Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

cassius987 wrote:It's not random. It's just like the shedua strip, based on vintage. 4003s made after April 2009 have the two-piece neck because it was determined to be stronger and make basses easier to set up properly. My two-piece neck 4003 doesn't need much tension from the truss rods to stay dead flat.

...it might well influence the resonance of the instrument if the construction is one- or two- or three-piece necks. Specially as the grain in the current two-piece construction runs diametral. Does anybody have a guess/clue/experience?

jack1953 wrote:One of the guys in other forums was asking if his bass guitars were 2 piece necks or neck thrus? One is a 2010 June 4003. The other is a 2009 September 4003. I said I would post it over here where the experts resided! Also if there is an advantage/disadvantage either way.
Jack

Basses built since the end of April 2009 have all had two piece necks. All 4003's are neck-throughs.

bassduke49 wrote:4000 and 4001S basses from about 1972 to 1980 had set necks slotted into slab bodies.

Just FYI, my '82 4001S-LH is set-neck.

as was my jetglo june '81 4001s.

Will all current 4004s have 2 piece necks as well?

Yes. All neck-through instruments are currently produced with two piece necks.

mad_phingers wrote:Will all current 4004s have 2 piece necks as well?

I've already run across three or four two-piece neck 4004s at the nearby RIC dealer.

This can't get any clearer. Can we make it a sticky?

cassius987 wrote:It's not random. It's just like the shedua strip, based on vintage. 4003s made after April 2009 have the two-piece neck because it was determined to be stronger and make basses easier to set up properly. My two-piece neck 4003 doesn't need much tension from the truss rods to stay dead flat.

That sounds reasonable, but is that the official word from RIC? Moving to 2-pc because it is stronger is a very positive motivation and certainly player-oriented, but I have not investigated it and am just wondering. Does 2-pc require extra steps in the construction process? Was the switch from decades of bad experiences with one-piece necks? And what are the possible downsides for the player (if any) of the 2 pc construction?

That sounds reasonable, but is that the official word from RIC? Moving to 2-pc because it is stronger is a very positive motivation and certainly player-oriented, but I have not investigated it and am just wondering. Does 2-pc require extra steps in the construction process? Was the switch from decades of bad experiences with one-piece necks? And what are the possible downsides for the player (if any) of the 2 pc construction?

The two piece necks do require additional steps in production. The lumber must be cut to length, planed to thickness, glue edges jointed, sides machine sanded, then finally the two pieces are glued up in our clamp racks.

Before it was just cut to length, then throw it on the table saw to split, and you're done.

While we didn't have any serious problem that necesitated the switch to two-piece, there has been a marked decrease in the number of warped necks we see at final setup (and fewer RA's).

RIC_FACTORY wrote:

That sounds reasonable, but is that the official word from RIC? Moving to 2-pc because it is stronger is a very positive motivation and certainly player-oriented, but I have not investigated it and am just wondering. Does 2-pc require extra steps in the construction process? Was the switch from decades of bad experiences with one-piece necks? And what are the possible downsides for the player (if any) of the 2 pc construction?

The two piece necks do require additional steps in production. The lumber must be cut to length, planed to thickness, glue edges jointed, sides machine sanded, then finally the two pieces are glued up in our clamp racks.

Before it was just cut to length, then throw it on the table saw to split, and you're done.

While we didn't have any serious problem that necesitated the switch to two-piece, there has been a marked decrease in the number of warped necks we see at final setup (and fewer RA's).

Ben, thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

RIC_FACTORY wrote:While we didn't have any serious problem that necesitated the switch to two-piece, there has been a marked decrease in the number of warped necks we see at final setup (and fewer RA's).

That's exactly what I expected to hear after my recent RA garnered me a replaced body with a two-piece neck... it is obviously straighter and more stable and requires no babying, and I doubt I'll be taking it to my luthier any time soon. My 4003FL (my favorite by the way) has a thin one-piece neck and feels like the exact opposite, quite a diva sometimes! But I love it all the same.

heinpete wrote:

cassius987 wrote:It's not random. It's just like the shedua strip, based on vintage. 4003s made after April 2009 have the two-piece neck because it was determined to be stronger and make basses easier to set up properly. My two-piece neck 4003 doesn't need much tension from the truss rods to stay dead flat.

...it might well influence the resonance of the instrument if the construction is one- or two- or three-piece necks. Specially as the grain in the current two-piece construction runs diametral. Does anybody have a guess/clue/experience?

My 4003 with a two-piece neck sounds perhaps a bit punchier than my 4003 with a one-piece neck... otherwise very similar in terms of sound. Now, it is worth noting that I think my 4003 with a two-piece neck has amazing sustain whereas the one-piece is just normal; I know you may roll your eyes but their truly are no dead spots, not even "wimpy" spots, on my two-piece neck bass. It's all loud, proud, and even.