Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

AAMOI, how does the underside bar work in conjucntion with the rod?

Look back at the first picture at the rod at the left. There are two rods touching - the threaded rod is double long and folds back next to itself. The unthreaded end is a bit shorter and cut pointed. As the nut is tightened, the aluminum is drawn against the wood pocket of the neck, then the pointed end of the folded back rod is pushed against the back of the aluminum and creates tension between the two rods as the pointed end cannot go further than to the aluminum block. That tension pushes against the wood trough the rods are in and it holds the neck where you have moved it to get it straightened out. Each rod works that way and together then can make the neck perfectly straight.

Is that what you were asking?

Yes. Have not removed the rods, but wondered what the underneath rod did. The aluminium block on mine is the other way about, i.e., curve to the front. I assume this is wrong, then?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/jingle_jangle/1979%20Rickenbacker%204001BT%20Restoration/CDnut.jpg

Thanks to Paul W. for the picture.

Incidentally, that photo shows a slice of a CD that was used to jack up the nut on the bass in question...

I wondered what that "shim" was, I thought it might have been dried superglue.

Not everyone is mechanically inclined. What is very clear to us can be very confusing to others.

John, an owner or tech who can't remember how it was put together can do some quick research, hey?

That is the way I took Donny's posts, research. He was not the origional poster starting this thread, but trying to understand how the old rods worked.

I think I am more mechanically reclined.

The block indeed follows the curve of the headstock rout. However, as this is my first 4001, I was merely asking for clarification on the correct positioning of the block.

My Cardinals lost their home opener yesterday (Monday). Not sure whether my Padres played yet ...

I've had dealings with Donny in the past, off-forum, and have always found him a stand-up guy. I must admit that when I read the offending post I initially thought the same thing as Donny.

I read the posts as they developed. It was clear to me that Paul was referring to the person who put the part on backwards, and that that person was not Donny.

And Paul's apology was sincere, well-worded, and plausible.

Sometimes its easy to mis-interpret the written word. Its also hard to write things in such a way that they don't get mis-interpreted.

As careful as I try to be, things that I have written on this forum have been mis-interpreted and have offended others.

I think we all just need to remember that this forum has more class than a lot of other internet forums, and that forum members should be given the benefit of the doubt.

"I think we all just need to remember that this forum has more class than a lot of other internet forums, and that forum members should be given the benefit of the doubt."

I'm with Jeff on this... There is a bit of tangential nonsense sometimes; however, this forum is a collective of some great people. Members try their best to be helpful, despite the occasional communication breakdown. I commented myself, but all in good fun. I, like others, believed the culprit to be a tech. Paul is a great guy, and his apology was made in earnest. That should be enough.