Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As of today (10/28/12):

79 4000 has the Rickenbacker Electro 4445 nylon flats (black string on a black bass = awesome)
64 4001 deluxe has the Rickenbacker Electro 4440 flats
72 4001 has DR Sunbeams (per Mark's spot-on recommendation!)

Dec '72 4001: Chromes
April '73 4001FL: Fender 9050CL
July '09 4003FL: Fender 9120M

walker wrote:Craig & Scott - do you have a special technique for keeping the Rotos fresh sounding? Like George I find that they sound great for only a day or two then turn drastically. I've even tried boiling them like I do to all my other strings when they get dirty and sound dull, but not even that process revives the Rotos I've used.

No real technique for string salvation here, I just wipe them down before and after playing. I've usually had decent luck with them keeping a good lifespan. Lately I haven't worried too much if I've needed to change them because they've dropped down to around $20.00 a set at MF, that's actually what drew me back to them and once I put them on I began to wonder why I strayed from them in the first place. Live and learn I suppose.

Kopfjaeger wrote:I'll give the sunbeams a whirl and let you know how I do with them.

Cool. Everyone gravitates towards their own thing, but I haven't heard of anyone dissatisfied with the DRs yet. However, I'm not sure how they rate against strings which are marketed for balance, specific tension and so on. I just think they sound great and stay sounding good for a long time.

TI JF344

Pyramid Gold flats on my '79.
Optima 4099 flats on my V63.

Roto 66's on my '78 4001 - 45 to 105!

Rotosound RN66LD

just changed the original factory install strings on my 4003 after only 11 years. Nice string. pretty crisp and bright with nice growl.

songdog wrote: Hope all of you (and all of your Rickenbackers) on the East Coast come through this storm safely! I'm on the other coast (where we have earthquakes instead), so I'm not facing the storm, but I'm a little worried about my sister in upstate NY....

hey Bill, I am upstate NY too. Mid Hudson valley near Rhinebeck.
I am prepared but not worried. I think it will be more wind than water this time around.

where is your sister?

ricnbacker wrote:

songdog wrote: Hope all of you (and all of your Rickenbackers) on the East Coast come through this storm safely! I'm on the other coast (where we have earthquakes instead), so I'm not facing the storm, but I'm a little worried about my sister in upstate NY....

hey Bill, I am upstate NY too. Mid Hudson valley near Rhinebeck.
I am prepared but not worried. I think it will be more wind than water this time around.

where is your sister?

I am in VA and we are getting wind and rain so far but I see there is already flooding in NJ

fluffy wrote:

walker wrote:Craig & Scott - do you have a special technique for keeping the Rotos fresh sounding? Like George I find that they sound great for only a day or two then turn drastically. I've even tried boiling them like I do to all my other strings when they get dirty and sound dull, but not even that process revives the Rotos I've used.

No real technique for string salvation here, I just wipe them down before and after playing. I've usually had decent luck with them keeping a good lifespan. Lately I haven't worried too much if I've needed to change them because they've dropped down to around $20.00 a set at MF, that's actually what drew me back to them and once I put them on I began to wonder why I strayed from them in the first place. Live and learn I suppose.

Same here. I do not seem to have any problems with the Roto's and string life. I also rotate between 3-4 basses so that may help a great deal. But that said the set that I am using right now is the first set of Rotosound 66's I have used in probably 20 years or more. But I am getting them for such a good deal I will be stocking up. I love how they sound on my JG 4003. Might have to try the nickel 66's too.

walker wrote:

Kopfjaeger wrote:I'll give the sunbeams a whirl and let you know how I do with them.

Cool. Everyone gravitates towards their own thing, but I haven't heard of anyone dissatisfied with the DRs yet. However, I'm not sure how they rate against strings which are marketed for balance, specific tension and so on. I just think they sound great and stay sounding good for a long time.

Mark,

I have the DR Hi-beams on my V63, which sound great to me. How do the Sunbreams compare?

Roto 66 45 to 105 on all but my v63 which have the Roto Jazz 45 to 105.

Currently,
'74 4000 - DR Fatbeams 45-100. This is sort of the stainless steel version of DR Sunbeams.
'04 4004 cii- 60's Maxima flatwounds,which sound even better on the cii than they did on the 4000.
'04 Laredo - circle K strings that were on the bass when i purchased it from John Luke,and which still sound fantastic. I don't actually know what set it is,but i highly recommend this brand of strings. They are both grindy sounding AND very smooth feeling strings.

songdog wrote:

ram wrote:disaster suggestion.... freeze some water in jugs or freezer bags (leave room for expansion). then you can keep in freezer and move to frig then use as drinking water if needed.

Hope all of you (and all of your Rickenbackers) on the East Coast come through this storm safely! I'm on the other coast (where we have earthquakes instead), so I'm not facing the storm, but I'm a little worried about my sister in upstate NY....

Oh, we were talking about strings! RS66LD on my 4001, that's the sound I bought it for. I'm very lucky my skin chemistry doesn't attack them badly, but I still wish they would sound like new for longer!

I'm in Vermont, across the lake from upstate NY. It's been breezy so far, but nothing too serious. Further south is supposed to be worse. I'll be happy if this is not another Irene.