Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I use Pyramids Charlie and you can tune the E down to D and it sounds and plays good, stay away from low tension strings if you want to tune down to D. Very simple to do, you don't have to buy a 5 string for one song.

Or get a Hipshot "D-tuner".

I can detune the Thunderbird to D in just a few seconds, and with that long scale it sounds very good. Saves me a few bass changes during the set.

I use a Hipshot D tuner on my V63.
So far it's worked very well, and it's already tuned to E flat.

Hitshots rock and there is zero re-tuning involved. Just a flip of a switch and it's tuned correctly every time. The only problem is that Hipshot doesn't make a direct replacement for a 4003. Got to mod it to make one work on a RIC and that's against my religion. They do make an M4 version but I don't have a 4004. The Hipshot has put my five strings out of business.

A hipshot makes the most sense for me. I don't play much else on the B string besides that D but I NEED THAT D! What does the mod involve?

Come on now, takes one second to detune, tune with the beats.

For a 4003 I'd probably use the M4 version. I think it will fit the small hole that the original tuner is in. The issue to me is adding an additional screw hole to mount the M4. The Schaller type that Hipshot makes is larger like Fender/MusicMan. If you want the tuner to match the RIC tuners you must enlarge the tuner hole to accomodate a Fender/Musicman tuner. That to me is an un-reversable mod. Kevin which Hipshot did you use? BTW, my hipshot is on a MMSR which hipshot makes a direct replacement for using an original MM tuner. I've ask them why not a RIC tuner and there answer was "no market". Interesting because I own one MM and 10 RICs.

Trust me Bob I've done a boatload of down tuning and yes it only take a split second but ya gotta concentrate on it. It also only takes a split second of not paying attention to miss something that you wanted to see going on on the dance floor (use your imagination here). Since I hate missing those Kodak moments, I say "Hipshot". Plus they are very accurate and you can tune/detune in the middle of songs.

My band did a couple of Motley Crue songs in "D". They were at the beginning of the set so the "E" string on my custom 3600 was already tuned to "D" during the break. When it we finish the second song, I tune "by the beats" back up to "E". Simple as that.

Sounds easy until ya get a hipshot.

If it's only five songs, you could always play the whole set downtuned to D. It's actually pretty natural once you get the hang of it...

By the way, nobody like the octaver pedal idea, huh?

I wouldn't mind giving it a shot but I don't think these fellows are enamored by it!

I use the octaver all the time,for those moments, Harry...

What do you guys mean by Tune by the beat? Haha lesson time.

Octave pedals i like however isnt it kind of silly if you just want that D tuned down?

I say just use the 5 string you had (i think you said). You dont HAVE TO play the ric after all.