Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob and Owen,
Thank you very much for the advices.
Sorry for being late in responding. I've just come back from 10 days of intensive recording and mixing.

Man, I'm not sure if I can pull it off successfully. Sure sounds scary to me! (Yeah, call me a chicken.) Mr. Mark Arnquist also gave me some advices on repairing the rods. I'll pass all your valuable advices to my luthier friend and see if he can help me with it.

Well im in trouble -i think my 73 may have kinda died. I went to adjust the rods a bit tighter today, and PING! the ends of the rods are now forceing the fretboard up, there is now a noticable gap. My once fixed rods now bend down again and the bar will nor lie properly against the "wall" where the rods emerge from.

I dunno what to do!!! Its a beater i know, but its a great sounding Rick.

I hate to say a negative thing against Rick basses here, but the old fashioned truss rods are truly horrible and doing my head in!

I may consider selling this bass, im not sure, Its not in very good condition (even considering its age) i doubt ill get much for it.

Sorry to hear about that, Owen.
You've got mail.

You know, I don't think I'll ever buy another 4001 sight unseen from ebay unless it's a 21 fretter and the seller shows a picture of the truss rods under the TRC. A post-Sep. '84 4003 is a lot "healthier" and trouble free, IMHO.

Thanks Paul - i have a feeling that if i properly reglue the board it will probably work again i will have to see.

I completely agree Paul, no more 4001's for me! Seriously i think that in most ways, the newer (and really, the brand new ) Rick's are the best instruments they have ever made.

With a Fender P bass for example - Its the same design as in in 50's!!! Detail differences makr the older ones more desirable/cooler than modern versions but its really the same bass.

Tho old Ricks look way cooler, But I think the modern truss rods are better, neck shapes are better - High gain's are better than toasters, better finish etc etc.

I had a chat with a great tech here in London who worked on John Entwistles stuff, he told me that Rickenbackers have always been a nightmare to work on, although the modern ones are great instruments.

Owen, Use Elmers wood Glue,and you don't need to use a lot, just force a little in there, the heavy duty stuff and wipe off the excess, the joint will be stronger than the surrounding wood, and put some low tension strings on, the problem with high tension strings is you have to periodically adjust them again and again. I never put high tension strings on a bass that has had the fretboard popped, you are asking for trouble, and it was popped in the first place not because 4001's are nightmares to work on, but because they are a lot of idiot luthiers out there. It's common sense that you have to take tension off a neck if you are going to tighten a truss rod, even my new 71 P bass said in the manual to lie it on a table and have someone hold down the tailpiece end and have someone else hold down the neck end before adjusting the truss rod, I've know that for over thirty years and I'm no luthier. I had neck problems with my 79 because of my own negligence (put heavy strings on it, didn't adjust the truss rod and left it for 6 months without looking at it, it bent near the heal and I screwed it up good trying to get the bend out, I have it good and straight now but have to put low tension strings on it) If you guys aren't buying anymore 4001's, just send them my way.