Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

There is no relationship between scale length and number of frets. In the case of these instruments, it's just a matter of how far the fingerboard with frets extend onto the body.

One more stupid question from me:
Is the length of neck identical on both 20 and 21 fret 4001 basses?

No way. Neck length as measured from (but not including) the nut to (but not including) the strap button on my 21 fret 4001 is exactly 37". On one of my 20 fret 4001s it's 36 1/8".

Thank you very much, Sergio.
No more questions.

Another interesting difference on my 21 fret 4001 is that there is no binding on the body end of the fretboard. (on the surface opposite the bass pickup, that is.)
Looks like 21 fret 4001s had a number of differences unique to them.

Sergio,
Are the truss rods adjusted at the headstock or the body end?
Is it a one-piece or two-piece pickguard?

(Ijust can't stop asking questions!)

Hmm, don't bother.
I just found out only the '80-'84 4003 basses have two-piece guards and truss rods adjusted at the body end.

Okay, here's the deal. As Mark A. has noted in the past, the bridges on these 4001's could be off by as much as 1/2 inch from where the should have been to intonate correctly. The modern way to measure scale length is to measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and double it. I got that info from J.Hall himself on a RIC Q and A board. So Sergio, could you please measure your 4001's again using this method. This is really starting to strain my brain trying to figure this out. Thankz.

You bet. Roughly 16 5/8" from nut to 12th fret.

There you go. That would mean your basses have a 33 1/4" scale. Seems a bit short since I think these basses are supposed to be 33 1/2" scale. Do all of your strings, especially your E string, intonate correctly?(Open and fretted at 12th fret being pitch perfect?)

Er... Make that 16 6/8" from nut to 12th fret - I measured it again a couple of minutes ago. Scale is exactly 33 1/2" as measured from the nut to the centerline of the saddle block. The tops of the G and D saddles are roughly on said centerline; the tops of the A and E saddles are somewhat beyond that point, so I have perfect intonation on all four strings.

IMHO,I believe a normal RIC 400X bass should have a factory standard 331/4" scale length. (Measured from inside of nut to the G saddle's apogee.)
And of course, that should vary a little depending on everyone's neck relief, bridge height, setup, etc..

Sergio,
How's your sting action?
My Annie's string to fret distance at the 20th fret is:
G-3/32"
E-4/32"

Neck relief at the 9th fret is(strings fretted at the first and last frets):
G-.008"
E-.015"

Also perfect intonation for all strings. (My A saddle is pushed all the way towards the neck for proper intonation.)

Hi, Paul. Action on my 1970 4001 as measured at the 21th fret is: E - 2/32", G - 3/32". Really low! And no fret buzz! An awesome 4001 - you got to find yourself one!

That's real low on the E side, man.
Bet she "plays like butter", Sergio.

Yeah I'm saving up for that lucky day when a nice 21 fret 4001 FG comes along. I'll definitely score one, thanks for your blessing.

And thank you for taking the trouble to do the measurement.