Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

geddeeee wrote:I would never put flatwounds on my 4003.

It's well known that flats have more surface area than rounds. This puts WAY more tension on the neck. More than I would be happy with.
Same for 'old' roundwounds. They will exert more tension on the neck as the strings become stiffer with age.

Something to think about.....

Think about it: flats actually have less surface than rounds. The surface of flats is straight. And a straight line is shorter than a curved line.
But even if they had more, how should the surface area influence tension on the neck? Where is the correlation? String thickness, core, tuning, and material influence tension.

dont have a ric anymore but when i did,i had nylon strings on it, it sounded great.it was a lefthanded bass by the way, i have a lefthanded beatle bass now with nylon strings,sounds really good too...

I use Elixir Nanoweb light gauge 45-95 on all my Ricks except the V63, where I use Elixir's stainless steel 45-100 set.

No plans to change - they sound great to my ears and the coatings are kind to the fretless fingerboards.

Ash

D'Addario XL's (nickel wound), individually picked:

On the 4003s/5: .042; .056*; .075; .100; .145 (drop-A)
On the 4001: .040; .055; .075; .110 (drop-D)

* - this is actually one of D'Add.'s Loop End strings, which I fit with a bass ball-anchor; it is a bit heavier than their bass .055 yet lighter than their .060, more in balance with the others (and less expensive!).

Older thread revived. Ok...... R. Cocco Ni Rounds. .045 .065 .080 .100
Or, DR Sunbeams (Ni Rounds) of the same gauges.

Currently have Rickenbacker Light Rounds on the 4003, and Ernie Ball nickel Super Slinkys on the 4001; just to make them sound different. The Rick Lights are suprisingly (to me, anyway) nice; they will probably stay. Will probably replace the Slinky with TIs soon, though.

D'Addario 10-46s on my six strings, and Rickenbacker custom 08-40 set on the 12 strings; light and easy to bend.

DR Sunbeams 45-105.

Rickenbacker stock strings on my 4003.

I've recently bought a spare set, so will stay with them.

Not sure if it's my ears, but they do definitely enhance the Ric-ness of the tone - other Rics I've used D'addario's, but these sound much better.

Even my band have commented on my tone, and they've never done that in the past - as far as calling it my best ever sound.....and I won't disagree!

Just bought a set of the LaBella WHITE tapewounds.

These are supposed to give you close to the true roundwound sound when the treble is turned up and a good flatwound sound with the treble turned down.

Not sure which bass to try them on but the V63 is one consideration. The Brubaker Custom is the other.

Anybody used these yet on a Rick?

DR med Hi-beams on the V63, & light Sunbeams on the RM. I generally go for a more aggressive tone on the V63 because I play mostly '90's stuff on it. I keep meaning to put some old Rick flats back on the RM, but I really like the tone of the Sunbeams.
I guess I need another Rick for the Flats! If only JPS would sell me his '73!

I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steel XL 40-95 on the V63. Nice and slinky, the way I like 'em.
I used medium gauge Ken Smith Rock Masters on the 4003 before it was stolen.