DANG I need truss rods!

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
User avatar
jdogric12
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 10925
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 am

DANG I need truss rods!

Post by jdogric12 »

So I need some truss rods and nuts and whatnot for the "not quite S" bass... an early 80's 4003 with adjustment at the body. Where can I get these? Do I just buy current ones and flip'm around?

Y'know, backwards?

*fzwip fwip zwip*

?backwards, Y'know

?around m'flip and ones current buy just I Do ?these get I can Where. body the at adjustment with 4003 80's early an... bass "S quite not" the for notwhat and nuts and rods truss some need I So
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6580
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by bassduke49 »

I think the early '80s 4003 model had the old-style "hairpin" rods, not the current style. They had the adjustment nuts at the body end, but they were still the 4001 rods. And I think that makes a difference in how the slots are cut into the neck and way the fingerboard works with it. Ted Staberow can tell more (if he would show up here more often), so it might be worth a careful read of the Anatomy series piece he did a while back:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=387829
Last edited by bassduke49 on Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
cjj
RRF Moderator
Posts: 10932
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm
Contact:

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by cjj »

Yes, the early 4003 models with the adjustment at the body end used the old style "folded" rods. Paul is right in that the construction of the neck is different too, so you can't use the new style rods.

So, you'll have to find someone who can make them. I seem to remember that Paul W. either can make these or knows someone who can...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
User avatar
ilan
RRF Consultant
Posts: 2903
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2002 7:00 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by ilan »

I've got a spare set if you want.
"A Noble Instrument Must Be Nobly Regarded"
User avatar
jdogric12
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 10925
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 am

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by jdogric12 »

pm rec'd/sent

Thanks Ilan!
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by johnallg »

ilan wrote:I've got a spare set if you want.
Are these the ones I helped you get all those years ago?
User avatar
ilan
RRF Consultant
Posts: 2903
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2002 7:00 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by ilan »

I think so, yes. but I ended up fixing the rods in my '73 instead of replacing them.
"A Noble Instrument Must Be Nobly Regarded"
User avatar
jaymi
Advanced Member
Posts: 2332
Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 5:00 am
Contact:

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by jaymi »

look at the body cavity where the rods go in. You will need a larger longer piece of aluminum to hold them in. The early 4003 basses that I have had (up to 85) had the old style rods with a long piece of metal as the bracket. You will also find that some of those have that bracket in 2 pieces....that means someone torqued too much and broke it...85 and into 86 had them in the wood in their own separate channels....
User avatar
jdogric12
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 10925
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 am

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by jdogric12 »

Thanks for chiming in, everyone.

So, will Ilan's rods work in my bass?
User avatar
jaymi
Advanced Member
Posts: 2332
Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 5:00 am
Contact:

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by jaymi »

jdogric12 wrote:Thanks for chiming in, everyone.

So, will Ilan's rods work in my bass?

should as long as you have the correct metal bar to adjust them against.
skiscem
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:03 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by skiscem »

Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested :)
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by johnallg »

skiscem wrote:Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested :)
Welcome Alejandro! What is wrong with the rods you have now? They are repairable.
skiscem
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:03 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by skiscem »

johnallg wrote:
skiscem wrote:Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested :)
Welcome Alejandro! What is wrong with the rods you have now? They are repairable.
Well, the aluminum stopper is broken in half, i managed to push them back inside the neck, but i havent stringed it yet, i will post pictures later.
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: DANG I need truss rods!

Post by johnallg »

If the rods are okay and the threads good, just make a new aluminum block. There are threads on that here.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”