Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

When my 05 FG4004Cii was new the neck moved about 1mm back and forth everyday for 2 months. Now it just needs a very small winter and summer adjustment. Hmmmmmm I need a new avatar photo.

badeggs wrote:So my question is: Is this kind of "periodic/seasonal maintenance" required for all instruments?

Jeff, what I've found is my 4003s need to be adjusted (includes the V63 - new rods) and my 4001 does not. Since that all involves both types of rods (new and old) but also different woods (old growth and farm grown), different construction (2 maple and one shedua on the 4001), it is hard to draw an easy conclusion, but there it is.

jhill0129 wrote:I guess I was asking if anyone's ever heard of or had experience with them being bad right from the factory.

The answer is yes. I had a brand new 4004L recently with forward bow, and the truss rods (in this case, both) were under massive tension right from the factory. So much so that I really couldn't do anything about the bow. The bass went back to the factory, where it was deemed beyond repair.

Strangely, it was replaced with a bass that had the opposite problem: it had a little back bow, and even leaving the strings at tension & removing both truss rod nuts didn't change it, even after leaving the bass in this state for a few days.

I no longer own a 4004 bass.

You know,, after reading this topic, I think there is a definate pattern here. I've had issues with my '08 Larado, but after a few months, things got better. And I'm beginning to believe its an "age" thing.

The same could be said with my '02 CII. That bass was as beautiful as can be,, but the constant tweaking drove me to sell her.

Never had a problem with any 4003 I've owned.

What is the differnce??????????????????????????????????????

Green wood???????

The necks on my Cii basses are very stable, I haven't had a problem.

It seems to me that I have seen a disproportionate number of issues with 4004L basses from the 2008 run.

I seem to have noticed that too! Maybe it's something about getting the neck profile figured out...

most helpful thread here , I simply loosened both on my '08 cii and the neck went right to a perfect profile there was a little more bow on the E side. I use SIT 45-100 ga tuned 1/2 step down and now it's perfect ! I bet though stiffer strings like stainless steels would give it even more bow , but I don't need it .

I was going to do the "neck reset" to my Larado this weekend, but I picked it up yesterday and the neck was dead straight, and its played wonderful all weekend, so I decided to let it go for now.

It has stabilized quite a bit lately. Maybe some of these basses just need some time to settle in. Perhaps the wood was still a little green.

All I know is when the neck stays straight, it just plays wonderful.

Here's another pic:

dcr wrote:

jhill0129 wrote:I guess I was asking if anyone's ever heard of or had experience with them being bad right from the factory.

The answer is yes. I had a brand new 4004L recently with forward bow, and the truss rods (in this case, both) were under massive tension right from the factory. So much so that I really couldn't do anything about the bow. The bass went back to the factory, where it was deemed beyond repair.

Strangely, it was replaced with a bass that had the opposite problem: it had a little back bow, and even leaving the strings at tension & removing both truss rod nuts didn't change it, even after leaving the bass in this state for a few days.

I no longer own a 4004 bass.

Well, I took it to Wade's for the adjustment last Thursday. They attempted to bring the bass side action down and the truss rod broke. Needless to say, I was freaked. He wasn't cranking on it either. He put the wrench on it and gave it a 1/4 turn, but nothing. Another 1/4 turn, nothing. Then the damn thing broke. So, luckily, as an authorized Ric dealer, they had the rods in stock. While he was swapping the bass side out, he went ahead and replaced the other one. He couldn't really say why that one side was loaded with so much tension. He suspected it was the way they cranked it up in the factory. Anyway, both truss rods were replaced and they restrung it for free. Now it's straight as an arrow. Let's hope it stays that way.

Jason, by chance did you see the removed rod and was it bowed?

Here's hoping this will be a happy ending!

My Cii was made in November of 08 and it's neck has been straight since I got it. My 4001 rarely needs adjustment, either, but my DCM required a bit of tweaking to get it straight. The modern necks all have the same basic construction, I think, so the actual characteristics of the wood would be the only variable.

johnallg wrote:Jason, by chance did you see the removed rod and was it bowed?

Unfortunately, I didn't get a look at it.

dcr wrote:Here's hoping this will be a happy ending!

+1!