Did my ****** case cause this? What about Strongbox cases?

[Freez]

Hi Guys, my '85 4003 FG was purchased from a mail order catalog in '86, and I realized years later that the case wasn't a Rickenbacker case, but rather some cheap (one size fits all) thing that the catalog company shipped with their new basses. I believe that this ****** case eventually caused a sideways bend in the neck that I am still trying to figure out how to fix, due to the fact that the neck slides to the bottom of the case when in the upright position and rests on the headstock (by the way, if anybody has an idea how to fix this, or who might be able to fix it for me, I would really appreciate it). Anyway, I've been contemplating getting a new case, but the RIC cases are prohibitively expensive for me at the moment. You can buy a Strongbox case on e-bay for about $50 right now, and I was wondering if any of you guys have experience with these cases. Are they any good, and will a RIC fit in there without sliding loose all over the place?

[qwezirider]

Yikes! A sideways bend - got a photo of that? I can't picture what it looks like in relation to the rest of the bass.

[pflash4001]

I can't picture it either, but Dale works miracles!

[jingle_jangle]

It is pretty unlikely that a poorly-fitting case could cause a sideways bend in the neck. More likely it is bad truss rod adjustments over time, coupled with climatic conditions, and string tension may figure in there, too.

It's unwise to substitute one generic case for another, cheaper one. Store the bass and case flat or in carrying orientation, until you can get the $$$ for a genuine case on Ebay. Used ones come up in the $100-125 range from time to time, and they will fit--guaranteed.

[rickenbrother]

I'd like to see pictures of the sideways bend also. Is it actually a twist, maybe?

[johnallg]

Could also be that one rod snapped. I don't want to say positively that with two rods the problem can be corrected, but the chances are really good it can.

[Freez]

Hi everyone, thanks for your interest! I love this forum...anyway, here are the best pics I could get, it's hard to get it to show up in pictures, but it's pretty easy to see in person.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e305/freezway/m.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e305/ ... CF0009.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e305/ ... CF0011.jpg


Sorry, I'm having trouble posting them, hopefully you don't mind cutting and pasting the links...there is a noticable bend towrd the G-string, so you see the E-string side appear to bow outward. My action isn't horrible, but the g string tends to slide off the edge of the neck during aggressive play because of the inward bow of the neck on that side. I don't know if I'm comfortable enough to start pulling out trussrods and such, so if anyone knows how to fix this and wants the job, please contact me!

[rickenbrother]

Jeff, I've made the last pic viewable in your post. The first three are more than 600pixels high and also more than 800 pixels wide, so they cannot be displayed here.
Hard to tell if it's twist in the neck. Have you or anyone ever made truss rod adjustments on this bass?
If the neck is really bent to the G string side, it will probably have to be carefully warmed and set in rigged up clamps and wood blocks to try to straighten it.

[johnallg]

A picture of the truss nuts with the cover off would be a help also. I have found removing the string tension completely and also backing off the truss rods completely and waiting a day or two will allow the neck to "relax" and settle to where it naturally wants to be. Many times it will straighten out on it's own.

It is also possible you have rods that have the major "C" bend to them and one has flipped sideways and is causing the side bow. Removing the rods and straightening them will allow the neck to "relax" and also give you straight rods to work with. I had a hump in the neck on my 4003S around the 14th fret and when I removed the rods they were very curved. Straitening them out and then putting them back in solved the problem and the neck today is straight as an arrow and normal.

[rickaddict]

Have you checked to make sure the bridge is properly seated in its cavity?

[ben_brown]

The first three are more than 600pixels high and also more than 800 pixels wide, so they cannot be displayed here.

For what it's worth.....600X800 is not the size limit these days.....it has to be less than 300kb I believe though.
this photo for example is 1024X768.... YMMV

[rickenbrother]

Steve, I meant displayed full size, not as a clickable thumbnail pic.

[Freez]

Paul - Thanks for the case tip, and I know you're right about that. If the problem is a combination of things like you mentioned, how do I fix that? Do you do this kind of work?

PFlash - I don't know how to get in touch with Dale, but I'd be happy to share this problem with him if he can help. How do I reach him?

Joe - Yes, through the years and different string guages adjustments to the truss rods have been made, but not frequently. The most recent adjustments were made by me after reading how at your website, and they seemed to help straighten the neck, but did nothing for the sideways problem. I have had all matter of strings and tensions over the years, and I admit I prefer a little stiffer string than RIC would recommend, so this may have been a contributing facter for sure. It is possible it is a twist, but it presents as a sidways warp. The warming clamp thing sounds like a possible fix if it's not a broken rod, who can do this?

rickaddict - Yes the bridge is seated properly. First thing I checked. And the strings all go over the pickup pole pieces as they should.

John - I'll take a pick of the truss rod nuts later and post it. This one adjusts at the body, so do you need to see that end too?

Thanks everyone, it's great that you all care!

[rickenbrother]

The warming clamp thing sounds like a possible fix if it's not a broken rod, who can do this?

A skilled luthier such as Paul Wilczynski.

[johnallg]

Jeff, yeah, pics of both ends of the rods. I am really suspecting a curved rod flipped on its side, of one rod is not broken.