Dead Spot

marcinkus · Post by **marcinkus** » Sat Jun 02, 2001 10:10 am

My '98 4003 JG has a little problem. Every time I play the B (9th fret D string), and also the near frets, I notice a "dead spot" that I didn't realize when I bought the bass. Is there any chance to adjust it?
Thanx, greetings from Italy.

majbak · Post by **majbak** » Sun Jun 03, 2001 3:06 am

new strings can help this problem but Ive got 6 basses and only my 4001cs has never suffered.Also checking intonation helps.

marcinkus · Post by **marcinkus** » Sun Jun 03, 2001 5:13 am

Well, I changed strings several times, but the problem seems not to solve... I hope Mark the MD will answer my question.

Headbanger · Post by **Headbanger** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 3:32 am

Whenever I show off my Rick's I point out the through body design and more than once have been told "It causes dead spots". I must be lucky 'cause I'm still trying to find them.

lucien_s · Post by **lucien_s** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 11:03 am

almost every 4 string wood bass I've ever played had a dead spot. It's usually on the G string in the 5th to 7th fret area. That's where it is on my 4003, and was on all the various Fenders and others I've tried. Seems to have to do with a natural resonance of the wood at that particular note's frequency. The neck wood vibrates sympathetically and absorbes the vibration of the string, muting it (and thus the sustain is very short with those notes on that string). Perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

Only 4-string I've ever played that had no dead spots was a Steinberger, the solid composite one.

LS

marcinkus · Post by **marcinkus** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 11:27 am

Well, maybe if my bass ages (like the wine) it will improve... who knows?

rick_j. · Post by **rick_j.** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 5:53 pm

marcinkus--i have owned a 1980 4003, a 1999 4003, and a 1977 4001. all three had that exact same dead spot you mention. its either the A, A# , or B, on the D string. i hate it. the best thing you can try to do is play that note somewhere else on the fretboard, if possible. it is such a shame rickenbacker cant figure out,after all these years, how to get rid of this problem-- its the one thing that stops this bass from being all that it should be. it causes me to have to use my fender. and i really would rather play my rickenbacker, but that damn dead spot stops me every time !!!!! anyone out there know of the cure? (nothing i have tried over the years has worked on that particular problem).

4003SeaGreen · Post by **4003SeaGreen** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 12:33 pm

I've owned a 78 4001 JG, 84 4003 MG and I currently own a 00 4003 SG. I have *never* experienced this dead spot problem. I'm playing my Rick right now, no dead spots, everything sounds sweet on the frets. Just wanted to give another perspective, I don't think it happens on all Rick Basses. Sorry it's happening to you.