Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Werner - I think you and Mark are at cross-purposes. Mark's bass has a back-bow - i.e. the fret board is a little convex rather than a little concave (negative relief?), whereas you have "normal" or concave bow - too much relief.

Yes, they would! My mistake - I thought you had a back-bow, not a fwd bow.

This one has been working out great. I went out and got it shortly after moving from Florida to Northern Virginia, where all of a sudden I have to worry about this dryness thing. I bought it on a recommendation from Matt at Action Music in Falls Church, VA, and have been very happy with it. In fact, it has not only kept the guitars in tip top shape, but kept our sinus/nasal cavities happy in the mornings. Before this thing came along, we were waking up every morning and blowing all kinds of ungodly disgusting colored messes into tissues. Gross.

I fill up one of the two water bottles about every 24 hours. I also put in an appropriate amount of bacteriostat to keep the germies out. I changed the filters for the first time this week... had it about two months, I think, maybe a little longer.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G1

Edit - looks like about 2 months, yes. Found a thread where we discussed this recently, and this link has a link to another thread if you wanna dig even deeper.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=399159&p=669032&hil ... er#p669032

you want to get an Evaporative Humidifier (water thru a wicking filter) as the ultrasonics will throw particulants into the air and cause respiratory problems (unless you always use distilled water).

jdogric12 wrote:.....we were waking up every morning and blowing all kinds of ungodly disgusting colored messes into tissues. Gross.

Thanks for that, Jason!

An update on my '68 4001 backbow situation - without going the route of a full-on heat press, I've been keeping the bass inside the case with one of the homemade humidifiers shown here:

viewtopic.php?p=666318#p666318

I've folded up a handkerchief and placed it around the 10-12 fret area so that when I close the case, it pushes down on the neck and creates a bend by about 1/4 inch.



In a week's time, this has noticeably improved the situation. The buzz & choke problems within the 1-8 fret range have almost completely disappeared.

And the issue with the neckless guitar stands contributing to backbow:




Problem solved:



DUH.

"OK, folks, it's time to rotate your basses! Remember, do this every half hour or you might get sunburned backbow!!!"

Or, get one of these:

That would definitely be an improvement!

They're inexpensive, only around $50.

walker wrote: Problem solved:



DUH.

Thanks Mark! I needed a laugh today! I really did!

lol Just leave it as it is. Who cares Many a good tune played on a old fiddle,Not if you've a bent bow My Gran used to say!!!!! Saucy old goat

rickenbrother wrote: Thanks Mark! I needed a laugh today! I really did!

You got it, Joey. I'll be here all week.

And please remember to tip your waitress to her original upright position as you leave the stage.

An update on the handkerchief in the case routine - it seems to be working effectively. The neck is coming forward a bit, and I actually had to lower my bridge a hair. It still has a ways to go, but it's on it's way there, and in a very neck-friendly & non-invasive way.