Getting the most out of my 4003

[thedistrict3]

Hey guys, I recently got lucky and scored my first ric after playing bass for 7 years. There isn't enough space in here to let me fume out my praise on how amazingly the instrument is built. The only thing I regret about buying this bass is the having a lack of knowledge I have setting up and maintaning these instruments.

I have one main problem with the neck which is (hopefully) easily fixed.

I can't get a clear crisp note on the first 5 frets on all strings without buzz unless I allow a tonne of relief in the neck which also creates big scale action.
Is this a problem with the nut? the bridge?

I can't stand seeing my rics neck bowed too much. It makes me cringe.

[tmossman]

There is only one place to go.

http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/

[rickfan60]

You could have some backbow. That is fairly rare on Ricks but it does happen. What kind of strings to you use?

[thedistrict3]

I use rotosound swing bass 66.

I do not have any backbow, in fact it's the oppisate.

[jaymi]

I use rotosound swing bass 66.

I do not have any backbow, in fact it's the oppisate.

Steel strings put more tension on the neck than any other string...if it looks like a small ski slope, you may consider changing to a different type of string...I use EB slinkies and they are nickel and not nearly as stressful on the neck as others. I know that the 4003 basses are made to handle any type of string but sometimes it is what it is and they cause issues. Also, how old is the bass and was the neck straight before you put those strings on? It may be a simple adjustment or it may require some heating of the neck to straighten it out a little.

[thedistrict3]

I use rotosound swing bass 66.

I do not have any backbow, in fact it's the oppisate.

Steel strings put more tension on the neck than any other string...if it looks like a small ski slope, you may consider changing to a different type of string...I use EB slinkies and they are nickel and not nearly as stressful on the neck as others. I know that the 4003 basses are made to handle any type of string but sometimes it is what it is and they cause issues. Also, how old is the bass and was the neck straight before you put those strings on? It may be a simple adjustment or it may require some heating of the neck to straighten it out a little.

I believe it is the first month of 2008.

It has been set up by a trusted luthier (who has worked on squire's bass) who didn't note any problems.
I believe that paying 2k+ for an isntrument should contain no drawbacks, but i'm afraid that i've come accross one.

The buzz is from the open strings to around the 5th fret. I'm thinking its something to do with the nut. The neck isn't twisted, as I could make it straight, but that would make the strings buzz.

[rickfan60]

I use rotosound swing bass 66.

I do not have any backbow, in fact it's the oppisate.

Is the bass still under warranty? If so RIC Customer Support should get the first shot at this. If not....

Yes, Rotos are not soft strings. Rattles down low (first 5 frets) usually indicate backbow but there are other possible scenarios. How close are the strings to the top of the 20th fret? Can you measure it in inches / mm? Without seeing it in person I can only guess. Sometimes the nut slots are not cut very deeply causing the action to be a little high. The bridge is usually lowered to compensate but the low string angle causes buzzing down low. RIC leaves the nut preference to the player and sometimes (not often on the newer basses) the action is a little high out of the box.

[rickenbrother]

Matt, which model is your bass?

Even if it's a 4003 that not still under warranty, you might want to try adjusting the neck using the procedure for a 4001 adjustment, then adjusting the bridge to the desired height.

[thedistrict3]

I use rotosound swing bass 66.

I do not have any backbow, in fact it's the oppisate.

Is the bass still under warranty? If so RIC Customer Support should get the first shot at this. If not....

Yes, Rotos are not soft strings. Rattles down low (first 5 frets) usually indicate backbow but there are other possible scenarios. How close are the strings to the top of the 20th fret? Can you measure it in inches / mm? Without seeing it in person I can only guess. Sometimes the nut slots are not cut very deeply causing the action to be a little high. The bridge is usually lowered to compensate but the low string angle causes buzzing down low. RIC leaves the nut preference to the player and sometimes (not often on the newer basses) the action is a little high out of the box.

It's 3 and a half to 4 mm from the top of the last fret to the string on the 20th fret.

[rickfan60]

That is fairly high (roughly 1/8th of an inch) for there to be buzzing down low. Most Ricks can go down to 2mm (about 1/16th) before buzzing starts. How far above the top of the first fret are the strings? I am talking about the top of the fretwire itself not the fingerboard.

[thinneckrick]

Ive ran into buzzing problems and odd ****** ghost tones with to much relief as well . Ive found that if you try to get the neck straight with little or preferably no relief . The problem goes away . In most cases that is . lol

[thinneckrick]

Also ive noticed that just about every newer ricky ive bought had to deep nut slots . Ive had to plastic epoxy fill and recut the slots every time

[ricaddic]

I have found that since 2007, the nut on Ricks sit up too high, and run into the problem of not being able to get the low action I like, the string sits too high off the first fret.so first thing I have to have done besides replacing the high gain with a toaster is to have the nut shaved down, I prefer that over filing the slots down, I had two 2006 4003's one of which I still have and this was not a problem and eliminated the procedure of having the nut filed down and the action was easily set to my liking, however I got a new 4003 in 2007, not only did the nut sit up too high but there were issues with the neck that couldn't be solved so I wound up trading in that bass. I have an 08 4003 that I need to take to Chris Clayton and have him shave the nut and set up the action the way I like it, with the way the nut sits up so high it dont matter how much you lower the bridge the action is never right because the string sits up too high over the first fret and the action is unacceptable and unplayable to me, I also have a 2008 4004Cii, I absolutely love the bass, I think every bass player should own one, but it also has the high nut problem also that is being taken care of by Chris Clayton, I'm also having stacked knobs installed so to be able to control the volume and tone of each individual pick up instead of having on volume and one tone for both pick ups, I think this bass should be built the way mine is being modded in my personal opinion, I believe it will make the bass more versatile. I also believe one shouldn't have to do all these mods and alterations on a instrument you pay up to 2g's, but it is what it is and I guess we just have to deal with it, just because its expensive, doesn't mean it dont have flaws, they do.

[admin]

A good set up certainly makes the difference between an instrument that is hard to play and one that is a breeze. Sharing the problems and solutions makes this thread a valuable one from a technical and emotional perspective. Knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel is helpful when we find ourselves in a dark place.

[morrow]

It's impossible to do a factory set up that will please everybody . What's too high for one person may be too low for another .

Those with a lighter touch can use a much lower action without buzzes .