4003 String Balance Question from a newbie poster

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:46 pm

No, not at all. As far as I know, the factory gets it right. It seems to happen when the pickup is reinstalled after removing the treble cover or reinstalling the pickguard.

westtexasrickenbacker · Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:28 am

About trying new strings on the 4003 to cure the problem of low "e" string volume output, what brand and gauge do you all recommend?

I'd like to go with a medium light to light gauge of flats.
I'll take recommendations on rounds, too!

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 5:08 pm

Welcome Alex! I use D'Addario Chromes flatwounds on all my Ricks in a custom light guage set. I take the Super Soft (40-60-75-95) set and replace the .060 D string with a single .055 string which make for a great feeling light set.

westtexasrickenbacker · Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:16 pm

Hello Jeffrey,

Thanks for the advice. Concerning the D'Addario Chrome flats, are they a low tension or a medium tension?

I want the McCartney sound. I have a pair of D'Addario Chromes that I tried and didn't like on my Hofner copy. The tension made the neck bow and I couldn't truss it out. I have the strings back in their package. I'll have to check the gauges, but they seemed to be on more on the high or medium tension side than low. However, I would guess the 4003's neck is much stronger.

Jeffrey, do you have any info on LaBella Flats or T.I. Flats?

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:02 pm

The Chromes I use are quite low in tension, although the TI Jazz Flats are lower yet. I did have the TIs on my former 4004Cii and Fender AV '62 Jazz Bass; the sound was fairly bright but did have a bit of a hollow midrange to them, and they sounded better on the Jazz Bass than the Rick. I have not tried the LaBellas although I do believe they are higher in tension.

westtexasrickenbacker · Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:16 am

Hi Jeffrey,

The D'Addario Chromes.... are the gauges (40-60-75-95) an XL Set? Are they "Super Soft" as part of the name or was that just a descriptive term you were using.

Just want to make sure I order the correct set.

Thanks,
A

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:40 am

I think D'Addario is using the XL moniker on all their strings these days, I believe the XL designation used to mean only their roundwounds. Make sure you ask for Chromes specifically. Super Soft is D'Addario's official designation for the guage of these strings, the model number you want is ECB80, then add the CB055 single string to your order. I get my strings from www.juststrings.com.

westtexasrickenbacker · Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:53 am

Thanks very much, Jeffrey. Good information.