Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Update time...
I checked E string for twist & it's fine.Checked top of fret to bottom of E string at 1st fret with feeler gauge & it's 0.4mm.I'm not too sure as to wether i need to file down the nut groove or not as i have no measurement to compare it with...Is 0.4mm too high??!!! I lowered all the pole pieces & raised the pickup slightly & finally raised the D pole piece as it was a tad quiet.The measurements from top of pole piece to bottom of strings are - E=3.2mm,A=4.1mm,D=4mm,G=3.1mm.
I am extermely happy to say that it now sounds sweeeeet as a nut!!!!

Thank you all for your input,it was a great help

Please feel free to share your nut height & pole piece/pickup to string measurements.

Cheers!!!!

At the nut I have 0.85mm clearance on all strings, and 0.4mm at the 1st fret .

If it was me I probably would have tried 85 & 105 for A & E – might help with a little more tension and mass on those strings. Single DR strings:
http://saitenkatalog.de/shop1/advanced_ ... c211f5924d

There are obviously a lot of variables that can affect the tone of your Ric's E string, and there have been a lot of good suggestions in this thread (I've learned a couple of things, thanks).

FWIW, I have tried many kinds of strings on my '94 4003 (that I've owned since it was bought new in '94 and is like a family member now) - different guages, manufacturers (Rickenbacker, Ernie Ball, Rotosound, GHS, Elixir, others), stainless vs nickel, etc. One thing that I have come to believe is that the original string guage set for the 4003 (45-55-75-105), which is admittedly an unusual combination of guages industry-wise and challenging to find replacement sets for, gives me the best overall sound and feel for my 4003, including best string-to-string balance. Perhaps going back to a 105 on the E could help this particular problem if people find the other suggestions don't address their problem.

I like the Rickenbacker brand of 45-55-75-105 nickel roundwounds. I also recently tried (and have been very happy with in terms of price, performance, and even longevity) the Curt Mangan 45-55-75-105's offered at Pick of the Ricks:

http://www.pickofthericks.com/products/ ... 2d105.html

It would be nice if other manufacturers offered/marketed sets in this combo of guages more widely. I also know that others on this Forum have had great results with different string guages, so like anything else, you might find something else is more to your liking.

If you can get a set of strings that runs something like 45-60-80-105(taper), that has been one of my most successful experiments with any kind of string construction, to use that gauge set.