Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The bass is an '86 4003s/5.

I'm still positive that there's a plate in there. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 is covered by the nut. Anyway, moot point. Ordered a truss rod assembly today.

My 86 5er has the old-style bearing plate (the kind used on the old style rods).

Ted,

Could you get me a pic of your truss rods and plate? Seems to me if it's a different size, I may be looking at more work than just a drop-in replacement

The rod spacer is *not* supposed to be recessed like that, not at all under the nut. One edge of the spacer should more or less line up with the nut. The wood in the middle there has broken or become otherwise deformed. This is causing you to lose quite a bit of truss rod adjustability.

I'd repair it with a new little wood block and some superglue all over that area to make it more rigid.

Thanks John,

I was thinking that would be the case. Oh well, looks like a bit of surgery is in order.

Here is how my '86 looks.



The early ones apparently had the thicker aluminum bearing plates used with the older rods. At least this one has.