Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Wait, what am I thinking?

I run a metrology lab. The proper way for this little experiment to work, is if you guys send all your Ricks to me!

Thanks for your numbers Darren. Unless my conversion is way off, the first number of 42mm works out to about 1.65 inches. That sounds more like the distance across the neck (width) than through it (thickness). Is that the case? I am asking because all of the other first fret measurements are closer to 0.9".

If anybody can bring the calipers to the Midwest Confluence, let me know. Y'all are beyond my level of precision at this point!

D'oh, whoops (smacks head!),

I guess this is what happens when (a) you fail to read instructions properly and (b) you decide to do something requiring accuracy after consuming three beers!

I will repost the right measurements tomorrow. Sorry for the confusion!

Thickness
April '92, May '93
V63, V63
1 = .882, .892
7 = .882, .895
12 = .897, .905
16 = .904, .945
Width
Nut = 1.655, 1.720
12 = 2.075, 2.150

FWIW, The '92 feels a lot nicer to me, but I have small hands.

Maybe Dave can forward the calipers to someone that is going to the Midwest Con when he is done.

Kevin

Kevin, I'll make quick work of my measuring.

Let me know where I should mail them next.

I'll convey them if you like....but I think Ted has a set he could bring.

"Pathetically, I've made it into an Excel file already!"

That is pretty funny John. My wife has a masters in math and was a high school math teacher. Her day is filled with spreadsheets. It is a running joke about how everything in life can be expressed using a spreadsheet.

Thanks for your numbers Kevin!

Ted,

Will you need calipers at the Midwest Conf. or do you have that covered?

Thanks,
Kevin

I have one set of stainless ones (a bit risky to use against the finish). I had planned to pickup a few plastic ones to pass around the room during the Confluence.

I hate to be the jerk that jumps into the thread a week late with suggestions but...

I think a measurement of neck girth would be helpful. My hand wraps around the neck and I notice a lot of size difference across the nut that translates into more I have to wrap my hand around.

A good example is my C64S. It has a very flat neck, it would probably look good on paper with the measurements taken in this thread. But it feels huge compared with my '87 4003S or my '70's 4001s because the neck is so wide.

I don't have a caliper handy to take any measurements but look forward to borrowing one at the confluence.

I agree. A width measurement could be helpful.

Mine were at the nut and 12th fret, and are included on a previous post with my other measurements.

The width and taper are amazingly constant. A fingerboard from a mid 70's 4001 will fit nicely on a 60's 4005. Very little has changed in that area since the mid 60's. I agree thought that the shape of the neck (girth) definitely impacts the player's perception of the overall feel of the neck.

I need to locate some calipers to get a few readings from my 60's basses...

I think the 90's Ricks have wider necks as the new nuts hang out over both ends if you try to put one on a 4001. They also feel wider to me.