Twisted Neck 4001CS

Setup, repair and restoration of Rickenbacker Instruments

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Fretjob
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Fretjob »

I see where you are coming from. Referencing this thread
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=387829

"When the nut is tightened,.... It pushes against the center of the curve and levers the neck backwards away from the pull of the strings.

I would have intuitively tightened the D/G side.
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Wiker
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Wiker »

Fretjob wrote:I would have intuitively tightened the D/G side.
Yes, and when an expert suggests the contrary, there is more to learn if he is willing to share :)

Btw, thanks for the link. Hadn’t read that, but...
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Fretjob
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Fretjob »

Ok, 1/4" Xcelite arrived today - thanks RickySounds. Barely took a 1/4 of a turn before the truss rod nuts were loose, strings loosened as well. Neck looked the same.

So couple of weeks wait and a silly question occurred to me.

Best to keep it in the case, upright, or keep it out in the open air on a stand?
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Fretjob
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Fretjob »

jingle_jangle wrote:First try #2. Give it a couple of weeks. Then tighten both rods until they just grab a mite. Tighten the E/A a full half-turn additionally, and let it sit for a week or two again. Check in again to keep us posted on results. At this point, you're not concerned with relief or action; you just want to see if the rod can straighten the twist.

We'll take it from there once we see if this works or not.
Couple of weeks gone by, looks like no change. I'm looking at going ahead with this. Should i restring and tune first, or just tighten them unstrung?
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scotty
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by scotty »

Restring and tune.Also i keep a eye on the neck as i tune sometimes i give the Rods a minor tweak as i go.Now this might not be recommended but Hey i do it and i works for me.I dont like putting the strings to complete tension without doing a small neck tweak so that the neck says reasonably straight. Oh wait a minute Ive just read the neck still got a twist :? Erm im going to slowly backtrack and wait till Paul W chimes in.Ive jumped the gun a tad here sorry.
Last edited by scotty on Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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marcinkus
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by marcinkus »

I wouldn't restring...
'96 4004C | '98 4003 | '00 4003vp | '05 4003 Custom | '08 4004Cii
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chrisdski
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by chrisdski »

Hopefully Paul will chime in, but his earlier post (when I read it) sounds like tightening the one rod only without strings on to see if the twist can be removed. I'd also store it in the case on it's back.
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cheyenne
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by cheyenne »

I'd string it up, snug both rods a bit, then take the E/A side a quarter turn more, let it sit for a bit and see what you got. Your not going to know unless you try. It might just straighten right up.
Last edited by cheyenne on Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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cheyenne
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by cheyenne »

One more thing, Rotosound strings might be the strings Squire uses, but I personally have had alot of "consistancy" problems with them over the years. After trying about everything out there, I've become a big fan of DR Highbeams for my Ricks. Excellent sounding and long lasting.
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Fretjob
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Fretjob »

I've had it sitting for 8-9 days, unstrung, with the E/A truss rod tightened. My conclusion is this is making it worse and twisting the neck more clockwise (looking down the neck from the Truss rod end)

I've backed off the tension on the E/A side and snugged up the D/G side half a turn.
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Fretjob
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by Fretjob »

Scotty, are you still glancing at this thread?

I'm not overly convinced i'm making much progress on this. Perhaps i'm getting impatient. So far it's been sitting for 3-4 days with the d/g side tightened up quite a bit, i've even tried giving the neck a twist anticlockwise while tightening it up to get a little extra out of it. So far the neck is stil twisted.

As far as i can see the truss rods still work ok. If i tune up and adjust both rods i can get each side fairly flat, but with a twist :?

Looking around for a place i can potentially take it for some professional help i see "Strung Out Guitars" in Glasgow might be a good place. I think the tech/luthier there is a guy that used to contribute to these forums himself. Any comments or recommendations? I'll likely be in Glasgow the 2nd week of April.

I've just purchased myself a new Midnight Blue 4003, so i've at least got something to plonk in the meantime. :)
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scotty
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by scotty »

PM sent
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jingle_jangle
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by jingle_jangle »

Don't know who the tech in Glasgow might be, but now it does look like heat will be the answer...it'll have to be clamped and heated with a beam. Best left to an expert, but not necessarily a Rick expert, as heating necks is a commonly-done luthier bit. Truss rods should be removed or de-tensioned completely before doing this. This is probably an issue of the neck wood's organic, asymmetrical nature.
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scotty
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by scotty »

Ive spoken to Bill Kelday http://www.keldayguitars.com/ whom sorted my issue that i had with my v64.Bill is a guitar luthier in Scotland i sent him a link to this thread and he has asked to see the bass before any work is undertaken.Bill id be happy to meet up with you and take you to Bills workshop for a meeting with Mr Kelday. :D
the website offers views of the workshop and guitars that have been made and sold.
Last edited by scotty on Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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jingle_jangle
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Re: Twisted Neck 4001CS

Post by jingle_jangle »

Whatta frend.

Its allus better to hav the nstrument in yer hnd, isn't it, Scotty?
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