Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

spongebob wrote:I'm looking to try some different strings..

Research on the forum has highlighted the D'addario EXL-170's, which seemingly come fitted to some new Rics.

However, I've always used a 105 gauge E string, whereas the 170's are 100.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Rics come fitted with 45-105? If so, does the 100 gauge E suit the sound of the Ric better? I suppose I'm worried about it sounding a little thin!

Sorry to add to the string debate, but I've just gotta ask!

Their original strings are a weird gauge: 45 55 75 105, the A and D strings are lighter than most sets which are 80 and 60, Normally to put other strings on unless you use light strings you may have to open the nut slots a little for new A and D strings or they'll bind for a while. I once had a nut pull off a new 4003 while tuning because of this.

Thanks for all the help everybody.

I've ordered some EXL 170's, so I'll give them a go.

It'll be interesting to feel/hear the difference on the Ric...

I switched from DR's to the Hartke 3-packs years ago. 40-100. Very happy camper. Can't beat three sets of great strings for $24.

I have always used 45-105.

jps wrote:That's the BS signature set, right, Becky?

Yes. I used the original Rick strings until they died, then changed to Elites for a couple of years. I think they were 40-100 or something and sounded thin and rubbery-sounding, and then I went back to Rotosound, which I'd always used on my first bass. But the standard 45-65-80-105 never quite gave me the low-end phatness I wanted, so I used to buy a set of Standard Swing Bass plus a single 110 string. That became an expensive way of doing things, until I discovered Billy Sheehan's set was just about ideal. I can't really tell much difference between using 43 against 45 for the G-string, so I'm happy using that set.

spongebob wrote:Thanks for all the help everybody.

I've ordered some EXL 170's, so I'll give them a go.

It'll be interesting to feel/hear the difference on the Ric...

Iain, I personally think the D'Addarios sound closest to the factory sets in tone and lasting ability.

One thing I find interesting about this thread is how 5 thousandths of an inch can make so much difference to us... but it does! pretty wild.

ram wrote:One thing I find interesting about this thread is how 5 thousandths of an inch can make so much difference to us... but it does! pretty wild.

Yeah, that had occurred to me too, and you're right, it does make a difference. But think about guitar strings, where 1 thousandths of an inch separates sets.

I'll recommend some that will require some adjustment to use on a 4003.

RotoSound Steve Harris (Iron Maiden for you non-Metalheads!!) Custom Flatwounds 50-75-95-110. The sound was awesome but after a few days was seeing some serious neck issues starting so I panicked and took them off. I went back to my usual D'Addario ENR71 Half-Rounds 45-65-80-100. If you have the nerve to really adjust the bass properly for the Steve Harris strings, the sound was big, bold and deep. Good luck!

4003 wrote:I'll recommend some that will require some adjustment to use on a 4003.

RotoSound Steve Harris (Iron Maiden for you non-Metalheads!!) Custom Flatwounds 50-75-95-110. The sound was awesome but after a few days was seeing some serious neck issues starting so I panicked and took them off. I went back to my usual D'Addario ENR71 Half-Rounds 45-65-80-100. If you have the nerve to really adjust the bass properly for the Steve Harris strings, the sound was big, bold and deep. Good luck!

A 4003 neck with proper adjustment should keep up with those strings.

spongebob wrote:If so, does the 100 gauge E suit the sound of the Ric better?

There's a lot more relevant production parameters than just diameter of the final product, like e.g. alloys and coatings used (a real plethora of possibilities), shape of both core (hexagonal vs. round) and windings (flat vs. round vs. oval, subsequently left intact vs. compressed by running through rollers, ground "half" or "quarter" round, treated by exposure to extreme temperatures, hand polished, what else?), diameter of all those wires used, winding speed and tension.

D'Addario XL EXL170 Regular Light/Long Scale (.045 - .065 - .080 - .100) is a really good all-purpose set, excellently balanced. It is easy to see why at RIC they picked these for a new standard factory string. You get a phat sound with about equal doses of bass, mid and treble, sort of rounding over the roughest of edges, a medium-smoooth finish that also provides a fat pick attack, medium tension and feel, medium output, as well as a good compromise between being live sounding, yet cultivated.

If you like coated strings (not recommended for pick players, though), you also might give it a shot with D'Addario EXP170 (.045 - .065 - .080 - .100) featuring a more discrete top and more creamy mids.

D'Addario XL EXL165 Regular Light Top/Medium Bottom/Long Scale (.045 - .065 - .085 - .105) is a hybrid set, as the name says... A and E strings are a bit tighter, which some people like (maybe also be useful for drop D), while I for one don't.

Of course, that does not mean that every set by every manufacturer sporting the same gauges had a hybrid rather than a well balanced feel.

As for my own preferences, I've been using Alembic CX-3/40L (.040 - .060 - .080 - .100) for a while now, basically because they're amongst my favorites for rubbery slap sounds w/ superb definition, also being unobtrusively bright on anyway very bright instruments, my only complaint being they're a bit bass-shy on my C64 (no matter the Hipshot brass bridge helps to compensate that to some degree). The finish feels very comfortable (fine nickel-plated steel oval wire used for final windings). They play and sound great with all sorts of techniques (pizz, pick, slap/pop, double thumbing, touchstyle). They also really last long, also with slap sounds that otherweise tend to be the most critical w/ this regard.

I fitted the EXP-170 set, and yes, they are excellent!

It makes the 105 E feel huge. TBH, after a couple of days playing on the D'addarios, I can't see myself returning to a 105 set.

To me, the bass just sounds more alive.

I've fitted to them a my 4004 Laredo, which has a 'big' sound. I may in time put a set on my 4003 - trouble is, maybe the ligter set would take the bit of bottom it has?

spongebob wrote:I may in time put a set on my 4003 - trouble is, maybe the ligter set would take the bit of bottom it has?

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Actually, D'Addario XL together with Pyramid Stainless Steel Roundwounds, LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass Roundwounds, Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Bass Roundwounds and Thomastik-Infeld Powerbass are the strings that in my experience offered the most impressive fundamental bass.