4003 tuners

[vulcan_creedler]

Quck question:

Other than the writing "Rickenbacker" and "Schaller" is there any difference between these tuners, as seen at Rosetti (UK Ric importers):

http://www.rosetti.co.uk/Product/Schall ... ad-Set-534 (£59)

http://www.rosetti.co.uk/Product/Ricken ... -Set-00550 (£91)

Similarly, if you want black M4 tuners, definitely order then from the Schallers spares section, as they're £65, whereas the identical set in the Rickenbacker spares section is £107! I suppose the Ric ones have come from Germany via the USA! Not that I'm buying M4s......

To quote Huw Lloyd Langton (RIP), "it's a funny old world, init"!

Guy

[FabGearHead]

Guy, The Rickenbacker stamped Schallers are made exclusively for Rick. They have the smaller diameter string post which are like the original Kluson tuners which were fitted in the early 60's. The Schaller BM tuners have the larger Fender sized string post which would require the reaming of the tuner holes quite a bit, as well as adding more weight to the headstock which is not a plus! Hope this helps...


Jim

[johnhall]

As I recall, the standard Schaller key also doesn't have the tensioning spring the RIC key does. It's a thin spring steel plate that keeps the key nice and tight, no matter how it wears.

[chefothefuture]

Actually, a couple of sets of "Schaller" tuners that I purchased from Warmoth(or some such US supplier) do have the springs. Perhaps they were
oddities….
BUT- another big difference is the length of the wormshaft "stem". It is considerably longer than the Rickenbacker tuner so the
tuner "paddle" sticks out too far.

Buy the Rickenbacker tuners; you will be very glad you did!

[vulcan_creedler]

Buy the Rickenbacker tuners; you will be very glad you did!

I've got new 4003 tuners on my 88 and 98 4003 Rics (both bought as carcasses from the NY bass murderer!) and I love them! I have M4's on another project bass, but not a huge fan of them. aside of the 12:1 ratio, they just don't seem chunky enough

These are destined for a 4004L that is about to be deconverted from 5, back to 4 sting, and has had the original tuner holes widened slightly for Hipshot Basslights. My only (very slight) concern is the extra weight at the headstock on the 4004! There's no "4003 heavy metal" down the body end to counter balance the extra weight!!!! So I reckon a Jetglo 4004L with Schaller/Ric open tuners will look the dogsbollox! Anybody else ever done this?

But many thanks to you all for your responses - very informative.

Guy