4003s/8 deliberation...

[cheyenne]

This is my solution to the neck flexing issue on 4008's & 4003S8's......

Been there, Done that! (works a charm)

I have not done it to my 4008 as once I removed the Daddario train track tension strings and set it up with some light gauge SIT strings it became stable and rock solid (and it intones quite well too)

Eden.

Interesting. I've never had any tension problems with D'Addario's. Do you remember what set you had?

[weemac]

It was their standard eight string set.. 45 65 80 100 and the matching octaves. All the wrong gauges for an eight string.. (actually daddario's octave strings are good but the root strings are too stiff)
Eden.

[chromium]

That's why you don't pay top dollar. You offer 'em $1800-$2000, and say take it or leave it. They're a pawn shop. Believe me, they'll take it. Most players don't know how to adjust the neck of their bass. Heck, I didn't even start doing my own set-ups till I was almost 40. With two truss rods, a Rick neck is twice as adjustable, and twice as strong. You can probably get this bass cheap and get it back in shape with a minimum of $$$ spent, but if you find one that's perfect, you WILL pay top dollar. Of course you could always buy a 4003 and I could convert it for you. I've done a few of these. Just ask around

You guys are a terrible influence on GAS - I like this place already!

Dane- thanks for the pic of that "swimming pool" plug. I've seen mention of that before, and that's something I could handle if I end up with this or another Ric 8. I've been looking on and off at these for the last few years, and I'm patient - if I can make some headway on the price with them then it might work out, but I honestly won't be surprised if they get some action at 2500 in that auction. The bass certainly has it in the looks department!

I didn't realize you did the conversions as a service. I've seen pics of that CS before, and the others are equally beautiful. Gotta love the potato heads! Really great vision and execution on those.

Thanks everyone for the tips on the strings as well. I've been running D'Addarios on all my basses, but I might give those SITs a try on my old Ibanez 8er. Bought that one years ago to try and stave off the 4008/s8 GAS. Didn't work.

[jps]

Is that 8 string Ibanez from the Musician series of instruments?

[weemac]

That one looks to be a studio eight. A bolt on version of the musician.
With its great construction, well positioned pickups and 32" scale the Ibanez eights are one of the better octave basses around...

Eden.

[chromium]

That one looks to be a studio eight. A bolt on version of the musician.
With its great construction, well positioned pickups and 32" scale the Ibanez eights are one of the better octave basses around...

Eden.

Yeah its the Studio ST-980. Weighs a ton, built like a tank, and sounds great. I'm more of a passive bass kind of guy, but the pre/eq setup in this thing is actually pretty nice.

I have a bit of a thing for the old FujiGen stuff

[weemac]

Now that is a desirable collection!
Eden.

[Colonel Sanders]

That one looks to be a studio eight. A bolt on version of the musician.
With its great construction, well positioned pickups and 32" scale the Ibanez eights are one of the better octave basses around...

Eden.

The Ibanez Studio was a fantastic bass. But a bit on the heavy side...