'10 Truss Rod Nut Size?

[Low End Lover]

Hey Rickers,

So thanks to Joey's awesome Bass Pages, I felt confident enough to attempt setting up my Rics. The first thing on his list is the one that I think is the scariest because of all the horror stories floating around—adjusting the truss rod. Both my basses, '08 4003FL & '10 4003, have neck relief so I needed to straighten them. I know from the maunal and talking to Ric that you need a 1/4" nut driver to fit the truss rod nuts. On the '08, 1/4" nut driver fit perfectly, but it seems a bit small on the '10's nuts and while I got in my 1/8 turn on each, I am not sure I want to try it again with the 1/4" size. My question is, anybody who has an '10 noticed that the truss rod nuts seem a bit bigger and run into this?

Thanks,

LEL (Jason)

[rickenbrother]

Jason, what nut driver are you using? It's possible that there's less clearance between the nut and the route for the nut driver you are using on your '10.

[Low End Lover]

Joey,

1/4" as per Ric's instructions. Maybe the routing isn't as deep behind the truss rod nuts? I would think because it is CNC that this would be standardized, but I guess it could have changed from July'08 to January '10.

Jason

[rickenbrother]

Right, the nut driver should be 1/4", however it does need to be thin walled. The X-celite 1/4" L8 is the one RIC sells. You can also find it or an equivalent at a hardware store or Sears.

[Low End Lover]

Joey,

How would I be able to tell if it is "thin walled"? The one I have now from ACE hardware works perfect on the '08 4003FL.

Jason

[coolhandjjl]

Maybe just lucky it worked on the '08. A standard nut driver does not fit my '09. Even the thin walled one from Ric had to be gently coaxed into position.

[cassius987]

I called RIC because I couldn't get my Excelite driver to fit on my 2010 body/neck's truss rod nuts. It was actually because the truss rods were too close to the wood. So I was told that when this happens the boys and girls at RIC chisel out a very small amount of material at the very tip of the nut, permitting clearance. I did this with a flathead screwdriver, and only remove finish--no wood. After doing so (going 1/8'' under the nut with the chiseling), I was able to use my driver no problem.

[Low End Lover]

I called RIC because I couldn't get my Excelite driver to fit on my 2010 body/neck's truss rod nuts. It was actually because the truss rods were too close to the wood. So I was told that when this happens the boys and girls at RIC chisel out a very small amount of material at the very tip of the nut, permitting clearance. I did this with a flathead screwdriver, and only remove finish--no wood. After doing so (going 1/8'' under the nut with the chiseling), I was able to use my driver no problem.

Yes, I thought this was probably going to be the easiest, not to mention cheapest solution. I do woodworking and I have some well-sharpened chisels that I will pare off some paint right behind the head of the nut. That should give me that extra bit of clearance I need.

Thanks,

LEL

[jdogric12]

I bought an excelite from Ric that did not fit my 10 360/12.

[Low End Lover]

All,

So I did some paring and had to take a tiny bit of wood off. After this, the nut driver slipped right on with only a little light encouragment at first. So a $4 nut driver will do just fine and fits well now.

Good night,

LEL

[VRICKY63]

Same problem on my model 1996 guitar. No room at the truss nuts to fit a Rickenbacker nut driver. Guess I'll chisel away.

[cassius987]

It's kind of amazing--I removed just a few flakes of finish and suddenly attaching the driver was a breeze.