin to buzz (GHS Precision Flats) and I would have to bring it back. I even took it out to Staten Island to have the "famous" Mandolin Brothers give it a shot, but alas a week later buzz. I'm stumped.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:51 pm

[email protected]

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:21 am

I agree. Mark can talk you through any problem you might encounter. He's one of the people who worked on Macca's bass in the 70's. Contact him and tell him what your up against. I'm sure he will be glad to talk you through this and you will learn more about how to set up your bass to your liking. Dale Fortune can do the same thing too. He posts regularly on Rickenbacker's website forum. My own guess is that a truss adjustment might be in order and the nut grooves may need to be deepened slightly to accomodate the strings. That is just a guess though. Both had to be done to my C64. They are set up at the factory for the RIC strings, so it's not out of the ordinary for different strings to require a set up job.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:22 am

Deepening the nut slots isn't the answer on a C64S because it has a zero fret. I think widening the nut slot on the D string is what is needed. I had to do that to mine in order to get the bass to accept the .065 gauge strings that I like to use.

By the way, Scott...she's still alive and kickin'! She's a great bass and has the most stable neck of all of my Ricks. She also has the most perfect fretboard. She had no problems at all with Pyramids or the medium Elixers that are on her now. I think I might go back to Pyramids next time though. I want to keep those frets as nice as they are and if I'm gonna have one Rick strung with flatwounds, this would be a good one to choose. She is a bit on the heavy side though, surprisingly. I need to get her on a scale, but I definitely feel a difference.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:40 am

That's what I meant in terms of the C64S nut. I should have said widened instead of deepened.

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:17 pm

Jeff, I know she's in good hands. If you ever decide to sell please give me first consideration. I'm Rickless right now but I've been messing around with an old project Peavey T-45 bass that I put a Darkstar pickup in. It has worked out really well but I do miss having a Rick. I've got the itch.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:36 am

Randy- I thought so. Darn typing hands!

Scott- You absolutely will get first consideration on the C64S. I played her last night at band practice. She still has yet to receive her first nick or scratch(knock on maple!), but her satin finish has become a little shiny in some places from use. No biggie, that just means that she's being enjoyed.

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:21 pm

Does anybody use rounds on their C64? I am a little worried about the bridge lifting that I am reading about here. Is that a C64 only issue (as far as new Ricks)? I am weighing a C64S vs. a new 4003. I use flats on my '87 4003 and would like to use rounds on the C64. Would that be a problem?

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:09 pm

I've had my C64S for about a year now, and have used rounds ever since I got her. She came loaded with some flatwound Chromes courtesy of her first owner. I left the flats on to try and get into the sound (especially since I'm a big McCartney fan), but I guess I've just been using rounds for too long.

It's been an ongoing process of trying to find the round-wound string set that'll give me the right feel and sound.

At present I'm pretty sold on the D'Addario ProSteel 45-105 set I've loaded up. The only thing I've had to do was keep an eye on the neck and tweak the truss rods a bit.

As for bridge lifting, it hasn't been a problem so far (knock on wood!).

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:57 am

Thanks Alvaro.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 10:44 am

I just went back to Chromes on my C64. After I bypassed the .0047 cap, I put them back on and they sounded nice and full. The way I wanted them to in the first place. The DR nickel rounds sounded better with the cap in, but I wanted flats on the C64. I can save my DR sets for my 4003 now.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:31 pm