Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob, it's not you, Bunnybass seems to be down right now. Don't blame the Peruvians.

The Bass Player article Paul scanned is not new, it's a reprint of the exact same article that ran in the February 2002 issue.

I've had occasion to talk with Kevin Reynolds on the phone a couple of times. His assistance in putting together a custom set of TI's for my 360/12V64 was invaluable. He is a super good guy who is knowledgable and goes out of his way to provide the best in customer service.

Hey thanks Paul, that was a great article by Kevin Reynolds, it does make a lot more sense to think of strings in terms of tension than gauges. It would make it a lot easier to get what you want by specifying tension instead of gauges when buying strings.
It would have also been nice if he had mentioned Ric 4001's along with old P basses when he brought up a specific bass that the jazz flats would compliment though.
I tried to e-mail him but got the company web site instead (I think)

Bob, I have his email as [email protected] . He doesn't hang around the forums as much these days due to some changes in his job duties.

Jealous of teen's or twenty somethings? Look what they have for music these days. Bad imitations of rock and roll. Or (choke) rock with hip hop!!! Man, we was there for the real thing! Would it even be possible today that a group with the world's attention could release a groundbreaking album every six months (ala the fabs). When I write a '60's (or '70's or '80's or '90's) influenced song, I know what I'm talkin' about! My nephew is a twenty something in a hard core band, and even he knows he missed all the good stuff. Jealous, schmelous. I witnessed the world change through music.

Dave,
You're so well informed and very correct.
The Fender factory tour article in that Bass Gear issue is also a reprint from the Sep. 2002 Bass World issue (John Entwistle on the cover).

Bob,
For more T-I stuffs, check out the T-I chatroom at the Dudepit.
I just wish T-I could produce 32" scale flats with a .100" gauge E string (.106" currently with JF324 sets) so I can put a set on my Michael Kelly acoustic bass guitar that needs thinner E and A strings to intonate properly.

IIRC, decades ago when I had an inexpensive classical guitar, I used to buy Savarez strings and they were specified by tension, a much better way to indicate strings by.

Jerry I didn't say I was jealous of the music (?)they were making, lol
that's funny Paul because before I read that article I had been wishing for a heavier gauge set for Ric's.
I wonder if the TI 32 in. scale will fit on a Ric, what do you think?
thanks for the e-mail Dave.
Anything with Dude in it kind of makes me nervous. You know what I mean, dude?

Yeah, Dude. LOL!

Bob, I don't think the 32" T-I flats will fit on a RIC bass exept the early 3000 basses in short scale. The silk windings will surely sit on the nut...(Ouch!)
IMHO, thinner TI flats would work well with an ABG.

Bob, the 32s won't fit. If you follow the link to this old thread http://pub206.ezboard.com/fthedudepitfrm18.showMessage?topicID=286.topic and squint real hard at the chart, you can see the actual winding lengths from ball end to silk. For the JF32 set, it ranges from 34.19 to 34.86, not long enough for 33.25" scale plus the distance from the saddles to the anchor holes on the tailpiece.

Thanks Dave,
Does anyone know why they make the G and D string with more tension than the E and A? I myself would like a little more on the thicker strings.
And it seems like most companies make them like that. What is strange is that on my Rics with all kinds of strings I have to tighten the truss rod more on the E and A side more than the other side and I also get more bend on that side, what gives?

What gives? The neck

My 4004 has more relief on the E side also, but that's the way you want it to prevent buzzing.

If you made the D and G strings lighter, the sound would not be as rich in harmonics and the output volume would be reduced. The string companies try to balance the sound more than string tension.

I was always under the impression that lighter guage strings had better harmonics and overtones. As the strings get thicker they lose the ability to free vibrate due to the added mass of the string.