Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a few from when I used to live in SoCal. We've got 'em here in NZ too, the nicest are the blue Pāua, it'd be a great inlay, but wouldn't quite be authentic Rick...

That is really nice looking. Perhaps on some custom bass made locally.

So, strings are currently under discussion while we're awaiting arrival of parts.

I'd been planning on using my usual Rotosound stainless 40-95 (total tension 152lb), used on the bulk of my Rics since 1980, but Larry has suggested TIs would be a better idea given the vintage of the bass. Whilst I'm open to the idea, the TIs are vastly more expensive and given my penchant for that "new string" sound are really rather more than I can afford in terms of changing them regularly. In the UK I can get Rotos for something like £16 or £17, but the TIs are approx £50.

What I don't want however is to risk neck issues. Can anyone with experience of similar gauge Rotos, or similar tension strings, on a bass of this vintage advise either way? Bear in mind the new neck block and the fact that the fingerboard will be replaced.

Shaun,

I have my very first set of Roto's, ever, on my '67 and it sounds amazing! They certainly are high tension and did raise the action up a little. It's doesn't bother me, but I know you like it very low. It may be too much. IMO, you should be able to go to something in between like GHS Boomers, which are much less $'s than TI's.

Head over to the Kalium Strings site and check out their balanced tension sets. I use .106's on my basses, which total about 160lbs, but they have sets a lot lower. They're nickel round wounds that have a real nice feel and tone to them.

aceonbass wrote:Head over to the Kalium Strings site and check out their balanced tension sets. I use .106's on my basses, which total about 160lbs, but they have sets a lot lower. They're nickel round wounds that have a real nice feel and tone to them.

Fabulous strings. I will probably want a set for the new 4000....

aceonbass wrote:Head over to the Kalium Strings site and check out their balanced tension sets. I use .106's on my basses, which total about 160lbs, but they have sets a lot lower. They're nickel round wounds that have a real nice feel and tone to them.

Thanks Dane, I'll check them out, although I'm not normally keen on nickels to be honest. I'm currently checking out Newtone in the UK who also make custom sets. I'm waiting for them to get back to me with suggestions, but Rotos have always been a huge part of my sound and I've never played any other strings I like remotely as much.

teeder wrote:Shaun,

I have my very first set of Roto's, ever, on my '67 and it sounds amazing! They certainly are high tension and did raise the action up a little. It's doesn't bother me, but I know you like it very low. It may be too much. IMO, you should be able to go to something in between like GHS Boomers, which are much less $'s than TI's.

Thanks Kevin; Rotos have THE TONE. What gauge Rotos are you using? I've never experienced problems with my preferred 40-95 on anything else, I must admit, but then I suspect the '68 will likely have a slimmer neck than my others; I could be wrong.

The Rotos are 152lb. TI JF344 are 140.19 and JR344 are 120.75, according to Larry.

I'm pretty sure they're 40-95.

teeder wrote:I'm pretty sure they're 40-95.

They're the ones.

aceonbass wrote:Head over to the Kalium Strings site and check out their balanced tension sets. I use .106's on my basses, which total about 160lbs, but they have sets a lot lower. They're nickel round wounds that have a real nice feel and tone to them.

Dane, what sort of sound are the Kaliums? (Didn't realise they were formerly Circle K, which I've looked into before). For reference I love the Rotos but don't like stock Ric strings, La Bella, Dean Markley, Elites, etc etc. I checked the website and from what I can see a 39-98 set works out about 146.9lbs, almost the same as the Rotos, although I imagine the individual tensions are very different.

henry5 wrote:

teeder wrote:I'm pretty sure they're 40-95.

They're the ones.

Yeah, and they're the ones that Martin Gordon used on his Rick for the Sparks lp, Kimono My House

Captain Bob wrote:

henry5 wrote:

teeder wrote:I'm pretty sure they're 40-95.

They're the ones.

Yeah, and they're the ones that Martin Gordon used on his Rick for the Sparks lp, Kimono My House

So we're in good company!

henry5 wrote:The Rotos are 152lb. TI JF344 are 140.19 and JR344 are 120.75, according to Larry.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have the tension of other popular bass string sets? For example, Ric's factory set, Pyramids, etc?

Stock 4003 rounds are 138lbs according to John Hall. I think the Kalium's (formerly Circle K) feel very similar, and have a similar tone too, which I like a lot. Pyramids are very high though, and feel like high tension power lines to me. I can't stand 'em myself.