Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

aceonbass wrote: I'm using D'Addario Chromes on the bass, which give it a very solid bass/lower midrange kick, which seems to work well with everything I've played the bass on so far. These strings have such a wide range of tones possible that I don't miss the stock RIC nickel rounds that were on it.

Dane- Is the kick you are referring to like strong 'attack'? Almost like you are in perfect sync with the drummers' bass drum pedal?

coolhandjjl wrote:Sounds like adding small washers is to heighten the outer ones. There is a thread on the Ric factory forum about a bass player in Australia who is having uneven response, possibly from the staggered pole heights.

I wonder why there would be un-even string response on staggered poles? I would think they would be better than even poles. Sounds more like a string problem to me.

While the pole height difference is a bit more pronounced than on a typical hi-gain, I doubt that it would make that much difference, unless, as you mention, some strings are more sensitive.

Dane- Is the kick you are referring to like strong 'attack'? Almost like you are in perfect sync with the drummers' bass drum pedal?

Hmm..since you put it that way John, yes, it would be a plus there too. Due to the strength and position of the pickup, the sound can be very solid and thick without the "audio junk" that round wound strings sometimes impart to the sound.

teeder wrote:

coolhandjjl wrote:Sounds like adding small washers is to heighten the outer ones. There is a thread on the Ric factory forum about a bass player in Australia who is having uneven response, possibly from the staggered pole heights.

I wonder why there would be un-even string response on staggered poles? I would think they would be better than even poles. Sounds more like a string problem to me.

I just found the E and G were a bit weak and this was trying a few sets of strings. There is a fair height difference in the poles on the RIHS.
Just sticking some washers on top of those poles did the trick.
Oh, I'm a bit fussy about even output etc so you have to factor that in as well...
I dont remember this affecting my 88 v63, but it was there a bit on my 4001cs and the RIHS that I have had on a 74 4001 and currently residing on my 4008...

Eden.

Get those magic washers on the Classifieds! (seriously) I tried a few I had on hand, some grab onto the pole firmly, some poorly.

My '92 4001CS RIHS has even string response, but I had a '92 V63 where the poles were more noticeably staggered, and I could hear it for sure. I thought about doing something like the washer trick mentioned here, but never got around to it. Sold the bass and bought my 8 string...

I've had 2 V63's and a C64, and I also noticed that the A and D were louder than the E and G on the HS. The
C64 seems a little better in that regard than the V63's, but it would be nice if the pole heights were adjustable.

I tried the washer trick, but for me it wasn't a good solution...'cuz...you know me...I'm the guy that hates and removes all string blockers! My fingers sometimes touch the poles when I play. With the shoes off, my fingers were hitting the washers and sliding them around.

gearhed289 wrote:...but I had a '92 V63 where the poles were more noticeably staggered, and I could hear it for sure...

So you dumped the defective bass on some unsuspecting sucker, huh?!

Well, don't worry Tom. I launched the HS and put in a late 80's hi-gain instead.

Now you'll be able to sleep at night again!

rickaddict wrote:With the shoes off, my fingers were hitting the washers and sliding them around.

Locktite!

rickaddict wrote:I'm the guy that hates and removes all string blockers! My fingers sometimes touch the poles when I play. With the shoes off, my fingers were hitting the washers and sliding them around.

Boy he can't live with the shoes, or without them, either!

rickaddict wrote:

gearhed289 wrote:...but I had a '92 V63 where the poles were more noticeably staggered, and I could hear it for sure...

So you dumped the defective bass on some unsuspecting sucker, huh?!

Well, don't worry Tom. I launched the HS and put in a late 80's hi-gain instead.

Now you'll be able to sleep at night again!

That's funny, that's exactly what I had on the bass when I was using it. Went great with the scatterwound toaster.