Are nickel roundwound .045 - .105 strings safe to put on...

[cboehmig]

...my 4001 and 4001s? I've read that the older necks can't handle the tension of nickel strings, but both had nickel strings on when I got them, and being fairly old (1977 and 1982), do you think if there would have been a problem, it would have happened already?

Feeling a little paranoid! Thanks.

[antipodean]

...my 4001 and 4001s? I've read that the older necks can't handle the tension of nickel strings, but both had nickel strings on when I got them, and being fairly old (1977 and 1982), do you think if there would have been a problem, it would have happened already?

Feeling a little paranoid! Thanks.

G'day Charles,

The whole "roundwound strings" issue is deceptive. I believe most neck issues on 4000/4001s have been caused by incorrect adjustment rather than string tension alone. However very high tension strings may be too much for some of these basses, particularly those made before the skunk stripe neck was introduced in '72. Given the vintage of your basses, there shouldn't be an issue with the strings you're suggesting provided you perform any relief adjustment appropriately, and provided that a previous owner hasn't messed up in the past!

If you need tips, go to http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/Joeys%20frameset.htm - click on "Bass Guitar Maintenance", follow the links and you'll find a great guide to truss-rod adjustement for your Rics.

[rickfan60]

I have been using stainless steel rounds on my Ricks for nearly 30 years with no ill-effects. The conventional wisdom back then was RotoSounds (or any round wound strings) would ruin a Rickenbacker neck. That, of course is total bulls#it. Maybe very early Rotos were a problem but by the mid 70's things were pretty well worked out but the myth still lingers today and I don' know why. The scary thing is it was (is) believed by many people that all flat wounds pull less than any rounds. This is also complete BS. The fact is, back in the 70's Fender produced a line of flats that would damn near fold a P-bass in half. A set of Fender flats installed on a any Rick of the era or earlier could have caused some serious damage but because they were flats conventional wisdom said it was OK. It all comes down to how the strings are made. The strings of today are vastly superior to any made 20 - 30 years ago. Truth is, there is little to worry about with modern strings.

I prefer DRs both stainless and nickel. Many people here like D'Addarios, Thomasik Infeld (TI), GHS, or RotoSounds. BTW The gauges you specified are the standard gauges used by RIC today.

[rickenbrother]

You're right Ted, many people still believe that myth about roundwounds having more tension than flats. It's usually the opposite.
The overall construction of strings determine how much tension that they will have.

[cheyenne]

I think alot of people were adjusting the truss rods incorrectly, popping the fretboard, and then blaming the string manufactor.

[cboehmig]

As usual, thanks for putting my mind at ease gang!

[cboehmig]

I have another string question but didn't want to open another topic and flood the forum.

What would be the ideal set of flats to put onto a 4001/4001S? I am thinking I'll put rounds on my 4001 and flats on the 4001S, just for a little variety. I know opinions will vary but if I could get a few options to choose from and descriptions of tone and feel, that'd be great.

Thanks!

[rickaddict]

I think alot of people were adjusting the truss rods incorrectly, popping the fretboard, and then blaming the string manufactor.

Or blaming RIC!

[jingle_jangle]

I have been using stainless steel rounds on my Ricks for nearly 30 years with no ill-effects. The conventional wisdom back then was RotoSounds (or any round wound strings) would ruin a Rickenbacker neck. That, of course is total bulls#it. Maybe very early Rotos were a problem but by the mid 70's things were pretty well worked out but the myth still lingers today and I don' know why. The scary thing is it was (is) believed by many people that all flat wounds pull less than any rounds. This is also complete BS. The fact is, back in the 70's Fender produced a line of flats that would damn near fold a P-bass in half. A set of Fender flats installed on a any Rick of the era or earlier could have caused some serious damage but because they were flats conventional wisdom said it was OK. It all comes down to how the strings are made. The strings of today are vastly superior to any made 20 - 30 years ago. Truth is, there is little to worry about with modern strings.

I prefer DRs both stainless and nickel. Many people here like D'Addarios, Thomasik Infeld (TI), GHS, or RotoSounds. BTW The gauges you specified are the standard gauges used by RIC today.

Ted, my friend, you are a font of bass knowledge!

[revolver323]

Never had a problem with Rotosounds on my '72 4001, other than that they ate the frets-- not bad enough to refret, but definitely after a year. Rotos destroyed the frets on my '59 P Bass within two years. They didn't bother my Gibson Ripper at all in over four years.

[ricosound]

+1 on the DR Highbeam stainless RWs on a 4001 although I'm using a medium-light 45-100 set.

[chefothefuture]

One thing that should be pointed out is that he Original Maxima Ric strings
WERE very low tension. So, a set of Rotos and an incorrect adjustment could
make for an unhappy 4001.
Also- the guage of the string matters some; 45-100s require less tension from the rods
while 50-110s would likely be beyond what some Ricks could handle.

[thumper73533]

kenny at rickenbacker said stainless steel strings are whats causing my tail lift, but don't most strings have stainless steel cores??

[johnallg]

What would be the ideal set of flats to put onto a 4001/4001S? I am thinking I'll put rounds on my 4001 and flats on the 4001S, just for a little variety. I know opinions will vary but if I could get a few options to choose from and descriptions of tone and feel, that'd be great. Thanks!

Charles, you will find two brands of flats that in general get the most recommendations here. D'Addario Chromes and TI Jazz Flats. The Chromes have a brighter tone and a firmer feel (more tension). The TIs are a lower tension and more of a bassier tone. JH has stated they are the closest available to the old Maxima's (out of business) that supplied RIC with flats many moons ago. In the last few months, a company has begun making strings to the Maxima specs and are called Optima. Google Optima Strings and you will find them. Some say the TI and Maxima strings are too floppy. I have a set of the RIC Maxima strings and though they are looser, they are a joy to play.

[rikk]

I've been using .105-.45 for many years with no ill effect. GHS Boomers.