Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

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jingle_jangle wrote:Don't know who the tech in Glasgow might be, but now it does look like heat will be the answer...it'll have to be clamped and heated with a beam. Best left to an expert, but not necessarily a Rick expert, as heating necks is a commonly-done luthier bit. Truss rods should be removed or de-tensioned completely before doing this. This is probably an issue of the neck wood's organic, asymmetrical nature.

Paul, I took the guitar to Bill Keldy, I'm happy the bass in good hands. Bill had some reservations himself on how much could be achieved just with using tension on the truss rods and strings as the neck has a pretty strong (as in force to straighten it) twist. Really difficult to ascertain why it's occurred but his opinion was essentially the same as yours in that it is probably an issue with neck wood's organic, asymmetrical nature.

Obviously an option to help is heat and he has various methods at his disposal but raises concern on exactly how much heat the neck (ie fretboard lacquer and the cream paint) can actually take. Do you have any tips or ideas i can pass on on an appropriate way to heat the neck without causing damage to the finish? Bill was going to look into himself, but any input from here would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Update, well over the last month Bill's give the guitar 2 sessions totalling 9 hrs of heat. The neck responded and he was able to take the twist even partially the other way. However, it's slowly coming back. Too early to say at which point it will stabilise. Question that arises now is what's the normal prognosis on things like this?

Is it worthwhile keeping at it? Do subsequent heat treatments generally improve it each time? Again appreciate any comments or experience others have on this.

Sell it and buy a 4003DCM

Seriously though........I hope it settles down. It's sounds like a nightmare problem!

Meah, we'll it's crossed my mind now - selling it that is, and if i didn't now have a new 4003 hanging on the wall a DCM would have been a nice option. Still, stories not over yet and at the end of the day it was never my main bass. tbh, it was/is still very playable. Even though it looks bad, you are talking only about a 4 deg twist or so and while it would probably never be a bass where you danced over the frets tapping stuff out like Billy Sheehan (Like i can even do that!!!) it was more than the job for home Chris Squire impersonations and was nice eye candy for the wall.

Ok, we're back in the game for now and looking for a bit of further advice.

I think Bill ended up giving it 4 heat treatments, "Nightmare Job" were his words, but to date looks as though he's done a sterling job in that we have a flat, straight neck with completely loose truss rods. He didn't string it up, for no reason other than logistics meant i had to pick it up this weekend. (He's 160 miles away)

Anyway, after snugging up the rods, brought it up to tune and the G sides pretty good. E side needs some truss rod tension.(Completely the opposite from before). I put in another full turn on the E side and the necks responding fine so far, but it obviously needs more. Question is do i take it as far as i need to right now, or "let it settle" for a day.

When fully tuned up as it has some forward bow on the E side and i'm not keen to let it settle like that. So currently i've de-tuned the E side to where it's almost flat, is that recommended or should i stick with it tuned up.

I'd forgotten how awesome this bass sounds, makes my 4003 sound like a wimp.

Paul, quick question on the neck finish. I've had the guitar back a few months now and one thing that's apparent is that the finish on the back of the neck is nowhere near as smooth/glassy as my new 4003. It's great if you give it a buff up wit ha cloth, but even after 10-15 mins of playing, sweaty hands make it feel sticky. Visually, it's still absolutely perfect.

I'm thought maybe the finish had been somehow been slightly comprised by the heat although i could be way wrong. I've given it 6 or 7 coats of Zymol which feels perfect when i've done it, but after 10-15 mins playing it it starts feeling sticky again and now i'm not sure if Zymol waxy coating was the right thing to do?

Any suggestions, heat a likely source of problem? Get rid of the Zymol somehow?

Edit - Search is my friend - Thanks Paul - 3yrs after the advice is given

"Zymol the neck; go over it with Dr. Stringfellow's Lem-Oil. The neck will lose its tendency to hang up your hand."