Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The TI flats that have been on both my '98 and '86 for 2 months sound and feel great to me. They have plenty of high ends for me, in a different manner (shorter, transient, zinginess duration) Quess I'm a new TI flats convert now. However, I'd like to have one of my babies wear TI Power Rounds or RIC nickel rounds when I get another RIC bass, for the sweet piano sounds.

Ah, glad to know you got to Lima safe, Bob.
Do you get online there in an internet café?

Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing in this thread:

CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS!!!

The original owner of my '68 4001 used Fender flatwounds on it (I know this because there was a used set inside the case), without any averse effect on the neck, despite the bass having travelled across the country several times, as well as to the UK & Germany. So I wouldn't worry about using them, but I wouldn't want to stop anyone from playing it safe, either.

Doug, any chance you can post a pic of your 68...or link us to where we can see it...

That's really odd, my '68 had old fender flats as well when I bought it earlier this year, and as Doug commented, no neck issues however the horseshoe output is weak and thin.

I noticed that my '77 has a brass nut on it. Is this correct for the period? Or could this have been added on by previous owner(like the Badass bridge)?

added

The brass nut and the leo quan bridge were popular modifications to basses in the 1970's ... neither were stock to a Rickenbacker ...

The brass nut makes a bass a little brighter and harsher ... the plastic nut is a little mellower ... The stock Ric bridge has a little more brightness and sustain than thew Leo Quan badass bridge ...

Yes Paul I write from interner cafes, which are very slow, and the keyboards are bad a lot of the time but hey, they are cheap here, about 60 cents US. for one hour.
I have Fender flats on a 4001 right now, a 78, some seem to take it and some don't seem to very well, (I know from personal experience), also I wonder if the flats that Fender made before(unless yours are newer ones)were of the older type (less tension with silk wrap). Then again I had a 75 4001 with the old style flat neck, and that neck was a rock, I had med. guage Fender flats on it and it never budged. Fender has three guages too. When I use them I use the med.lights, the mediums are really like telephone lines, they sound good for old fashioned thump though, so do the med. lights, I have never tried the lights.
And yes The TI's are nice and bright and even sounding, great strings for a Ric, especially a 4001 because of the low tension, which for me takes some getting used to.

Thanks for the info Jeff! I just picked up my '77 4001 from the pawn shop....it is standing behind me in my office, smiling at me....problem is, I can't get any work done...I will post pics when I get it home and clean it up a bit...stay tuned...

Here it is.....hope these pics come out ok...